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About Yoseikan Budo:

Who was Master Minoru Mochizuki?

Master Minoru Mochizuki was the founder of Yoseikan Budo. He was one of the direct students of Judo founder Jigoro Kano, Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba and Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate. Believing that the martial arts have become distorted by specialization into separate disciplines and transformation into sports, Master Mochizuki assembled the major techniques of the Japanese martial tradition into a single coherent structure. He oversaw the development of his system from his home in Shizuoka, Japan, where his dojo, the Yoseikan, was often visited by martial arts practitioners from all over the world. Master Mochizuki formally passed the leadership of his Yoseikan Budo system to his son, Hiroo, in 2000. He passed away in France on May 30th, 2003.

Who is Master Hiroo Mochizuki?

Master Hiroo Mochizuki is the current Soke of Yoseikan Budo. He was born in 1936 in Shizouka, Japan. He began his budo training at the age 10, learning kendo from his father, Master Minoru Mochizuki. After the war, the Mochizuki family returned to Japan where Hiroo began learning Aikido and Judo in the rebuilt Yoseikan dojo of his father, In the early 50s Hiroo was sent to the Aikido master Ueshiba Sensei as an "Uchi-deshi" or "internal student". He lived with the master at the dojo of Iwama. There he learned the extraordinary Aikido of O Sensei Ueshiba. The ability of this great master of the martial arts deeply impressed Hiroo. In 1957 he was sent to Europe by his father to help Jim Alcheik, (a student and friend of Minoru) develop the Yoseikan Martial Arts. In Europe Hiroo Mochizuki demonstrated Judo, his father's Aikido, Karate and Kobujutsu. At the end of 1958 he went back to Japan to complete his degree in Veterinary Science. Around this period he began studying Wado Ryu Karate with Master Shinji Michihara, another Sensei who greatly influenced Hiroo. In 1963 Minoru Sent his son back to France to teach. Hiroo thought it was only a temporary assignment, however he never returned to Japan to live after this time. In France Hiroo taught Karate, taking it to the highest levels. His presence fostered and highly improved the technique and the organization of Karate and Aikido. Evidence was the extraordinary victory of the French team at the first Karate World Championship held in France in 1963. However during this time due to the fear of the martial arts straying from the original ideas of health, welfare, self realization and development, Hiroo Mochizuki began evaluating and comparing the ancient samurai tradition, verses the modern sport focused martial arts. This resulted in a long gestation period leading to the conception and foundation of YOSEIKAN BUDO as it exists today. Hiroo Mochizuki along with the Yoseikan World Federation (YWF) technical advisors continue in developing and refining Yoseikan Budo to ensure it retains it's effectiveness and relevance into the 21st Century.

What is it like training in Yoseikan Budo?

I can tell you that training in Yoseikan Budo is fun, but it is also very challenging! A typical class usually begins with a light warm up and stretching, followed by instruction in tai sabaki (body shifting), te hodoki (hand escapes) and ukemi (falling safely). But remember that Yoseikan is a comprehensive martial art. It encompasses elements of many of the more readily recognized martial arts. The strongest and most direct relationship of Yoseikan is with aikido. Yoseikan is often thought of as an outgrowth of aikido because Yoseikan's founder , Master Minoru Mochizuki, was a senior disciple of Morehei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikikai Aikido. Yoseikan shares peer status as a subsequent variant of aikido with other styles such as Yoshinkai, Tomiki-Ryu, and others. At the technical level, Yoseikan focuses strongly on the principles of the older Aikido as taught by Master Ueshiba before World War II. It also borrows heavily from the advanced techniques of Judo, particularly the sutemi (or sacrifice) techniques. To a lesser degree (as practiced currently in the US) techniques of karate and kobudo (the way of fighting with weapons) are also practiced as part of an integrated system.

What is the definition of "Yoseikan Budo"?

"Budo" means, literally, "the way of stopping the fight". It is often more loosely interpreted as "martial way." Budo means any fighting system whose principles extend beyond strict combat into other areas of life. It is contrasted with "Bujutsu," where the suffix "-jutsu" means "art" or "technique," which connotes a more narrow, immediate focus - usually the most direct means of defeating an opponent on a battlefield. "Yoseikan" means "the place where what is right is taught." The intent of this superficially grandiose name is not to claim some exclusive truth about martial art. Rather, it describes how the comprehensive nature of yoseikan training allows an individual to find his own "right" path by studying a large set of martial techniques, principles, and experiences.

Do I need previous experience to train?

You need no prior training to begin learning Yoseikan Budo. All USYBA affiliated dojos accept beginners, as well as practitioners of other arts and styles at all skill levels. The instructors and fellow students always take into consideration the skill level and physical ability of each other when training.

"Walk a single path, becoming neither cocky with victory nor broken with defeat, without forgetting caution when all is quiet or becoming frightened when danger threatens."

Kodokan Judo : The Essential Guide to Judo by Its Founder Jigoro Kano (1986 translation)