(3 May 1914 – 10 March 1984). 4th dan Aikikai, 6th dan Seitai. B. in Korea. Specialized in Chinese studies and ethnosociology in France with Marcel Granet and Marcel Mauss from 1934-1940 and became fluent in the language. Began practice at the AIKIKAI HOMBU DOJO in 1955 while assisting Andr
As a holiday gift to the aikido community, Aikido Journal has created a new version of our Principal Disciples of Morihei Ueshiba chart, originally developed by AJ founder Stanley Pranin. We hope you’ll enjoy and...
The Aiki Expo events were major aikido seminars sponsored by Aikido Journal and conceived and organized by Stanley Pranin that gathered together many high-ranking teachers from Aikido, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, classical...
Mutual strike or cut. Sword term used to describe the circumstance where two swordsmen strike each other simultaneously. In AIKI KEN terminology, often used in contradistinction to AINUKE where neither swordsman can...
Josh Gold
Dear Pranin Sensei,
Let me first thank for all your work in Aikido Journal because it’s a great source of information and I’ve learned a lot of things since I’ve become a member recently.
I would like to ask if it could be possible to obtain more information on Tsuda Sensei since I’m practising Aikido with one of his direct students while he moved to France. Little is known about him, but as I know he practised Seitai with Deguchi Onisaburo Sensei and was the translator of André Nocquet when he spent 3 years in Japan practising Aikido with O-Sensei . After this period, he was so fascinated by the teachings of the founder that he decided to start practising Aikido himself during the 10 last years of the founder. When he moved to France, he wrote 9 books explaining his views of Aikido and Seitai plus numerous quotes of Ueshiba and Deguchui Sensei that can be of great interest for all the people who practise Aikido. I don’t know for sure if these books have been published in English, but I know that they are available in French and the first 5 in Spanish.
If it could be possible, I would really appreciate if you could include Tsuda Sensei in your amazing chart of the Principal Diciples of Morihei Ueshiba as he made great efforts to spread the teachings of O-Sensei.
Many thanks for your help and I look forward to learn more things with this great journal.
Thank you very much for your comment. Actually, Tsuda Sensei learned from Haruchika Noguchi, the founder of Seitai. You can get basic information for both in Wikipedia.
I met Tsuda Sensei briefly in Japan on my first trip. He was a fluent speaker of French and went to live in France where he taught aikido and wrote many books as you mention.
Given the length of his study and activities he does not fit the criteria for inclusion in the chronological chart. The basic criteria used to select those who appear are clearly given on the chart itself.
I’m sorry for my mistake, I confused Deguchi Onisaburo with Haruchika Noguchi. Many thanks for your reply.
I’ve one more question about the studies of Tsuda Sensei. Do you know how many times did he studied with Nakanishi sensei as O-sensei did previously?
Many thanks
I’m afraid I don’t know too much about Tsuda Sensei although I did know him slightly. There should be many French old-timers who have the information you are searching for.