Left: Kousaku Shibata, father of the current head family and designated successor as the 12th Soke (third disciple)
Right: Name currently unknown (believed to be the second disciple at this time)
Photographer: Believed to be Koichi Otsu (first disciple)
Purpose of Activities
My objective is to accurately preserve and transmit the information of Honkaku Katsumi-ryū Yawara, a traditional martial art from the Tsugaru region, for posterity. I am progressively working to corroborate the martial and historical details I inherited from my father, as well as to document my own recollections, as time allows.
I am the eldest son of the late Kōsaku Shibata. My father was granted a Kyojō (certificate of proficiency) by the late Grandmaster Ikuryō Ōtsu and was entrusted to become the 12th Grandmaster of our school.
My Previous Stance
For many years, I believed it was inevitable that our school's history would quietly come to a close with its teachings accurately preserved. Accordingly, I had long resolved to remain uninvolved.
A Sense of Urgency Regarding the Current Situation
However, in recent years, I have become increasingly aware of the widespread dissemination of what I believe to be incorrect information about Honkaku Katsumi-ryū Yawara, a traditional cultural heritage of the Tsugaru region. This misinformation is found across Japan on numerous websites, including Wikipedia.
It is disheartening to see individuals who understand neither the essence of Honkaku Katsumi-ryū Yawara, nor what it truly means to master a martial art, speak of it with such unearned authority.
For the record, and to the best of my knowledge, the last successor in the direct lineage of Grandmaster Ōtsu was alive and well until the COVID-19 pandemic.
I had the opportunity to interview him in person while he was still in good health.
To Researchers of Our School
I am aware that there are individuals researching our school's techniques through historical documents and other sources.
It is my sincere wish that you conduct your studies with a profound sense of respect for the successive grandmasters of our lineage.