Discover the origins of Aunkai in this exclusive excerpt from the newly published book “Akuzawa Minoru and Aunkai.” Founder Akuzawa Minoru recounts how his art was born from personal exploration, not tradition—melding strength, softness, and natural movement into a uniquely Japanese discipline. Through candid reflections, he shares the mindset and training that shaped Aunkai’s evolution from idea to living practice.
by SIMONE CHIERCHINI, ROB JOHN & WT GILLESPIE
Simone: Tell me about the birth of Aunkai?
Akuzawa Sensei: It’s a difficult question to pinpoint. It was born when I began teaching and named it, although I suppose that its principles were slowly manifesting in my personal training before that. It has continued to evolve, as my personal training and growth have continued.
At first, I thought simply becoming a branch of Master Yō’s Chinese martial arts association, but really, what I was doing was completely different. Being Japanese and wanting to create something that was an expression of my own culture, I thought of ‘A-un,’ which, as I’ve mentioned, is a Japanese expression of a Buddhist concept, a kind of Yin and Yang, bearing the connotation that soft and hard have to be integrated. They are two sides of the same coin, representing what applied martial arts should aim for, the harmony of hardness and softness. Plus I happened to like Kongo Rikishi statues, which are said to embody the bujutsu or martial body.29 So, I thought, why not call it ‘Aunkai’?
There were no other names in contention. Aunkai (阿吽会) starts with the same soft ‘A’ (ah) as Akuzawa (阿久澤); the sound and the kanji are the same right? That might be an afterthought, though. There wasn’t initially any deep philosophy tied to the name. It’s difficult to start with a grand philosophy and then name something. More likely, you find inspiration first and then you keep developing your art, mulling it over, and through that process something appropriate arises. ‘Aun’ seemed good to me.
Simone: In your opinion, can someone reach your level of skill without following the same path you took? Is it possible to attain a high level of proficiency in Aunkai solely by following the Aunkai path? Or is there foundational physical work that needs to be precede the study of Aunkai or can accelerate one’s progress?
Akuzawa Sensei: In my twenties, I did quite a lot of push-ups and such. Also, I “borrowed” a number of barbells from my gymnastics club when I headed out to Tokyo. At that time, kettlebells weren’t very common yet, but I tried swinging them a little. My waist is slim, and I’m not that strong, so it was just an experiment. Rather than strength training, it was more about exploring what kind of body usage is most effective in order to manage a weight.
Simone: What other types of non-martial arts training do you believe are beneficial for developing martial arts skill?
Akuzawa Sensei: Maybe hiking. I think that when you hike in the mountains, the situation changes a lot compared to the usual practice in a dōjō, and so the information your body receives is different. In fact, I’d often hike barefoot. The stimulation is random. It might be good to hit a heavy bag or practice forms in a dōjō, but if I had to choose between the two, I personally think being in nature is better because your brain has to process various situations. It’s not limited to just one thing.
Simone: If you could start over, would you choose to begin with gymnastics or bujutsu to create the ultimate martial artist from a young age?
Akuzawa Sensei: If I were to do it all over again, I wouldn’t send them to a dōjō or gym. I’d let them play in the mountains, wrestle, and tumble around in nature. They’d scramble up the mountains, hang from horizontal bars or even climb trees, and have them practice sumō in nature. I would make them climb places where normal people can’t go without handles, like climbing while hugging a tree. Naturally, they would develop strength that extends to their fingers. I’d have them do more primal training.
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Akuzawa Minoru and Aunkai
Nippon Naidō Bujutsu
The Ran Network – Master Casket’s N. 1
Akuzawa Minoru and Aunkai invites readers into the remarkable life and teachings of Akuzawa Minoru, founder of Aunkai, a martial art that redefines strength through internal movement. From a turbulent childhood in rural Japan to decades of exploration across gymnastics, Chinese wushu, Japanese kobujutsu, the hand-to-hand combat system of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, and even Western boxing, Akuzawa forged a path that is as unconventional as it is profound.
Blending biography, personal interviews, and direct experience, this book reveals how Akuzawa’s “naidō bujutsu” transforms the body into a fluid yet explosive instrument—powerful, efficient, and rooted in principles that transcend conventional martial training.
More than a martial arts text, this is the story of a seeker who turned hardship into mastery, and mastery into a living art. Whether you are a martial artist, a movement enthusiast, or simply curious about human potential, Akuzawa’s journey will inspire and challenge you to rethink what true power feels like.
“Those who treasure traditional martial arts hold the founder, such as Tsukahara Bokuden of Shintō-ryū, Dong Haichuan of Baguazhang, or German fencing master Johannes Liechtenauer, in awe. Beyond their incomparable skill, we marvel at how they created their comprehensive training systems. In these pages, we are permitted to enter into the developmental process of Akuzawa Minoru, the creator of the Aunkai, an innovative new system of training in order to acquire a martial body.
This small book helps us understand that what makes a new martial art is what made the man. Rather than a systemic academic exercise, the creative process requires a particular type of individual, one who explores new possibilities through experimentation, imagination and intuitive leaps that no one else would think of, but in hindsight, are inevitable. Akuwaza Minoru’s story is both humbling and inspiring, showing the incredible commitment necessary to become a truly creative force in this world.”
—Ellis Amdur, author of Dueling with O-sensei, Old School and Hidden in Plain Sight
Aikido Italia Network 