Japan Report 2005: Interview with Yamada Kiyotaka sensei.

Conducted by Ben Haryo

Japanese Martial Arts has spread all over the world and gathered millions of practitioners. It is said that there are more people practicing Japanese Martial Art outside Japan than inside Japan. Even France is said to have more Aikidoka dan Japan.

We are very pleased to have an interview with our friend Yamada Kiyotaka sensei, a longtime practitioners of Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate and Okinawan weaponry. Yamada sensei holds 4^th Dan and are still training in his beloved Okinawan arts. He was a student of the late Master Fukumoto Eikichi (a native Okinawan) from the famous Higa Seiko line. Mr. Yamada had studied under Mr. Fukumoto for 13 years. Currently Mr. Yamada lives in Osaka with his family. In this interview, Yamada sensei will tell us a bit about the popular martial arts in Japan. I hope our readers enjoy this interview!

Sensei, I practice Jujutsu. I want to know, is it true that Judo and Aikido are more famous than Jujutsu in Japan right now?

Yes, Judo and Aikido are more popular than Jujutsu. Judo is the most popular. It is one of the compulsory subjects in physical education at most of high schools in Japan. Needless to say, it is also an sport of Olympic Game.

Jujutsu is regarded as a classic fighting art or a lost art. But recently, it becomes popular a little among enthusiasts of martial arts due to the famous Brazillian professional fighters.

Have you ever try out Aikido? What are the general perception of the average Japanese people about Aikido?

I suppose most Japanese people know the name "Aikido", but do not know what it likes exactly. In fact, last summer I visited the dojo of Aikido situated not so far from my home, and took one-hour trial lesson. I found it a very sophisticated art, especially wrist locking and joint locking. Such techniques are very painful for a beginner like me, so I did not attend the class again. Ha ha ha!!

Is it true that Daito-ryu is the most famous style of Jujutsu in Japan? Do you have any experience with this wonderful martial art?

Yes, Daito-ryu is the most well-known among Jujutsu schools, although it does not mean (it is) popular (in Japan). Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu is the prototype of Aikido. In fact, the famous Aikido founder, Morihei Ueshiba was a direct disciple of Sokaku Takeda who was the founder of Daito-ryu. At the early days, Ueshiba taught his art under the name, Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu, as a disciple of Takeda. Last autumn I watched a training session of Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu held in a gymnasium in Osaka once a week. The training space of a gymnasium was divided into two halls with the same width, one is for Daito-ryu and the other for Shito-ryu karate. The number of people attending karate class was about 60, while the number of Daito-ryu class was only 8. I was interested in this Daito-ryu group, as Master Takuma (the deceased), the founder of this group, was the only person who has the authentic certificate of the instructor authorized by Sokaku Takeda. He learned Daito-ryu directly from Morihei Ueshiba ( ! ) and Sokaku Takeda in Osaka before World War Two. I was interested in rich techniques of Daito-ryu, but eventually I did not join this group, as I am too busy to make a living

to support my family and also too old to start a new art (I am 51 years old now).

Are you familiar with the Ninjutsu of Hatsumi Masaaki and Tanemura Shoto?

I am not familiar with them, but I know they are famous. Master Hatsumi is believed to be the only one successor of Ninjutsu. It is not difficult to find their videos or books at large bookstores in Osaka.

Do you like Chanbara sport kenjutsu with soft-padded weapons?

I know it as "Sport Chanbara." It is a newly invented sport-like game. I have never seen their game actually but only through TV or magazines, so I cannot comment further.

I know you practice Okinawan arts that include weapons training (nunchaku, sai, tonfa, bo, kama, etc). Is this art popular?

They are popular only in Okinawa Prefecture. But I think here Osaka and in the other part of Japan, they are not so popular, because outside Okinawa, there are few schools or instructors who are capable to teach Okinawan weaponry. Fortunately enough, my teacher, Fukumoto Sensei (the deceased), moved to Osaka from Okinawa about 30 years ago to open his own Dojo. That's why even if I was not in Okinawa, I could learn genuine Okinawan weaponry directly from the Okinawan master.

Do you know the structure of people involved in Kendo? I mean, is there a government effort to standarize and govern Kendo like they govern Judo?

I think that unlike karate or jujutsu, Kendo and Judo are supported by our government as an official sport of the physical education, so they are already standardized and have their official federation. They are taught at most of junior high schools and high schools as a subject of physical education in Japan.

What is the generally known/most well know school of kenjutsu? (the one that appear frequently on TV, or in newspapers, etc).

Sorry, I have almost no information regarding kenjutsu.

How popular is Kyudo and naginata? Is it true that only women practice Naginata?

Of course men can also practice Naginata. Kyudo and Naginata are popular as a classic art.

Are there civilian clubs in police art of Taihojutsu? I mean, is civilian allowed to learn it?

From a TV program I know there are such clubs where you can learn Taihojutsu as a sport, but I don't know where they are. Anyone can learn it there.

What is your (and general opinion in Japan) opinion on the creation of gendai systems on the West, such as new/modern jujutsu and aiki-jujutsu schools derived from aikido, judo, some parts of older jujutsu styles and some karate techniques? You know, like "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" ?

They are very good as show business.

Lastly, are you familiar with martial art of "kenpo"? I know there are several types of Kenpo in Japan, such as Shorinji Kenpo, Nippon Kenpo, Okinawan Kenpo, Shinto Tenshin-ryu Kenpo etc..which is the most popular?

I am not familiar with them. Shorinji Kenpo is the most popular and their organization is the biggest. You can find their Dojo easily. They even have their own official big training school. I think the other schools of Kenpo are relatively small groups or less popular.

Yamada sensei, thank you very much for this most enlightening interview! If any of our dear readers/website surfers would like to know more about Japanese Martial Arts in general and Okinawan Martial Arts in particular, please contact Yamada sensei at sanzinsoo@hotmail.com and visit his website at http://uk.geocities.com/sanzinsoo/

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