Takeda Sokaku

Takeda Sōkaku 武田 惣角
Retouched photograph of Takeda Sōkaku circa 1888
Born	(1859-10-10)October 10, 1859 Aizu, Fukushima, Japan
Died	April 25, 1943(1943-04-25) (aged 83) Japan
Native name	武田 惣角
Nationality	Japanese
Style	Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu
Children	Takeda Tokimune
Notable students	Morihei Ueshiba, Hisa Takuma, Kōtarō Yoshida, Choi Yong-sool, Okuyama Ryuho

Takeda Sōkaku (武田 惣角^?, October 10, 1859 – April 25, 1943) was known as the founder of a school of jujutsu known as Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu.

Born in the Aizu domain (Fukushima Prefecture), Sōkaku grew up in a time of war (Boshin) and civil strife and was able to witness both first hand while still a young boy. The second son of Takeda Sōkichi, a samurai of the Takeda clan who worked his farm and taught at a local school and Tomi Kurokochi, a daughter of Dengoro Kurokochi, a Yari and Kenjutsu master. It is believed that Sōkaku received his first martial arts training from his father who had a dojo on their property. Sōkichi was apparently expert in the use of both sword and spear, and had once been a sumo wrestler of ozeki rank. It is believed that Sōkaku was exposed to the teachings of Hōzōin-ryū Takada-ha and Ono-ha Ittō-ryū, schools of spear and swordsmanship respectively.

Sōkaku then left to go on a period of austere training where he travelled, fought and trained at the schools of many teachers, a not uncommon practise of the time. Reputedly, Sōkaku spent some time as a live-in student of Kenkichi Sakakibara, headmaster of the Jikishinkage-ryū and considered to be one of the most famous and skilled swordsmen of the era. Unfortunately there exist no known historical documents to confirm this relationship and so it is a matter of debate. What is known, however, is that Sōkaku engaged in many matches and duels with both shinai and live blades and was considered a swordsman of great skill in a period of time when such things were beginning to be forgotten.