Also known as

Description

Georges Stobbaerts (1940–2014) was a Belgian-born, Portuguese-naturalised martial artist, born in Casablanca. He founded the first aikido and kendo dojo in Africa (Budo Club du Maroc, 1962) and was the pioneer who introduced aikido to Portugal in the 1960s, settling in the country in 1971/72 with the Budokan of Portugal dojo in Cascais. He was uchi-deshi of Kiyoshi Nakakura in kendo and iaido, trained judo under Kenshiro Abe, and held 8th dan in aikido from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, which also conferred on him the title of Hanshi and declared his school a Ryu. He founded the TenChi cultural centre in Sintra (1978) and created the Tenchi Tessen art of movement (1985).

Teachers (2)

• 
  Abbe Kenshirõ

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  In his 2001 interview Stobbaerts names Kenshiro Abe as his judo master, who also showed him the first elements of aikido; Abe taught judo in Europe in the 1950s-60s where Stobbaerts began his practice.

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  In his 2001 interview Stobbaerts names Kenshiro Abe as his judo master, who also showed him the first elements of aikido; Abe taught judo in Europe in the 1950s-60s where Stobbaerts began his practice.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Já há muito tempo que tenho uma ligação com a Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, através de Mestre Kenshiro Abe, grande Mestre de Judo que me mostrou os primeiros elementos do Aikido."

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Georges Stobbaerts (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistoryinfo
• 
  Nakakura Kiyoshi

  linkKendo 3

  Confirmed

  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.

  Uchi deshi (1970)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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) linkhistoryinfo

  linkMuso Shinden Ryu 3

  Confirmed

  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.

  Uchi deshi (1970)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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) linkhistoryinfo

Ranks (1)

• linkAikidō

  military_tech8 dan 3

  Confirmed

  8th dan in aikido from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, confirmed by Stobbaerts himself in the 2001 interview and dated 1995 by the TenChi Aikido biography.

  Dan-Kyu System (1995)

  granted by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  8th dan in aikido from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, confirmed by Stobbaerts himself in the 2001 interview and dated 1995 by the TenChi Aikido biography.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Georges Stobbaerts, tenho 62 anos e actualmente sou 8º dan de Aikido conferido pela Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, cuja sede é em Kyoto no Japão, no mais antigo Dojo o Butokuden que depende directamente da família Imperial."

  — Entrevista ao Professor Georges Stobbaerts (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000 - Archived)linkhistoryinfo

  "Em 1995 o Mestre Georges Stobbaerts recebe o 8º Dan da Dai Nippon ButokuKai."

  — Georges Stobbaerts - TenChi Aikidolinkinfo

  "He was representative for Portugal of the Dai Nippon Butoku-kai (Kyoto, Japan), that granted to him the graduation in Hanshi, 8º Dan and his school was declared a Ryu by the same institution."

  — Life and Work of Georges Stobbaertslinkinfo

Students (9)

• Ma
  Manuel Galrinho

  linkAikidō 3

  Confirmed

  Galrinho states in his 2000 interview that he began aikido in 1977 in Setúbal and soon attended Stobbaerts' classes in Cascais and Alcântara; the FPA history confirms he was a student of Stobbaerts.

  sports_kabaddiBudokan of Portugal badge (1977)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Galrinho states in his 2000 interview that he began aikido in 1977 in Setúbal and soon attended Stobbaerts' classes in Cascais and Alcântara; the FPA history confirms he was a student of Stobbaerts.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Comecei em 1977 em Setúbal, mas muito cedo comecei a frequentar as aulas do Mestre Stobbaerts, em Cascais e Alcântara."

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Manuel Galrinho (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistoryinfo

  "É dirigida pelo Mestre Manuel Galrinho, 7º dan AAS, que foi aluno do Mestre Stobbaerts."

  — Jean-Marc Duclos. História do Aikido em Portugal (FPA)linkinfo
• 
  Leopoldo Ferreira

  linkAikidō 3

  Confirmed

  Well-documented student of Georges Stobbaerts from 1972 to 1976, mentioned in both his own 2000 interview and Stobbaerts' interview confirming the teacher-student relationship

  sports_kabaddiBudokan of Portugal badge (1972-1976)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Well-documented student of Georges Stobbaerts from 1972 to 1976, mentioned in both his own 2000 interview and Stobbaerts' interview confirming the teacher-student relationship

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  " Eu só conheci o Mestre Stobbaerts, em Agosto ou Setembro de 1972 (...) Portanto, durante anos, os meus fins-de-semana eram passados em Cascais a praticar Aikido. Pratiquei com o Mestre Stobbaerts talvez uns três ou quatro anos."

  — Entrevista ao Professor Leopoldo Ferreira (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000 - Archived)linkhistoryinfo

  "Nessa altura o ambiente no Aikido era muito bom, toda a gente praticava com toda gente, mesmo os alunos da escola do Kobayashi, como o Leopoldo Ferreira, que chegou a ser meu aluno."

