Hikosuke Totsuka(Hộ trủng ngạn giới,Totsuka Hikosuke,1813–1886)was a Japanesejujutsumaster of theYoshin-ryūschool. Under his leadership, the Totsuka-ha Yoshin-ryū was the largest jujutsu organization in Japan, as well as the last great school of this art, until the rise ofKodokan judo.He was reported to be one of the strongest martial artists of his era.[1]
| Hikosuke Totsuka | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1813 Edo,Japan |
| Died | April 15, 1886 Chiba,Japan |
| Native name | Hộ trủng ngạn giới |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Style | Yoshin-ryū |
| Teacher(s) | Hidetsuka Totsuka |
| Other information | |
| Children | Hidemi Totsuka |
Biography
editHe was the elder son of Hidetsuka Totsuka, the founder of the Totsuka branch ofYoshin-ryūjujutsu. While he was learning the family art, Hikosuke served the feudalNumazu DomaininSuruga Provincefrom 1830 until 1837, in which he inherited leadership of the Totsuka family. In 1860, his prestige in the teaching of jujutsu carried to him to an audience withShogunTokugawa Iemochi,whom Totsuka showed his style by performingkatain his presence. Iemochi was impressed, so Totsuka started working for theTokugawa Shogunateas a jujutsu teacher at theKobushoacademy inTokyo.[2][3][4]
Around this time, he had contact with futureShinsengumimemberShinohara Yasunoshin,who stayed at Totsuka's house and discussed martial principles with him.[3][4]
At 178cm and 86kg, Totsuka was large and imposing for a Japanese man at the time, as well as highly skilled. In 1854, he defeatedShibukawa-ryumasterTetsutaro Hisatomi,who went to become his disciple on the claim he knew no better man attachi-wazathan Totsuka. His training regimes were similarly brutal, with trainees being routinely injured and even dying in the Kobusho.[5][6]One of his favorite techniques was a move similar toosoto garihe calledkama goshi.[7]
In 1861, Totsuka departed from the Kobusho due to political changes and decided to settle by himself, opening the first of a system of Totsuka-hadojosin Atago,Edo.By this point, he hand over 1.600 students. Totsuka later moved his residence toChibaafter the 1868Meiji Restoration.[8]He worked as the main hand-to-hand teacher of the Chiba Police Department, but also taught several great exponents of his art, like Matashiro Kashiwazaki, Jujiro Aizawa, Taro Terushima and Teisuke Nishimura.[3][4]
In 1885, Totsuka sparred against another renowned fighter,Tenjin Shin'yō-ryūmaster Katsunosuke Masuoka, and defeated him twice despite being 23 years older and the same weight. Again, Masuoka become his disciple.[9]
In the mid-1880s, his Tokyo students became entangled with the risingKodokanjudoschool during theKodokan-Totsuka rivalry,but Totsuka himself would not see its end, dying of an illness in 1886 in midst of the confrontations.[3][4]He was succeeded by his adopted son Hidemi, who later joined Kodokan founderJigoro Kanoto form the jujutsu department ofDai Nippon Butoku Kai.[8]
References
edit- ^Meiji Gakuin History Material Collection Volume 10.Meiji Gakuin Centennial History Committee. 1984.
- ^Hộ trủng ngạn giới ( đọc み ) とづか ひこすけ
- ^abcdHayashi, Jusuke (1925).Great Men of Boso.Tadaya Shiten.
- ^abcdIwasaki, Hidekazu (1925).The Meiji Restoration, No. 3.Japanese Historical Society.
- ^"Kindai Karate - Matsuoka Tatsuo vs Ryozo Fujiwara",Baseball Magazine,September 1985
- ^"Kindai Karate - Matsuoka Tatsuo vs Ryozo Fujiwara pt. 3",Baseball Magazine,October 1985
- ^Konokichi Fukai,Okushi Ryunomaki,Teikoku Shobukai, 1911
- ^abKawauchi, Tetsusaburo (1935).Side History of Japanese Martial Arts Schools.Nihon Kobudo.
- ^"Kindai Karate - Matsuoka Tatsuo vs Ryozo Fujiwara",Baseball Magazine,September 1985