Invincible Warrior by John Stevens

Author:John Stevens
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala

Memorable Encounters

The first encounter was with General Miura, a hero of the Russo-Japanese War. Miura was famed for cutting down over fifty Russian soldiers with his officer’s sword, despite having been run through the chest by a Russian bayonet. Miura had once been a student of Sokaku as well, and he wanted to see for himself if Morihei was the genuine article.

After an exchange of pleasantries, Miura asked for a demonstration. Absolutely fearless and secretly harboring a desire to humiliate Morihei, the general attacked with all his might. In spite of his steely determination and martial prowess, Miura was completely stymied by Morihei. Miura apologized deeply for his rash behavior and begged to be admitted as a student: “Your techniques are a world apart from those of the Daito Ryu. It is true Budo. Please enroll me as your disciple.”

Even though Morihei could handle Miura with no difficulty, the general still wondered how well Morihei would fare against a no-holds-barred multiple attack. Miura eventually arranged for a demonstration by Morihei to be given at the Toyama Military Academy. After the demonstration, Miura informed Morihei that the cadets wanted a full display of his power.

Urged on by Miura, the cocky cadets challenged Morihei with wooden bayonets. They counseled him to wear protective armor, but Morihei refused: “It won’t be necessary. Are you going to attack one at a time?”

“Of course!”

“That’s too easy. In my Budo, we expect attackers from all directions. Come at me together!”

Hesitant as they were at first, only one cadet stepped forward. After he went flying the cadets lost all reserve and rushed in, only to find themselves upended in a flash.

The second encounter was with Jigoro Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo, who paid a visit to the Meijiro dojo in October 1930. Kano, a cosmopolitan, English-speaking intellectual, was in most respects the diametrical opposite of the old-fashioned mystic Morihei, but he too was dazzled by Morihei’s techniques. “This is the ideal Budo—true Judo,” Kano exclaimed after witnessing Morihei’s performance. (A disciple of Kano who heard this remark later asked his teacher, “Does that mean what we are doing is fake Judo?”) Kano humbly asked Morihei to accept two of his senior students as trainees. Morihei agreed and Kano had them regularly report to him the results of their study with the master.

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