Gavin Slater

Hi Cliff,

I personally dont think Takeda Sensei made it up (but i dont have a problem if he did), Hisa Sensei did not think that either. It would have to have been made up by an old person who had aiki, or by at least a few other generations. It would be interesting when certain facts about Daito Ryu appeared to see how old Takeda Sensei was. I dont think a young person could come up with some of the teachings, even the first ones.

I think the whole issue is with Daito Ryu is, you have to really think laterally. I had alot of debates with Amatsu Sensei because I didn't like what he was telling me, but after a while I decided that I would just listen and try and logically work out how it could be true, or how it could be false. Then work out what the lesson would be for either.

For me personally an illitrate, teaching a martial art that is not written down, in a newspaper. Thats a lot of irony.

Gav