Grandmaster Kimura Masaji

Grandmaster Kimura Masaharu (Masaji) was born on 3 February 1901. He trained hard in Hontai Yoshin Takagi Ryu Ju-Jutsu and Kukishin Ryu Bojutsu in which he received Menkyo Kaiden (Grandmastership) at the age of 36. He lived also in Kashihara, near by the house of Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu and was able to train and spar with him almost every day. Grandmaster Kimura Masaharu passed away on the 14th of January 2000. He was 100 years old and died due to illness.

If Fumio Akimoto was considered the senior student of Takamatsu Sensei, then his second most accomplished student would have to be Masaharu Kimura. Born in Meiji 34, Kimura lived to the age of 99. At the age of 17, he joined the Dojo of Takamatsu Sensei who at this time was teaching Jujutsu of the Takagi Yoshin lineage, and the famous Kukishin ryu Bojutsu. Takamatsu had only three rules for his students at this time: no liquor, no smoking, and no fighting.

Living close by, Kimura was able to train almost everyday with Takamatsu. It is possible that no other student of Takamatsu has had more training with the Grandmaster. During these early years, Kimura would often spar with Takamatsu. At the age of 36, Kimura received from Takamatsu menkyo kaiden in Jujutsu and Bojutsu. In 1991, Shoto Tanemura met Kimura and became his student.