Aikido in the postwar years,1946-1956: Minoru Mochizuki (1907 - 2003)

 

Gold, J. (2004). Aikido in the postwar years,1946-1956 by Stanley pranin. Aikidojournal.com. Recuperado de https://aikidojournal.com/2004/04/28/aikido-in-the-postwar-years-part-1-1946-1956/

+ INFO.: Mochizuki Minoru (1907-2003) was born in Shizuoka, Japan. At the age of 5, he began practicing kendo at his grandfather's dojo. Later, he started studying judo and joined the Kodokan in 1925, where he became an outstanding practitioner. With the support of Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, Mochizuki Minoru became the youngest member of the Kobudo Kenkyukai (Traditional Martial Arts Research Association). In 1930, Jigoro Kano sent him to study Aiki Jujutsu with Morihei Ueshiba, and he became Ueshiba’s live-in disciple until 1931. In November 1931, he opened his own dojo in his hometown of Shizuoka, naming it "Yoseikan." The name was suggested by a family friend who was a philosopher, meaning "The place to promote truth." Mochizuki adopted the name immediately due to its significance. At the dojo’s inauguration ceremony, Morihei Ueshiba and notable figures such as Admiral Takeshita Isamu attended. In June 1932, Mochizuki received two certifications of Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu from Morihei Ueshiba. 

            After World War II, between 1951 and 1953, he traveled to France as a jujutsu instructor, becoming the first to introduce aikido to the West. Mochizuki passed away in France in 2003. During his lifetime, he attained the following ranks: 10th dan in aikido, 9th dan in jujutsu, 8th dan in iaido, 8th dan in judo, 8th dan in kobudo, 5th dan in kendo, and 5th dan in jodo. He was a live-in disciple of both Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, and Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido. The Yoseikan Aikido developed by Mochizuki integrates the diverse knowledge he acquired from various martial arts. Compared to traditional aikido, it retains many offensive techniques while incorporating innovations such as sacrifice techniques (sutemi). 

         The techniques of Yoseikan Aikido include strikes, kicks, chokes, joint locks, and sacrifice techniques. All Yoseikan Aikido students are required to learn judo, jujutsu, karate, and traditional weapons in addition to aikido, and they must participate regularly in free sparring to develop real combat skills.

If you want to learn Yoseikan Aikido, you can do so at the Seibukan Budo [SBIF] school, led by master Ricardo Sanz, 7th dan in Yoseikan Aikido - info@seibukanbudo.com.