Masaaki Hatsumi

Born in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture on December 2, 1931.
Warrior names: Yoshikai, Tetzusan, Hisamune.
Started martial arts at about age 7.

Yoshiaki Hatsumi was born on the 2nd of December, 1931 in the city of Noda, Chiba prefecture, Japan. Years later he changed his first name to Masaaki. He graduated in Theatre studies from Meiji University in Tokyo. He continued studying oriental medicine and chiropractics, and ran his own clinic in Noda for years afterwards.

He started his martial arts studies in the discipline of Kendo at the early age of 7. Later on he studied Karate and Judo, both disciplines in which he obtained high rank. He also practiced gymnastics and boxing, and was captaing of the high school soccer team. He also studied ballroom dancing, and as he has mentioned on various occaisions, this helped his leg movement in the study of martial arts.

He taught Judo to American soldiers stationed in Japan. This experience showed him that the naturally bigger and stronger build of the soldiers, and their ability to learn techniques quickly made them quite effective Judoka. The more they learnt the more difficult it was controlling them with his own techniques. This led him to search for more effective and authentic traditional warrior arts.

During this period he studied with Yashiro sensei of the Shinden Ryu Jujutsu school. After learning various styles he studied Shindo Tenshin Ryu and Asayama Ichiden Ryu with Takashi Ueno. Takashi Ueno travelled exclusively to Noda to transmit his teaching of Kobudo. Hatsumi sensei inherited the tiltes of Soke (grandmaster or head of family) of these schools. At the same time his teacher also sold him many invaluable historical documents about ancestral martial arts.

Seeing the special skills of Hatsumi sensei, Ueno recommended him to a Soke of Budo named Toshitsugu Takamatsu, who possessed an invaluable martial heritage. Hatsumi sensei travelled to Kashiwabara city in Nara prefecture, where Takamatsu sensei had a restaurant. When Hatsumi sensei is asked about his first encounter he says, "The way he applied the techniques was something quite special. Takamatsu sensei attacked 3 - 4 vital points at the same time. This way I could not counterattack; I could not even move! The pain I felt was the most intense that I have ever suffered."

It was 1957, when he was 26 years old, that Hatsumi sensei finally found what he was looking for. Toshitsugu Takamatsu sensei took him on as a personal student, transmitting to him the teachings of 9 ryuha, 3 of which possess the secrets of ninjutsu. Hatsumi sensei travelled regularly to Kashiwabara to recieve the teachings of his sensei. Over 15 years he would go every weekend on a 12 hour train ride to train and then return to his clinic. During these years he also participated in many media activities (television, press, cinema etc) for the sake of the correct exposure of the ninja philosophy, history and techniques.

Soke Toshitsugu Takamatsu passed away on the 2nd April 1972, at the age of 85. Years before this, Takamatsu sensei had decided to pass on to Hatsumi sensei the title of Soke of the following schools.

Togakure Ryu Ninjutsu 34th Soke
(founded by Daisuke Togakure)
Gyokko Ryu Kosshijutsu 28th Soke
(founded by Hakuunsai Tozawa)
Kukishin Ryu Happo Hikenjutsu 28th Soke
(founded by Izumo Kanja Yoshiteru)
Shinden Fudo Ryu Dakentaijutsu 26th Soke
(founded by Izumo Kanja Yoshiteru)
Gyokushin Ryu Ninpo 21st Soke
(founded by Sasaki Oriuemon Akiyari)
Koto Ryu Koppojutsu 18th Soke
(founded by Sandayu Momochi)
Gikan Ryu Koppojutsu 15th Soke
(founded by Sonyu Hangan Gikanbo, Lord of Kawachi)
Takagi Yoshin Ryu Jutaijutsu 17th Soke
(founded by Oriuemon Shigenobu Takagi)
Kumogakure Ryu Ninpo 14th Soke
(founded by Heinaizaemon Ienaga Iga; he later adopted the name Kumogakure Hoshi)