HATSUMI MASAAKI. Hatsumi Masaaki 初見良昭 (originally Yoshiaki) Sensei was born on December 2, 1931 in Chiba Prefecture Japan. He studied Asian and Western martial arts (judo, karate, and boxing), fine arts, soccer, gymnastics, acting, and dancing. He began studying the martial arts traditions taught by Takamatsu Toshitsugu at the age of 27 (approximately 1958). As his last and only "true" student, Hatsumi Sensei succeeded to Takamatsu Sensei's nine schools of ancient Japanese martial arts in 1972. He founded the Bujinkan Dojo, where he teaches the martial art derived from these traditions called "Budo Taijutsu".
On November 22nd, 1999, Hatsumi Sensei was awarded the prestigious International Culture Award by the Japanese government. The highest honor given for cultural exchange, the award was presented to Hatsumi Sensei by a representative of the Imperial Household. In May of 2001 he was also presented with an award from Pope John Paul II for his achievements in promoting kind relations among the world's people - the first time such an award was given to a martial artist.
TAKAMATSU TOSHITSUGU. Takamatsu Toshitsugu 高松寿嗣 was born on March 10, 1889 in Hyogo Prefecture Japan. At the age of nine he began studying the martial arts, and mastered the various styles from his grandfather Toda Shinryuken, Ishitani Matsutaro, and Mizuta Yoshitaro Tadafusa. Takamatsu Sensei was already an accomplished budoka by the time he was a teenager, having won challenge matches against other martial artists and sumotori. As a young man in his twenties he retreated to the mountains of Kobe to continue his rigorous physical and spiritual practice. After leaving the mountains he soon moved to China, and for the following 10 years he encountered many life and death situations in true fighting. He reportedly fought many strong Chinese martial artists in mortal combat and used his budo to defend himself against even wild animals.
In 1919, after mastering the combat arts, Takamatsu Sensei returned to Japan in order to master spiritual studies. He became the head monk at a mountain temple of esoteric Buddhism in the Yamato district. In the 1950's he taught martial arts in Nara prefecture; in 1957 he met Hatsumi Yoshiaki and groomed the young man to become the successor to his rich martial arts legacy. Referred by Hatsumi Sensei as the "last true combat ninja," the venerable Takamatsu Toshitsugu passed away in May of 1972, at the age of 84 years.
On November 22nd, 1999, Hatsumi Sensei was awarded the prestigious International Culture Award by the Japanese government. The highest honor given for cultural exchange, the award was presented to Hatsumi Sensei by a representative of the Imperial Household. In May of 2001 he was also presented with an award from Pope John Paul II for his achievements in promoting kind relations among the world's people - the first time such an award was given to a martial artist.
TAKAMATSU TOSHITSUGU. Takamatsu Toshitsugu 高松寿嗣 was born on March 10, 1889 in Hyogo Prefecture Japan. At the age of nine he began studying the martial arts, and mastered the various styles from his grandfather Toda Shinryuken, Ishitani Matsutaro, and Mizuta Yoshitaro Tadafusa. Takamatsu Sensei was already an accomplished budoka by the time he was a teenager, having won challenge matches against other martial artists and sumotori. As a young man in his twenties he retreated to the mountains of Kobe to continue his rigorous physical and spiritual practice. After leaving the mountains he soon moved to China, and for the following 10 years he encountered many life and death situations in true fighting. He reportedly fought many strong Chinese martial artists in mortal combat and used his budo to defend himself against even wild animals.
In 1919, after mastering the combat arts, Takamatsu Sensei returned to Japan in order to master spiritual studies. He became the head monk at a mountain temple of esoteric Buddhism in the Yamato district. In the 1950's he taught martial arts in Nara prefecture; in 1957 he met Hatsumi Yoshiaki and groomed the young man to become the successor to his rich martial arts legacy. Referred by Hatsumi Sensei as the "last true combat ninja," the venerable Takamatsu Toshitsugu passed away in May of 1972, at the age of 84 years.
Bujinkan Honbu Dojo
636 Noda, Noda-shi,
Chiba-ken, 278-8691
Japan
636 Noda, Noda-shi,
Chiba-ken, 278-8691
Japan