Also known as

Description

Takeshita Isamu (January 5, 1870 – July 1, 1949) was a Japanese naval admiral and diplomat. As Japan's naval attaché to the United States, he arranged for Yoshiaki Yamashita to teach judo to President Theodore Roosevelt at the White House in 1904. He later became a student of Morihei Ueshiba in aikido at the Kobukan dojo and demonstrated aikibudo in North America in 1935. He was the first president of the Kobukai Foundation and chairman of the Japan Sumo Association.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Yamashita Yoshitsugu

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Takeshita's own quoted recollection confirms he and Roosevelt took judo lessons from Yamashita in the White House

  (1904-1905)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Takeshita's own quoted recollection confirms he and Roosevelt took judo lessons from Yamashita in the White House

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "We had engaged Mr. Y. Yamashita, an expert on judo or jiu jitsu, from Japan as our instructor, and we, Mr. Roosevelt and I, used to take lessons in jiu-jitsu very often in his library on the second floor of the White House."

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (1999). Aikido Comes to America - September 1935. Journal of Combative Sportlinkinfo
• 
  Ueshiba Morihei

  linkAikidō 2

  Probable

  Two sources explicitly identify Takeshita as a student of Ueshiba at the Kobukan from 1925, recording detailed notes of classes

  sports_kabaddiKobukan dojo badge (1925-1935)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Two sources explicitly identify Takeshita as a student of Ueshiba at the Kobukan from 1925, recording detailed notes of classes

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Takeshita became a patron and enthusiastic student of Morihei UESHIBA in 1925. He recorded hundreds of pages of detailed notes of classes taught by Ueshiba in the late 1920s to early 1930s."

  — Gold, Josh. (2011-08-27). Isamu Takeshita 竹下勇 - Aikido Journal Encyclopedia. Aikido Journallinkinfo

  "In Tokyo he patronized a martial art dojo called the Kobukan. Methods taught at that school included aikibudo -- Morihei Ueshiba was the instructor."

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (1999). Aikido Comes to America - September 1935. Journal of Combative Sportlinkinfo

Honors (3)

• descriptionOrder of the Rising Sun, 1st class (Gold and Silver Star) 2

  Probable

  Listed in JA Wikipedia chronology of Takeshita's orders and decorations

  Decoration (1920-09-07)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Listed in JA Wikipedia chronology of Takeshita's orders and decorations

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  竹下勇 - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese)linkinfo
• descriptionUS Distinguished Service Medal for service during World War I 2

  Probable

  EQMAS article states Takeshita received the medal for his WWI diplomatic service

  Decoration (1920)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  EQMAS article states Takeshita received the medal for his WWI diplomatic service

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  Svinth, Joseph R.. (1999). Aikido Comes to America - September 1935. Journal of Combative Sportlinkinfo
• descriptionDeutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen (German Olympic Decoration) 2

  Probable

  Awarded during Takeshita's 1937 diplomatic mission to Germany, recorded in JA Wikipedia

  Decoration (1937)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Awarded during Takeshita's 1937 diplomatic mission to Germany, recorded in JA Wikipedia

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  竹下勇 - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese)linkinfo

Sources