The History of Takeda Ryu
Soke Nakamura, head of TAKEDA RYU NAKAMURA HA lectures from the book of the TAKEDA RYU history:
"In the 27th year of the reign of the twelfth TENNO (emperor) by the name of KEIKO (KEIGYO), the KUMASO tribe rebelled. As a result, the heir to the throne, YAMATO TAKERU NO MIKOTO, was sent on an expedition to punish the KUMASO. On his way, he performed a cleansing ceremony at KAMIYO waterfall. He placed his feet on the rocky floor of the waterfall, spread his arms wide, was filled with the power of the spirit and gathered the entire strength of his body in his fingertips. Turning towards heaven, he executed several upward blows, then let his hands drop and struck out powerfully several times with his arms. After the prince had completed these movements, he decided to attack the KUMASO. Disguised as a woman, he crept into the enemys camp and there roused the sleeping leader of the KUMASO. When the leader tried to attack him, the prince opened his arms, was filled with spiritual strength and threw the KUMASO leader to the ground, having already snatched his sword from him. This technique of spreading one´s arms and throwing down one´s opponent was the beginning of AIKI.Thereafter, the prince studied diligently and passed on his skills to TAKEDA NO KIMI NO MIKOTO for the protection of the palace."
Ever since YAMATO TAKERU NO MIKOTO was considered as the first ancestor (TAISO) of the TAKEDA SCHOOL. At that time in history is was not named TAKEDA RYU. Later the knowledge of the school passed on to the famous general SHINRA SABURO MINAMOTO NO YOSHIMITSU. Since that moment the School is associated forever with the name of the Minamoto. You can also see that in the school names, which Soke Nakamura awards to his highest masters.
The first summarisation of the techniques, the recording of the instructions of the TAKEDA family started under TAKEDA KAJYA YOSHIKYO (1075-1149) the son of Yoshimitsu.
Therefore TAKEDA KAJYA YOSHIKYO is considered as the first Soke of TAKEDA RYU. Until Soke TAKEDA NOBUTORA (with the school name TOKUSHUSAI) TAKEDA RYU stayed within the TAKEDA family.
1570 he passed on his knowledge to his ninth son TAKEDA KOUZUKENOSUKE NOBUTOMO (with the school name OUSAI).
About ten years later NOBUTORA was thrown out of the TAKEDA family by TAKEDA SHINGEN, one of the most famous generals in Japans history. So he went to Suruga to submit under the Shogun IMAGAWA YOSHIMOTO.
On the other hand TAKEDA KOUZUKENOSUKE NOBUTOMO passed his knowledge over to his first son TAKEDA KATSUCHYO, who moved to the main island Kyushu to the Kuroda family, because he was afraid of being killed by TAKEDA SHINGEN. He started to teach TAKEDA RYU in secret, which assured the survival of the school.
In the 20th year of the reign of Showa (1945) Oba Ichio the 43. Soke (his real name was Oba Takeyuki) started to teach Takeda Ryu in public. Until that time the teaching had been in secret. After the second world war Master Oba was adviser at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, after he succefully finished the world famous MEJI university. Soke OBA ICHIO also was tholder of the MENKYO from the Houen Ryu, Kukishin Ryu and the Shito Ryu.