  — Entrevista ao Professor Georges Stobbaerts (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000 - Archived)linkhistory
• Ca
  Carlos Pereira

  linkAikidō 3

  Confirmed

  From interview, direct source. Stobbaerts names Carlos Manuel Pereira as the student who organized and structured aikido in Portugal and calls him the true pioneer.

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  From interview, direct source. Stobbaerts names Carlos Manuel Pereira as the student who organized and structured aikido in Portugal and calls him the true pioneer.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "O professor de Aikido era o Carlos Pereira, aluno do Mestre Stobbaerts, o de Karate era o Dr. Fragoso Fernandes, aluno do Dr. Pires Martins, (o introdutor do Karate em Portugal) que era o responsável pelo Karate. Professor de Filosofia, foi uma das pessoas que mais me marcou nas Artes Marciais, pela sua abordagem séria, rigorosa e profundamente empenhada."

  — Entrevista ao Professor José Araújo (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000 - Archived)linkhistoryinfo

  "Foi ele que organizou e estruturou o Aikido em Portugal e considero isso importante. Foram os pioneiros, afinal de contas. O Daniel Laurent não tinha técnica, era cinto amarelo ou laranja, por isso o verdadeiro pioneiro foi o Sr. Eng. Carlos Manuel Pereira."

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Georges Stobbaerts (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistoryinfo
• Ha
  Hassan Iddedir

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2

  Probable

  Duclos states in his Surya interview that Iddedir was one of Stobbaerts' students with whom he studied judo; the relationship is stated from the perspective of the next generation and details are sparse.

  sports_kabaddiBudo Club of Morocco badge

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Duclos states in his Surya interview that Iddedir was one of Stobbaerts' students with whom he studied judo; the relationship is stated from the perspective of the next generation and details are sparse.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Estudei o Judo com Mestre Stobbaerts e com um dos seus alunos, Mestre Hassan Iddedir."

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Jean-Marc Duclos (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistoryinfo
• M'
  M'Barek Alaoui

  linkAikidō 3

  Confirmed

  Alaoui states in his 2011 Aikido Journal interview that he began aikido in 1957 with European teachers including Georges Stobbaerts in Morocco; Stobbaerts likewise called him one of his students in his 2001 interview. The student-teacher relationship is confirmed from both sides, though the split of 1970 moved Alaoui's teaching allegiance to the Tamura line.

  sports_kabaddiBudo Club of Morocco badge (1957)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Alaoui states in his 2011 Aikido Journal interview that he began aikido in 1957 with European teachers including Georges Stobbaerts in Morocco; Stobbaerts likewise called him one of his students in his 2001 interview. The student-teacher relationship is confirmed from both sides, though the split of 1970 moved Alaoui's teaching allegiance to the Tamura line.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Ich begann im Jahre 1957. ... Ja, da war ein Monsieur Naessens aus Brüssel, sowie Georg Stobbaerts, ebenfalls aus Belgien."

  — Horst Schwickerath. (2011). Interview - M'barek Alaoui (Aikido Journal, 2011). Aikido Journallinkinfo

  "Um dos meus alunos em Marrocos, M'Barek Alaoui é, por exemplo, o Director Técnico da Federação de Aikido de Marrocos e é sétimo dan Aikikai."

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Georges Stobbaerts (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistoryinfo
• 
  Gérard Obellianne

  linkAikidō 3

  Confirmed

  In his Aikido Journal interview Obellianne states he began aikido in 1967 or 1968 with Georges Stobbaerts, who was obliged to leave Morocco in 1970, at which point Obellianne took over the Budo Club du Maroc.

  sports_kabaddiBudo Club of Morocco badge (1967-1970)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  In his Aikido Journal interview Obellianne states he began aikido in 1967 or 1968 with Georges Stobbaerts, who was obliged to leave Morocco in 1970, at which point Obellianne took over the Budo Club du Maroc.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "j'ai commencé l'aïkido, je ne sais plus si c'est en 1967 ou 1968, avec Georges Stobbaerts... Georges Stobbaerts a été obligé de quitter le Maroc en 1970 pour partir au Portugal, et c'est moi qui ai pris la direction du club, le Budo club du Maroc."

  — Horst Schwickerath. (2014). Entretien - Gérard Obellianne (Aikido Journal). Aikido Journallinkinfo
• Em
  Emile Metzinger

  linkAikidō 2

  Probable

  Metzinger began aikido in 1964 in Casablanca according to M'barek Alaoui's 2011 interview, at a time when Stobbaerts ran the Budo Club du Maroc; the AJ interview records that Metzinger and Alaoui left Stobbaerts in 1970 to create the Syu do kan.

  sports_kabaddiBudo Club of Morocco badge (1964-1970)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Metzinger began aikido in 1964 in Casablanca according to M'barek Alaoui's 2011 interview, at a time when Stobbaerts ran the Budo Club du Maroc; the AJ interview records that Metzinger and Alaoui left Stobbaerts in 1970 to create the Syu do kan.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Emilie Metzinger hat 1964 in Casablanca begonnen Aikido zu praktizieren, er war mit einer Chinesin verheiratet – später wurde auch er Aikidolehrer."

