Fumon Tanaka 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 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 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.
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 ; He thus received in 1975 Gokui kaiden, of the school Enshin Ryu, concerning:
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. 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
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.
