Michio Hikitsuchi

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Michio Hikitsuchi (1923 - February 2, 2004) was an aikido instructor and was the founder of the Kumano Juku Dojo, in Shingu, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.

He met Morihei Ueshiba as a child and studied various martial arts during his entire life. He was awarded 10th dan by Ueshiba.

At nine years old he began kendo and later ken-jutsu, ju-jutsu, bojutsu and karate. Hikitsuchi sensei trained extensively in jukenjutsu as a young man, and was very skilled in both iaido and kendo.

When he was fourteen years old, he met Ueshiba Morihei O'Sensei for the first time. At that time there was an age requirement for studying budo with O'Sensei, but they made an exception for Hikitsuchi.

Hikitsuchi sensei recounts a midnight, lights-out training with Ueshiba, in which he broke off the tip of Osensei’s bokken. The piece flew off, and he searched throughout the dojo for it. Eventually, Ueshiba pulled it out of the folds of his kimono, praising him highly for his skill. months later, Ueshiba gave Hikitsuchi a scroll in bojutsu that were extensively illustrated by a famous artist, it was Ueshiba's written explanations of techniques. As Meik Skoss, who has viewed the scroll, wrote, “One of the phrases on the scroll is very interesting, ‘each of these pictures is the seed for a hundred techniques; study them well.’”

This scroll was entitled, “Bojutsu Masakatsu Agatsu” — True Victor is Self-Victory.

Clint George, one of Hikitsuchi’s closest students, “Shingu bojutsu” had five levels:

Ikkyo — a fundamental solo form

Nikyo — a solo form that explored circular movement

Sankyo — a solo form that explored three dimensional, spherical movement

Yonkyo —Jiyuwaza — free, un-choreographed movement

Hikitsuchi Sensei received his 10th dan in 1969, three months before O'Sensei passed away.

Hikitsuchi-sensei teaches in Kumano Juku Dojo in Shinju, Japan. The dojo was founded by O'Sensei over 56 years ago. Hikitsuchi traveled regularly to European countries, teaching at dojos that have been started by his students. American Aikido instructors who have trained at Shinju include, Linda Holiday, Clint George, Mary Heiny, Tom Read, Jack Wada, and Daniel Caslin.

He was described by other teachers in Shingu as 'an Aiki computer' because of his ability to recite virtually in verbatim speeches O'Sensei had given. His reverence for O'Sensei and O'Sensei's message was total."