Takumakai Aikijujutsu, for KoRyu Martial Arts in Australia

Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu Australia

*Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu & the Takumakai
Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art which is said to be about one thousand years old. However, it was only opened to the public for the first time by Takeda Sokaku (1860-1943) one hundred years ago. All the people who had the opportunity to witness Sokaku Sensei's techniques were struck with wonder at his high level of skill. All types of jujutsu martial arts utilise the opponent's power. Sokaku Sensei's art was the same in this respect, except that in addition to ju, Sokaku Sensei utilised an additional power. He called it Aiki.

When Hisa Sensei was working for the Osaka Asahi Newspaper Company, he learned Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu first from Ueshiba Morihei Sensei, and then later from Takeda Sokaku Sensei. Hisa Sensei established Kansai Aikido Club, to proliferate the Daito-ryu style.

Takumakai is a not for profit organisation established in order to practice the traditional Japanese martial art, Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu, as founded by the students of Hisa Takuma Sensei.

Takumakai in Australia
The first Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu Class in Australia was held on the 12th of April 1980 in Geelong, Victoria.

Leigh Dicker Sensei took over the leadership of Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu in Australia on the 15/12/2000 with the support of Takumakai Japan.

Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu Australia now has two branch Dojos and two official study groups linked to Takumakai Japan. This means that all Australian Dojo's take their technical direction from Japan. This is facilitated by Kawabe Sensei, our Shihan who makes regular visit's from Osaka Japan. Other exchange visits between Takumakai Daito-ryu Japan and Australia also occur on a regular basis.

Mori sensei (right) with Dicker sensei

Takumakai Somucho - *Mori Sensei's Profile
Hakaru Mori, one of Hisa`s top students, was first drawn to Daito-ryu after seeing a poster for Hisa Sensei on a wall of the building where he worked. Mori Sensei was 30 years of age and had a fascination for ko-ryu (old style) martial arts so he decided to go along to Hisa sensei`s dojo. Mori Sensei was quite taken with Hisa Sensei as a person, as well as being captivated by his techniques. Mori sensei has since taken a life long path to practice and preserve Daito-ryu the way that Hisa Sensei intended.

Hakaru Mori was born in Kagawa Prefecture on the 18th of September 1931. Mori Sensei grew up on Shikoku, the smallest of Japan`s main islands where he also met his wife. Mori studied law at University, becoming a lawyer in 1956. Six years later Mori joined Hisa Sensei`s dojo in July of 1962. Mori was to receive Kyoju dairi (instructors certification) from Hisa sensei in 1965. Mori studied with Hisa sensei solidly for 11 years until Hisa left the Kansai region for Ogikubo in Tokyo in 1971. In 1973 Mori sensei was awarded Hachidan (8th dan).

Hisa sensei's move to Tokyo in 1971 was due to failing health, with his children convincing him to move so he could be closer to them. This brought about some difficulties for students that were practicing Daito-ryu in the Kansai region. To enable practice to progress the students decided to meet once a year and invite Hisa Sensei to visit from Tokyo. This yearly meeting grew in popularity. The Takumakai was formed as a result to enable students to further their practice.

In December 1978, Hisa Sensei bestowed the title Somucho (director) of the newly formed Takumakai upon Mori Sensei. When doing so Hisa Sensei impressed upon Mori the depth of responsibility of this role, which Mori sensei has always carried with him. 2008 marks 30 years that Mori Sensei has been at the helm of the Takumakai. Over that time the Takumakai has become one of the most successful ko-ryu jujutsu organizations in the world with branches on three continents outside Japan.

Kawabe Takeshi Sensei's Profile
Kawabe sensei is Australia's shihan, making regular training visits to Australia to help students of Daito-ryu Australia progress. This is his background in brief.

Born August 2, 1944 in Osaka. Entered the Aikido club of Momoyama Gakuin University while a studying at the university. Kawabe Sensei began studying Daito-ryu directly under Takuma Hisa Sensei for a three month period. However, since he wished to join the Kansai Students Aikido Federation, Hisa introduced him to Hirokazu Kobayashi Shihan, with whom he studied Aikido for the next four years. Following graduation from University, he withdrew from Budo for four years to pursue work obligations. Later he took over his family's business and resumed training in Daito-ryu under Hisa Sensei. He has since devoted nearly 40 years to Daito-ryu training. Received Nidan (2nd Degree Black) in Aikido from Morihei Ueshiba Sensei, Nidan in Daito-ryu from Tokimune Takeda Soke (Sokaku Takeda's son), Godan (5th Degree Black) Kyoju Dairi from Takuma Hisa Sensei, and Rokudan (6th Degree Black) from General Director Hakaru Mori of Takumakai in the early 1990's and more recently has achieved the rank of 8th Dan.

As the only full time instructor in Takumakai who teaches professionally, Kawabe Sensei maintains an extremely demanding schedule. Kawabe sensei not only travels to teach at many Japanese Dojo's each week but makes regular overseas trips to branch dojo's in Finland, USA and Australia to ensure the technical development of Takumakai Daito Ryu world wide. Kawabe Sensei devotes his time and efforts to continuing and preserving the techniques of the art, explaining and transmitting Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu.

Leigh Dicker Sensei's Profile
Dicker Sensei commenced his Martial Arts experience in 1975 in Tae Kwon Do whilst studying Architecture at Deakin University in Geelong, Victoria. After a long break due to family and work commitments. He resumed his interest in the Martial Arts when having settled back in Geelong to open his own business as an Architect.

It was good fortune that the only Australian Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu Dojo was close by, hence began the journey of discovery in 1989. Dicker Sensei received Shodan in Goshu Ryu Jujutsu on the 8/12/1995 and Shodan in Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu Australia on 2/7/1997 and Nidan on the 19/11/1999.

A letter of introduction to Kawabe Sensei provided the opportunity for Dicker Sensei to travel to Japan for the first time in August 1998. Here he was able to visit and train in the various Dojo's of Takumakai in the Osaka region. This experience had a positive and significant influence, encouraging him to pursue earnest study in the art of Daito-ryu Aki Jujutsu the Takumakai way. Dicker Sensei receivied his Nidan in Takumakai Daito-ryu whilst in Japan on the 30/03/2003. More recently Dicker sensei has achieved his Sandan (March 2008).

Return visit's to Takumakai in Osaka have now become a regular event allowing Dicker Sensei and other Australian students to pursue study of the art of Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu under the guidance of Shihan Kawabe Sensei.

*Foot Note: For more information on the background on Takumakai & Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu please refer to the Takumakai Japan Official Website . Please note some of the historical facts for Mori sensei's profile were drawn from interviews with Mori sensei by Stanley Pranin of Aikido Journal - these facts were verified with senior Takumakai members.