Also known as

植芝盛博 · Ueshiba Morihiro

Description

Japanese kendo and iaido master (9th dan Hanshi in both) and aikidoka, one of Japan's top swordsmen and the top kendo student of Nakayama Hakudo. Entering the Yushinkan in 1930, he became Ueshiba's adopted son in 1932 through his marriage to Matsuko Ueshiba, taking the name Morihiro Ueshiba and training at the Kobukan; he left the Ueshiba family in 1937 over Oomoto-kyo differences. After the war he returned to Kagoshima, overcame a 1951 leg injury by developing the left jodan stance, won nine straight at the East-West Kendo Tournament, and taught kendo in Europe from 1969, helping found the European Kendo Federation. Georges Stobbaerts was his uchi-deshi in kendo and iaido.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Nakayama Hakudō

  sports_martial_artsKendo Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Nakakura entered the Yushinkan of Hakudo Nakayama in 1930 and was his top kendo student, documented by the English Wikipedia, the ABKF biography and his own Aikido Journal interview; the kenshi247 article records that Yushinkan students like Nakakura learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1930)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Nakakura entered the Yushinkan of Hakudo Nakayama in 1930 and was his top kendo student, documented by the English Wikipedia, the ABKF biography and his own Aikido Journal interview; the kenshi247 article records that Yushinkan students like Nakakura learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo.

  “Nakakura was originally the top kendo student of Nakayama Hakudō.”

  — Kiyoshi Nakakura - Wikipedia EN. Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “1930-May Entranced into the Yushinnkan of Hakudo Nakayama sen sei”

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation link history info

  “Students of the Yushinkan (under Hakudo) were selected to learn specific styles [...] Nakakura Kiyoshi [...] learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo.”

  — Jeff Karinya. (2011). A Lineage all but Forgotten - The Yushinkan (Nakayama Hakudo)link history info

  sports_martial_artsMuso Shinden Ryu Probable

  Probable

  The kenshi247 article states that Yushinkan students such as Nakakura Kiyoshi learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo under Hakudo; his iaido grades are in this school.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1930)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  The kenshi247 article states that Yushinkan students such as Nakakura Kiyoshi learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo under Hakudo; his iaido grades are in this school.

  “Nakakura Kiyoshi, Danzaki Tomoaki and Nakajima Gozoro learned only Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido and Kendo.”

  — Jeff Karinya. (2011). A Lineage all but Forgotten - The Yushinkan (Nakayama Hakudo)link history info
• 
  Ueshiba Morihei

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Nakakura married Ueshiba's daughter Matsuko in 1932, was adopted into the Ueshiba family as Morihiro Ueshiba, and lived and trained at the Kobukan until leaving the family in 1937; documented in both the Aikido Journal interviews and the Wikipedia articles.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Uchi-deshi location_onKobukan dojo badge (1932–1937)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Nakakura married Ueshiba's daughter Matsuko in 1932, was adopted into the Ueshiba family as Morihiro Ueshiba, and lived and trained at the Kobukan until leaving the family in 1937; documented in both the Aikido Journal interviews and the Wikipedia articles.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “I married the daughter of Ueshiba Sensei in 1932. [...] Therefore, when I was in the Kobukan I was known as Morihiro Ueshiba. [...] It was just before I left the Kobukan. I departed in 1937.”

  — Hideo Yamanaka; Stanley Pranin. (2015). Interview with Swordmaster Kiyoshi Nakakura, Part 1 (Aikido Journal). Aikido Journal link history info

  “Nakakura married Ueshiba's daughter Matsuko and was legally adopted into the Ueshiba family, taking the name Morihiro Ueshiba.”

  — Kiyoshi Nakakura - Wikipedia EN. Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “同年10月、剣道を続けてもよいとの条件で清は植芝の婿養子となった。植芝と中山の名前から一字ずつ貰い、「植芝盛博」と名乗った。”

  — 中倉清 - 日本語版ウィキペディア. Wikipedia (Japanese) link history info

Ranks (3)

• sports_martial_artsKendo

  military_tech8 dan Probable

  Probable

  8th dan in kendo in 1959, per the ABKF biography.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (1959)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  8th dan in kendo in 1959, per the ABKF biography.

  “1959 Kendo 8th dan”

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation link history info

  military_tech9 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  9th dan in kendo in 1978, per the ABKF biography; independently corroborated by the Aikido Journal interview's own introduction, which describes him as 9th dan hanshi in both Kendo and Iaido.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Dan-Kyu System (1978)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  9th dan in kendo in 1978, per the ABKF biography; independently corroborated by the Aikido Journal interview's own introduction, which describes him as 9th dan hanshi in both Kendo and Iaido.

  “1978 Kendo 9th dan”

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation link history info

  “Kiyoshi Nakakura Sensei, 9th dan hanshi in both Kendo and Iaido and one of Japan's top swordsmen”

  — Hideo Yamanaka; Stanley Pranin. (2015). Interview with Swordmaster Kiyoshi Nakakura, Part 1 (Aikido Journal). Aikido Journal link history info
• sports_martial_artsMuso Shinden Ryu

  military_tech9 dan Probable

  Probable

  9th dan in iaido (Muso Shinden Ryu) in 1983, per the ABKF biography.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (1983)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  9th dan in iaido (Muso Shinden Ryu) in 1983, per the ABKF biography.

