Yoseikan Aikido of Minoru Mochizuki
Minoru
Mochizuki commenced his martial arts training at the age of 5, studying
Judo1.
Several years later, in the 5th grade, he commenced studying Kendo2.
In 1924 he entered the dojo of the famed Judo teacher, Tokusanbo. At the
same time he also studied a classical style
of Jujutsu called Gyokushin Ryu under the last master of the style, Sanjuro
Oshima,
and after six months he was awarded a license called "Shoden Kirishi
Mokuroku"2. He joined the Kodokan
in May 1926 at the age of 19, and in June he was awarded his 1st dan in Judo. The following year he was promoted to 2nd dan, at which time he became an
uchideshi to the famous Judoka 10th Dan Kyuzo Mifune, an expert at sutemi
waza, which undoubtedly influenced Sensei Mochizuki.
Capturing
the attention of Master Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, Sensei Mochizuki
was asked to join the Kobudo Kenkyukai, an orgaisation
to study and preserve
classical martial arts. Through this organisation, Sensei
Mochizuki studied Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu under Yazaemon Hayashi,
Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu under Kooji Shimizu, and Iaido and Kendo with
Nakayama Hakudo. He also studied Shotokan Karate, under its
founder Gichin Funakoshi, the man who brought Karate from Okinawa to Japan.
In 1930
he was sent by Jigoro Kano to study Aiki Jujutsu with O'sensei Morihei
Ueshiba where he became an Uchideshi, a live in student. In June 1932,
Sensei Mochizuki was 
awarded two scrolls by O'sensei the Goshinyo no Te and the Hiden Ogi no
Koto3.
Sensei Mochizuki next studied Shorinji Kempo under its founder Masayoshi Hisakata in Mongolia. This encounter gave birth to the Happoken no Kata.
At his
dojo, the Yoseikan, Sensei Mochizuki taught each of the arts he had learnt.
When dispatched to France, to teach
Aikido for the
first time outside of Japan, he determined that his Aikido alone was
not sufficient to best all opponents, he found
he needed to use his Judo and Jujutsu
techniques. This
is understandable, as the challengers would
have included those who practice 
wrestling, boxing and
Savate, a French kickboxing art. Sensei Mochizuki, although still inspired
by the profound teachings of O'sensei, felt that his message
would be better spread with a stronger technical basis. Hence Yoseikan
Aikido includes techniques from Judo. Students also learn basics
and kata from Shotokan karate, to generate sincere attacks. Also maintaining
the principle that Aikido is based upon sword movements, Katori Shinto Ryu
is also included in the syllabus, which includes sword (Kenjutsu, Iaijutsu)
and Bo (6ft staff).
References
1. "Morihei Ueshiba and Minoru Mochizuki." Stanley Pranin. Aikido Journal. Available WWW. www.aikidojournal.com
2. "Interview with Minoru Mochizuki 1." Stanley Prani. Aikido Journal. Available WWW. www.aikidojournal.com
3. "Minoru Mochizuki." Patrick Auge. International Yoseikan Budo Federation.. Available WWW. www.yoseikanbudo.com