is a traditional Japanese martial arts practitioner who holds a number of
Soke positions in Japanese schools of martial arts. Specialising in various weapon forms (
Bojutsu,
Sojutsu,
Iaijutsu,
Naginata) and unarmed fighting methods. He is also an author and has appeared in numerous world media.
Early years
His grandfather, who was in charge of the Emperor's protection, instilled in him a drive to learn kobudo from an early age. He began his formal martial arts training at the age of 13 with
Kendo
is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords (shinai) as well as protective armor (bōgu). Today, it is widely practiced within Japan and has spread ...
attaining a 4th Dan at 25 years old.
International Teaching
In 1988 he traveled to France as part of the Nihon Budo delegation selected by the Japanese Ministry of Education and the Agency of Cultural Affairs. Since then he has frequently been invited to teach in Germany, Italy, England, France, Denmark, Kuwait and Sweden.
Enshin Ryu
In 1963, Fumon Tanaka was accepted as a disciple by Nichikan Kobayashi, 10th
Soke of the old school of
Enshin Ryu sword. The
Odachi sword employed in this school is more than 2 meters long, a compromise between the large sword, the lance and the halberd. In 1975, Tanaka was selected to succeed his master as the head of the school and became the 11th Soke after having received, in 1973, the certificate of complete mastery (
menkyo kaiden); He thus received in 1975 Gokui kaiden, (transmission of all the major techniques) of the school Enshin Ryu, concerning:
* Koden iai (the art of quick drawing the greatsword, called ''Sengoku Ōdachi'' in this school)
*
Kenjutsu
is an umbrella term for all ('' ko-budō'') schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration. Some modern styles of kendo and iaido that were established in the 20th century also included modern forms of ...
and
Jūjutsu
Jujutsu ( ; ja, link=no, 柔術 , ), also known as jiu-jitsu and ju-jitsu, is a family of Japanese martial arts and a system of close combat (unarmed or with a minor weapon) that can be used in a defensive or offensive manner to kill or subdu ...
* Kumiuchi Hyogo (fusion of kenjutsu and jujutsu)
*
bojutsu (staffs)
*
sojutsu (spears)
*
naginata (glaives)
* Honmon Suemonogiri Kenpo - techniques of cutting objects with the sword.
Kukishin Ryu
In 1973 Tanaka Sensei is accepted as a secret disciple of the Head-Master Minaki Saburoji Masanori 17th Master of the
Kukishin-ryū and Hontai Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu (
Bō
A ''bō'' (棒: ぼう), ''bong'' (Korean), ''pang'' (Cantonese), ''bang'' (Mandarin), or ''kun'' (Okinawan) is a staff weapon used in Okinawa. ''Bō'' are typically around and used in Okinawan martial arts, while being adopted into Japanese ar ...
and
Hanbō). In 1985, he received the license of Menkyo Kaiden. The 18th Soké of the Kukishin Ryu school, Kyodo Matsuda was Sōke for only one day. He then named Sōke Tanaka as 19th Soké of the
Kukishin Ryu.
Soke
Fumon Tanaka is currently
Sōke of the following
ryū:
* 19th Sōke - Kukishin Ryu Bujutsu
* 11th Sōke - Koden Enshin Ryu
* 4th Sōke - The restored school Honmon Enshin Ryu Suemonogiri Kenpo
* 19th Sōke - Tenshin Hyoho Shoden Kukamishin Ryu
Soke-Dairi
* Hontai Takagi Yoshin Ryu
* Bokuden Ryu
* Shinto Tenshin Ryu (Tenshin Koryu)
* Shinden Fudo Ryu
* Asayama Ichiden Ryu
* Shindo Tenshin Ryu
Other Ranks
* Modern
Kendō
is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords (shinai) as well as protective armor (bōgu). Today, it is widely practiced within Japan and has spread t ...
- 4th dan
* Modern
Bōjutsu
, translated from Japanese as "staff technique", is the martial art of stick fighting using a bō, which is the Japanese word for staff. Staffs have been in use for thousands of years in Asian martial arts like Silambam. Some techniques involve s ...
- 5th dan
* Kumiuchi Hyōhō Soden Yawara-no-jutsu - 7th dan
* Kyoshi
battōjutsu - 7th dan
* Hanshi
kobudō - 8th dan
* Koga Ryu
ninjutsu
, sometimes used interchangeably with the modern term , is the martial art strategy and tactics of unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare and espionage purportedly practised by the ninja. ''Ninjutsu'' was a separate discipline in some tradit ...
* Iga Ryu
ninpo
, sometimes used interchangeably with the modern term , is the martial art strategy and tactics of unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare and espionage purportedly practised by the ninja. ''Ninjutsu'' was a separate discipline in some tradit ...
Other accomplishments
* 1974 - Soke attained 7th Dan in Swordsmanship at 31yrs old, for Yawara Ju Jutsu and Iai Jutsu by Japanese Zen Kobudo Sogo Renmei.
* 1989 - he received the title of Hanshi 8th Dan at the age of 46 years, he is the youngest person so highly graded in an Official Japanese Federation. He is 9th Dan of the World Jujutsu Federation.
Publications
Fumon Tanaka, ''Samurai Fighting Arts: The Spirit and the Practice'', (2003) Kodansha International,
Media
Fumon Tanaka has appeared in the BBC series
Mind, Body & Kick Ass Moves
Mind, Body & Kick Ass Moves is a television programme broadcast on BBC Three. Presented by Chris Crudelli the documentary series travels around the Far East exploring different martial arts and learning the secret skills and knowledge of the ' Gr ...
and is shown in episode 7.
Video Clip
/ref>
References
External links
Kobushiroppokai: Italian page for Fumon Tanaka's official representatives
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tanaka, Fumon Tanaka
Japanese swordfighters
1943 births
Living people