  “1983 Iaido 9th dan”

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation link history info

Students (2)

• person
  Claude Durix

  sports_martial_artsMuso Shinden Ryu Probable

  Probable

  Durix himself, in Le Sabre et la Vie, states he was introduced to iaido by his sensei Kiyoshi Nakakura (9th dan, disciple of Nakayama Hakudo), who brought him to practice at the dojo of Morihiro Okada.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Durix himself, in Le Sabre et la Vie, states he was introduced to iaido by his sensei Kiyoshi Nakakura (9th dan, disciple of Nakayama Hakudo), who brought him to practice at the dojo of Morihiro Okada.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Introduit par son Sensei, Nakakura Kiyoshi, 9e dan, disciple de Nakayama Hakudo Sensei, C. Durix est amené à pratiquer au Dojo de Morihiro Okada Sensei (disciple de Nakayama Hakudo Sensei également) qui enseignait alors à plusieurs français.”

  — Claude Durix. (1985). Le Sabre et la Vie (Claude Durix)link history info
• 
  Georges Stobbaerts

  sports_martial_artsMuso Shinden Ryu Probable

  Probable

  The same interview states Stobbaerts was uchi-deshi of Nakakura in the disciplines of kendo and iaido; Nakakura's iaido was Muso Shinden Ryu, the style he taught at the Yushinkan.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Uchi-deshi (1970)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  The same interview states Stobbaerts was uchi-deshi of Nakakura in the disciplines of kendo and iaido; Nakakura's iaido was Muso Shinden Ryu, the style he taught at the Yushinkan.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Fui também uchideshi de Kiyoshi Nakakura Sensei, nas disciplinas de Kendo e Iaido.”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Georges Stobbaerts (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

  sports_martial_artsKendo Probable

  Probable

  Stobbaerts states in his 2001 interview that he was uchi-deshi of Kiyoshi Nakakura in kendo and iaido, living in the same house as him; a 1970 World Kendo Championships photograph is captioned with Nakakura as his master.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Uchi-deshi (1970)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Stobbaerts states in his 2001 interview that he was uchi-deshi of Kiyoshi Nakakura in kendo and iaido, living in the same house as him; a 1970 World Kendo Championships photograph is captioned with Nakakura as his master.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Fui também uchideshi de Kiyoshi Nakakura Sensei, nas disciplinas de Kendo e Iaido. Era um Hanshi, 9º Dan de Kendo e de Iaido que se casou com Matsuko, filha do Mestre Morihei Ueshiba [...] Foi nessa altura que eu pratiquei com ele, pois segui Nakakura Sensei durante algum tempo”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Georges Stobbaerts (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

Honours (5)

• descriptionNihon Budō Shōgi Kai Budō Kōrōsha Probable

  Probable

  The Japanese Wikipedia infobox lists the Nihon Budo Shogi Kai Budo Korosha (martial arts merit) award; the award year is not stated.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Other

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  The Japanese Wikipedia infobox lists the Nihon Budo Shogi Kai Budo Korosha (martial arts merit) award; the award year is not stated.

  “日本武道協議会武道功労者表彰”

  — 中倉清 - 日本語版ウィキペディア. Wikipedia (Japanese) link history info
• descriptionBronze statue at Higashikushira (Kensei Nakakura Kiyoshi) Probable

  Probable

  A bronze statue of Nakakura was erected in his home village of Higashikushira in 1981, per the Japanese Wikipedia.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Other (1981)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  A bronze statue of Nakakura was erected in his home village of Higashikushira in 1981, per the Japanese Wikipedia.

  “1981年（昭和56年）、郷里東串良町に清の銅像が建立される。”

  — 中倉清 - 日本語版ウィキペディア. Wikipedia (Japanese) link history info
• receipt_longHanshiHanshi Probable

  Probable

  Hanshi title in kendo in 1962, per the ABKF biography.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Title (1962)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Hanshi title in kendo in 1962, per the ABKF biography.

  “1962 Kendo Hanshi”

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation link history info
• receipt_longHanshiHanshi Probable

  Probable

  Hanshi title in iaido (Muso Shinden Ryu) in 1978, per the ABKF biography.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Title (1978)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Hanshi title in iaido (Muso Shinden Ryu) in 1978, per the ABKF biography.

  “1978 Iaido Hanshi”

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation link history info
• receipt_longKyoshiKyoshi Probable

  Probable

  Kyoshi title in kendo in 1939, per the ABKF biography; also the youngest ever at 29 per the Japanese Wikipedia.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Title (1939)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Kyoshi title in kendo in 1939, per the ABKF biography; also the youngest ever at 29 per the Japanese Wikipedia.

  “1939 Kendo Kyoshi”

  — Nakakura sensei - All Belgium Kendo Federation link history info

Sources

Identifiers