Did Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido, study Yagyu Shingan-ryu?
(A) Yes. Ueshiba was a student of Yagyu Shingan-Ryu Taijutsu (Edo Line), aka Goto-ha Yagyu Shingan-Ryu Taijutsu. The 6th Soke of our lineage was GOTO Yagyusai (hence the coined name “Goto-ha”). While Goto appointed Ohshima Masateru the role of Soke prior to his death, other Shihans continued to disseminate the tradition as well. Tsuboi Masanosuke passed on the style to Nakai Masakatsu. Ueshiba attended Nakai’s dojo in Kai-machi, Sakai City (near Osaka). Ueshiba stated that vestiges of his study can be found in the hand motion and footwork of Aikido. Our late headmaster, Mutoh Masao was called upon by Kisshomaru Ueshiba to inspect the certificate awarded to his father. The certificate was identified as Sho-dan Menkyo. Both the names of Nakai Masakatsu (the dojo master) and Masanosuke Tsuboi (senior instructor) appear on the certificate.
