6/13/2003 4:54pm [from
Jun Akiyama]
Website:
http://www.aikidojournal.com/new/editor.asp?id=424
I just received notice that Minoru Mochizuki sensei, founder and head of the
International Yoseikan Budo Federation, has passed away on May 30th at age 96. As the
Aikido Journal page on his passing states, "Mochizuki Sensei was one of the most important of the prewar students of Morihei Ueshiba. He began judo training at age five and entered the Kodokan in 1925. He was sent to study with Morihei Ueshiba in 1930 by Jigoro Kano. He spent a brief period of time at the Meijiro and Kobukan Dojos of Morihei Ueshiba in 1930-31. Mochizuki Sensei then opened a private dojo in Shizuoka City where he taught for more than 60 years. He was the first to teach aikido in the west when he traveled to France in 1951 as a judo instructor. Mochizuki Sensei was the creator of a composite system including elements of judo, aikido, karate, and kobudo known as Yoseikan Budo. He appeared in the Second Friendship Demonstration sponsored by Aiki News in 1986. Mochizuki Sensei authored a book titled Nihonden Jujutsu (Traditional Japanese Jujutsu)." My condolences to his friends, family, students, and loved ones.
