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Sokaku Takeda (武田惣角 Takada Sokaku, October 10, 1859 - April 25, 1943) was one of the last generation samurai and prominent master of martial arts. He was mostly remembered as a reviver of Daito Ryu aikijutsu. One of his famous students was Morihei Ueshiba - founder of aikido.
Sokaku Takeda was born on October 10, 1859 in the Takeda mansion in Oike in Aizu, present-day Fukushima Prefecture. As a boy, Sokaku learned kenjutsu, bojutsu, sumo, and Daito-Ryu from his father Sokichi Takeda. Saigo Tanomo, former Chief Councilor of the Aizu domain, teached him oshikiiuchi. Saigo Tanomo had become a Shinto priest in 1868 and taken the name Hoshina Chikanori. In 1875 Sokaku visited him at Shrine in Fukushima to study for entrance to the priesthood, and while he was there received instruction in the arts of oshikiiuchi from Chikanori. Sokaku visited his mentor many times after that, and under Chikanori's instruction is he perfected seemingly miraculous skills of understanding another's mind and thought, and learned the true depths of oshikiiuchi. Sokaku traveled around visiting dojos throughout Japan, testing and polishing his martial skills. He also deepened his spiritual connections through ascetic training to sacred places practice that many other great masters have followed. In his later years Sokaku focused his activities in Hokkaido. He passed away on April 25, 1943.
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