History

【Budo】 武道 has its roots in China where it was commonly known as "Wushu" 武術 and was imported into Japan in antiquity. Originally an art of war and philosophy used by samurais, it then evolved into traditional budo, under the influence of Japanese Masters.

【Yoseikan】Budo draws its inspiration from both traditional and modern Budo, with influences from Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, and Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido.

— Family roots —

The Mochizuki family survived the fall of the Takeda clan, to which it was linked. By the time the period of wars ended with the advent of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1615-1868), they were partly out of active politics, as it occurs in these cases. It is known that they were related to a Bujutsu School which was also a hostel, on the Tokaido Road, in Shizuoka. There, both cultural disciplines and The Way of the Sword were taught to the young people of the Bushi families. Martial Arts and culture was the mandatory education for these nobles, now also administrators and writers.

We know of a warrior named Mochizuki Chugo, master of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu, and of Mochizuki Chiyozo: master of Itto Ryu and expert in So Jutsu (spear) and Ba Jutsu (horsemanship), father of Minoru sensei.

After the feudal period with the Meiji Restoration (1868), Minoru Mochizuki's father moved to Tokyo for work. It was there that his son's incredible martial career began.

— First generation —

Born in 1907, Master Minoru Mochizuki was 10th dan in Aikido, 9th Dan in Ju-Jitsu, 8th Dan in Judo, 8th Dan in Iaido, 8th Dan in Katori Shinto Ryu Kobudo, and 5th Dan in Karate.

He studied directly under Masters Jigoro Kano (the founder of Judo), Kyuzo Mifune, Toku, Gichin Funakoshi (the founder of Shotokan Karate), Yazaemon Hayashi (Katori Shinto Ryu), Sanjuro Oshima (Gyokushin Ryu Jujutsu) and Takaji Shimizu (Shindo Muso Ryu). He was assistant to both Masters Jigoro Kano (the founder of Judo) and Morihei Ueshiba (the founder of Aikido).

He was the first ever to show Aikido in Europe in 1951, and was one of the greatest Masters of the 20th century. He died in France in 2003.

Minoru Mochizuki (right) with Morihei Ueshiba (left), the founder of Aikido

Minoru Mochizuki's Daito Ryu Jujutsu scroll certificate

The first Yoseikan dojo, with several relevant personalities of Japanese martial arts and government officials

In 1931, Master Minoru Mochizuki opens the Yoseikan dojo, at the foot of the sacred Fuji Yama, and teaches Judo, Aiki-Jujitsu, Iaido, Kobudo (and Karate under the direction of Master Sano).

Master Hiroo Mochizuki (Minoru's first son) performing Happoken Kata

Between 1938 and 1946, the Mochizuki family lived in China and Mongolia. A few technical exchanges took place between Minoru Sensei and local masters. Some of its forms and principles are still preserved and integrated in today's Yoseikan Budo.

Canne de combat (Western stickfighting)

Savate (French kick-boxing)

While in France, Minoru Mochizuki met Master Lamotte, a great expert in French fighting disciplines (European saber and fencing, canne de combat, French boxing) and trained with him in those western martial arts. Minoru sensei also tested his martial skills several times against freestyle wrestlers, Savate fighters (French kickboxing) and others.

Later, Master Minoru Mochizuki returned to Japan and opened the second Yoseikan dojo. He also started traveling to Europe, the USA and Canada several times to introduce and teach Aiki-Budo in the West.

Born in 1936 in Shizuoka, Master Hiroo Mochizuki has an extensive knowledge of martial arts. He started training in Judo and Kendo with his father (among other arts taught in his family's dojo), and later with Karate masters like Minoru Hyogo, Hironori Otsuka (the founder of Wado Ryu Karate) and Shinji Michihara, as well as Morihei Ueshiba (the founder of Aikido). He also practiced English Boxing with Mr. Kushida (a former featherweight champion), French Kickboxing (Henry Plée, Roger Lafond), and has a marked interest in Chinese martial arts as he spent some time living in China with his father.

He currently is 10th Dan in Karate, 8th Dan in Aikido, 8th Dan in Jujitsu, 3rd Dan in Judo, 7th Dan in Iaido and Kobudo. He is presently the Soke, or Grand Master, of Yoseikan Budo worldwide. Master Hiroo Mochizuki is the creator of Yoseikan Budo as is it practiced today around the world.

Hiroo will stay in France from 1957 until 1959, and then return to Japan to finish his VMD studies. In 1963, he comes back to Europe and participates in the creation of the French Karate Federation (FFKAMA). In 1964 he becomes the first technical advisor to the French Karate Federation and European Karate Union.

In 1965, Master Hiroo Mochizuki creates his own school of martial arts, called "Yoken" (school of sabre and fist). Later, he renamed it to YOSEIKAN BUDO in homage to his father.

In the 70's, under his supervision, the French Karate team becomes the first foreign team ever to defeat the Japanese team in the Karate world championships.

Minoru Mochizuki (left) and Hiroo Mochizuki (right)

— The third generation —

— Three generations —