Takeda Ryu Nakamura Ha


Takeda Ryu Nakamura Ha is a gendai martial art developed by Nakamura Hisashi in the mid to late 20th century.

Takeda Ryu history

The genyōsha was founded by Hiraoka Kotarō and Toyama Mitsuru, and other former samurai of the Fukuoka domain as the "Koyōsha", it agitated for a return to the old feudal order with special privileges and government stipends for the samurai class. The Koyōsha participated in the various ex-samurai uprising against the early Meiji government.
In 1881, the Koyōsha changed its direction. This time, the declared aims of the Genyōsha were honorable and noble: "to honor the Imperial Family, respect the Empire" and "to guard the rights of the people". However the real aim of genyōsha was the expansion of Japan.
The first head martial arts teacher of the Genyosha dojo was Takeda Tadakatsu, and 41st generation of Takeda. In consequence, the martial arts taught at the Genyosha dojo were: Aiki no Jutsu and Ju Jutsu from the Takeda Family, Ken Jutsu, Jo Jutsu, Tessen Jutsu.
At Takeda Tadakatsu's death, Nakamura Aikisai Okichi received the Takeda's Makimono and became the 2nd head martial art teacher of the Genyosha dojo. In 1935, Oba Ichio, sponsored by Toyama Mitsuru, became the 3rd head teacher of the Genyosha in Fukuoka prefecture.
After the end of the War and Toyama's death Oba opened the Dojo to general public and called its teaching "Takeda Ryu". The ryu was established on the basis of several schools in which Oba Ichio had a menkyo kaiden. He was also involved in the Zen Nihon Butoku Kai in 1930's and he established the Nihon Budo Renren in 1950s.

Takeda Ryu Nakamura-Ha history

Nakamura Hisashi born 18 March 1932 in Nagano and went in his aunt home in 1949. He entered in 1950 the Yamagura Dojo of Oba that had been opened to general public for one year. The arts thought by Oba where: Aiki no Jutsu, Ju Jutsu Kenpo, Ken Jutsu, Batto Jutsu, Jo Jutsu, Shugi Jutsu and Shuriken Jutsu.
In 1953 Nakamura Hisashi was accepted as uchi deshi. In 1956, Nakamura Hisashi went to Tokyo to help Oba in the Seibuden dojo in replacement of Moritomo Kazuo.
Oba died in 1959, and appointed Moritomo Kazuo as successor. Moritomo declined the position and appointed Nakamura Hisashi as the next Soke.
Nakamura developed a new way of teaching Aiki no jutsu and called it Aikido.
In 1961, Nakamura established the first Aikido dojo at Rikkyo University and, in 1962, the second Aikido dojo at Nihon University. In 1963 he established the Japanese Federation for Aikido. Nakamura believed that randori and shiai were able to increase physical and mental strength. He organized the first All Japan Aikido Championship. In 1970, Nakamura changed the name of its organization from Nihon Aikido Renmei to Nihon Sobudo Rengokai. In 1978, Nakamura registered its way of teaching and its budo system as Takeda Ryu Nakamura-Ha.
In 1990, Morimoto Kazuo died, leaving Nakamura as the last teacher of Koryu do Takeda Ryu Bujutsu.
Nowadays, Takeda Ryu Nakamura Ha is taught in Japan by Nihon Sobudo Rengokai.
And Worldwide through the led by Okuden Shihan Debo Ohgen Minamoto no Harumitsu, under the lead of Nakamura.
In Europe, several other groups have split from the original line: Maroto Ha, Kobilza Ha.

Takeda Ryu Nakamura Ha Sobudo

Seven disciplines are taught inside the Takeda Ryu Nakamura Ha Sobudo. These disciplines are Aikido, Jukenpo, Iaidō, Jōdō, Shugijutsu, Tachikendo and Shurikenjutsu.
Techniques are divided in kihon waza, henka waza and koryū waza. The school uses competitions and randori as a way of teaching, it is the only way to be close to the true fighting situation. In aikido, the shiai and the randori exist in two different forms. The first one is called sogo and the second tori waza.
In Japanese, sogo means integrated. In this form of practice, opponents wear a leather glove on ONE hand and hit freely with that hand. They are also allowed to throw and to lock. The tori waza is a technical match where opponents take alternatively the role of uke and tori.

Ranking System

There are two ranking systems in Takeda Ryu Nakamura Ha Sobudo, Kyudaho System and Menkyo System.

Kyudaho System (Kyu/Dan ranks)

This ranking system uses colored belts and Dan black belts.
Belt ColorRank
White8th Kyu
7th Kyu
6th Kyu
5th Kyu
4th Kyu
Brown3rd Kyu
Brown2nd Kyu
Blue1st Kyu
Black1st Dan
2nd Dan
3rd Dan
4th Dan
5th Dan
6th Dan
7th Dan
8th Dan
9th Dan

Menkyo System

The Menkyo is not a rank, it is a teaching licence delivered by Nakamura to individuals.
Menkyo NameTitle
Shoden MenkyoShoden Kyohan
Chuden MenkyoChuden Kyohan
Joden MenkyoJoden Shihan
Okuden MenkyoOkuden Shihan
Kaiden MenkyoKaiden Shihan

Danshinsa (examinations)

Every discipline has particular rules for examination but there are always two steps :