2nd Dan Daito-ryu Aikijyujutsu
1st Dan Yoshinkan Aikido
3rd Dan Tamiya-ryu Iaido
3rd Dan Iaido (Seitei)
3rd Dan Jodo (Seitei)
Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art transmitted for generations within
the Takeda family of the Aizu domain, and disclosed to the general public by Takeda Sokaku
starting around the end of the 19th century. The main line of this tradition was inherited by
Takeda Sokaku's son, Takeda Tokimune, who then passed it on to Kondo Katsuyuki. Kondo Katsuyuki
is the only individual to have received the menkyo kaiden (license of full transmission) from
Takeda Tokimune, and as such continues as the leader of the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu tradition today.
Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu is a form of jujutsu, a system of unarmed fighting and minor weapons
techniques to defeat both armed and unarmed opponents. It is noted, as the name suggests, for
emphasizing the principles of aiki (some aspects of aiki are also referred to as kuzushi).
The Daito-ryu technical tradition includes both jujutsu and aikijujutsu, but a clear
distinction is made between the two and the emphasis is strongly on the latter.
From ancient times the admonishment to "attack where the opponent has been unbalanced"
has been a fundamental axiom of Asian martial arts. In Daito-ryu, the principle of
"how to unbalance the opponent" is referred to as aiki, and a great many of the
tradition's oral transmissions and secret teachings pertain to the various
aspects of aiki.
Today, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu is a cultural heritage of the Japanese warrior class with
a long history and tradition. It was developed as a means of self-defense against unprovoked
violence, with the ultimate aim of neutralizing violence, not causing it. This is one of the
reasons why Daito-ryu relies on using forms (kata) to train in the art, but does not include
any kind of competitive matches. Further, as a classical Japanese martial art, Daito-ryu goes
beyond mere self-defense, offering the way to temper one's body and spirit, with the aim of
developing personal character and contributing to the greater social good.
Demonstration by Kondo Katsuyuki current head of the Daito Ryu Aikijujustu Main line