  — Horst Schwickerath. (2011). Interview - M'barek Alaoui (Aikido Journal, 2011). Aikido Journallinkinfo

  "Ces deux personnes avaient quitté Georges Stobbaerts pour créer leur club."

  — Horst Schwickerath. (2014). Entretien - Gérard Obellianne (Aikido Journal). Aikido Journallinkinfo
• 
  Jean-Marc Duclos

  linkAikidō 3

  Confirmed

  Duclos began aikido in 1968 in Casablanca with Stobbaerts, continued under Obélianne in Casablanca 1971-73 during Stobbaerts' absence, then resumed with Stobbaerts in Portugal from 1974 until 1998; Stobbaerts awarded him 5th dan. The 34-year master relationship (1964-1998) spans both arts.

  sports_kabaddiBudo Club of Morocco badge (1968-1971) sports_kabaddiBudokan of Portugal badge (1974-1998)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  Duclos began aikido in 1968 in Casablanca with Stobbaerts, continued under Obélianne in Casablanca 1971-73 during Stobbaerts' absence, then resumed with Stobbaerts in Portugal from 1974 until 1998; Stobbaerts awarded him 5th dan. The 34-year master relationship (1964-1998) spans both arts.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "um estágio de Aikido do Mestre Nobuyoshi Tamura, em Casablanca, Marrocos, onde eu vivia nessa altura, quando de repente Mestre Stobbaerts me interpelou... Isto aconteceu em 1968."

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Jean-Marc Duclos (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistoryinfo

  "Vim definitivamente para Portugal em Setembro de 1974. ... Mestre Georges Stobbaerts e Jean-Marc Duclos, Budokan de Portugal, Cascais, 1975."

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Jean-Marc Duclos (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistoryinfo

  "O Diretor Técnico actual é o Prof Jean-Marc Duclos que foi aluno do Mestre Stobbaerts de 1968 até 1998."

  — Jean-Marc Duclos. História do Aikido em Portugal (FPA)linkinfo

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Duclos states in his Surya interview that he began judo 'more or less in 1964' with Stobbaerts, and that Stobbaerts was his master from 1964 to 1998; judo was the brief early phase before aikido took over in 1968.

  sports_kabaddiBudo Club of Morocco badge (1964-1968)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Duclos states in his Surya interview that he began judo 'more or less in 1964' with Stobbaerts, and that Stobbaerts was his master from 1964 to 1998; judo was the brief early phase before aikido took over in 1968.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Primeiro comecei pelo Judo, creio que mais ou menos em 1964, com o Mestre Stobbaerts. ... Fazia Judo com o Mestre Stobbaerts. Ele foi meu Mestre de 1964 até 1998, portanto, durante 34 anos."

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Jean-Marc Duclos (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistoryinfo

  "Começou pelo Judo, creio que mais ou menos em [1964] com o Mestre Stobbaerts e com um dos seus alunos, Mestre Hassan Iddedir."

  — Mestre Jean-Marc Duclos. Aikido Marcial Dôjo Clube linkinfo
• Da
  Daniel Laurent

  linkAikidō 3

  Confirmed

  Laurent trained aikido for about four years (reaching 2nd kyu) at the Budo Club du Maroc under Georges Stobbaerts, as stated in the FPA history and confirmed by Stobbaerts in his interview, and it was on condition of Stobbaerts' involvement that Laurent agreed to lead the first Portuguese aikido class.

  sports_kabaddiBudo Club of Morocco badge (1962-1966)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Laurent trained aikido for about four years (reaching 2nd kyu) at the Budo Club du Maroc under Georges Stobbaerts, as stated in the FPA history and confirmed by Stobbaerts in his interview, and it was on condition of Stobbaerts' involvement that Laurent agreed to lead the first Portuguese aikido class.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "cidadão francês que tinha praticado Aikido durante quatro anos (era então 2º kyu), no "Budo Club du Maroc" em Casablanca (Marrocos), sob a orientação do Mestre Georges Stobbaerts."

  — Jean-Marc Duclos. História do Aikido em Portugal (FPA)linkinfo

  "Eu tinha um aluno, Daniel Laurent, que era cinto verde ou laranja, já não me recordo, que veio para Portugal trabalhar, ainda antes do 25 de Abril..."

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

Honors (1)

• receipt_longHanshiHanshi 2

  Probable

  The Hanshi title from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai is stated by georgesstobbaerts.com together with the 8th dan conferred in 1995, and by the FPA history of aikido in Portugal; exact year of the title is implied rather than stated.

  Title (1995)

  granted by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  The Hanshi title from the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai is stated by georgesstobbaerts.com together with the 8th dan conferred in 1995, and by the FPA history of aikido in Portugal; exact year of the title is implied rather than stated.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "He was representative for Portugal of the Dai Nippon Butoku-kai (Kyoto, Japan), that granted to him the graduation in Hanshi, 8º Dan and his school was declared a Ryu by the same institution."

  — Life and Work of Georges Stobbaertslinkinfo

  "Era titular do 8º dan de Aikido da organização Dai Nippon Butokukai - DNBK, com o título de Hanshi."

  — Jean-Marc Duclos. História do Aikido em Portugal (FPA)linkinfo

Sources