SŌKE MASAAKI HATSUMI

Masaaki Hatsumi was born on the 2nd of December, 1931 in the city of Noda, Japan. Since an early age he was introduced to several martial arts like Kendo, Judo and Karate.

During college he received the 4th Dan in Judo and began teaching American soldiers at the military base at Yokota. He then realized that American soldiers, mastered very quickly Judo techniques, while for the Japanese students would take years to do so. From that moment Masaaki Hatsumi began his search for a teacher that could show him a truly effective martial art that would not relay on size or strength.

At the age of 26, he met Takamatsu Toshitsugu. For over 15 years Masaaki Hatsumi continuously travelled across Japan to train with Takamatsu Sensei in Kashiwara City.

Sōke Masaaki Hatsumi

In 1972, at the age of 83, Toshitsugu Takamatsu died. Shortly before his death, Takamatsu decided that Hatsumi would be the next heir (Sōke) of the 9 schools of martial arts that he held. In order to preserve and spread the lessons and techniques learned from his teacher, Sōke Hatsumi created the Bujinkan Dōjō and developed the Budō Tai Jutsu