Tomio Otani

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Tomio Otani

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Born|  (1939-09-08) September 8, 1939 (age 85)
Died| June 8, 1990(1990-06-08) (aged 50)
Occupation| Japanese martial arts instructor
Parent(s)|

* Masutaro Otani (father)

Tomio "Tommy" Otani (8 September 1939 - 8 June 1990) was a Japanese master swordsman,[1] kendo master and the first national Coach to the British Kendo Council.[2][3] He was one of the pioneers of kendo in Britain as the leading student of Kenshiro Abbe.[4] Tomio was descibed as one of the world's top exponents of martial arts.[5] He was a master of multiple other martial arts, including iaido, iaijutsu, aikido, kobudo and grew up learning judo[6] and was also the founder of the Yodokan philosophy. Tomio Otani is the brother of Robin Otani and the son of Masutaro Otani.[6]

## Biography[edit]

Tomio Otani was born in London in 1939 as the eldest son of judo master Masutaro Otani.[7][8] Growing up, Tomio learnt judo from his father.[9] At 15 Tomio began learning Kendo from Kenshiro Abbe and became his leading kendo student.[4] Tomio was a follower of Abbe's Kyūshindō philosophy and founded his own Yodokan philosophy. Tomio Otani defined Kyūshindō as "the accumulation of effort in a steady motion about the radius and center of gravity."[10] He then became a teacher of kendo, the bayonet arts and other budo to many students.[11][12] He was also a master of aikido but never took a grading.[13]

Tomio was awarded his 3rd Dan in 1969[4] and eventually reached 5th dan.[14] Students said, regarding his kendo:At the beginning of 1990, Tomio's health started to deteriorate and he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Tomio Otani died on 8 June 1990.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ "Tenshin Ryu - Club website for Iaido and Iaijutsu". www.tenshin-ryu.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
2. ↑ Ellis, Henry (2005-11-10). "Recollections of the Early Days of Aikido in Great Britain". Fight Times Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
3. ↑ "The Aikido Biography of Sensei Henry Ellis". www.streetdirectory.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Abbe Sensei". www.seishinryu.net. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
5. ↑ "Friday 06 June 1986 newspaper". Atherstone News and Herald. 6 June 1986. p. 9.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Otani Tomio Master Swordsman tribute page". tenshin-ryu.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
7. ↑ "Otani". Wrestling Heritage. 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
8. ↑ Rashid, Abdul; Ellis, Henry (2020-08-25). The founding of Jujutsu, Judo & Aikido in the United Kingdom. Abdul Rashid. p. 259\. ISBN 979-8-6752-3321-2.
9. ↑ "Kendo Roots". kendoinfo.net. 2008-07-14. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
10. ↑ "Kyushindo Martial Arts Association - History". www.kyushindo-martial-arts.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
11. ↑ "Truth of the Early History of Aikido in Britain". www.aikido.karoo.net. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
12. ↑ "Basingstoke Traditional Aikido Club | True Lineage". www.basingstoketraditionalaikidoclub.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
13. ↑ Ellis, Henry (2013-05-02). "The Budo Masters". USAdojo.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
14. ↑ "Shaolingsrilanka". shaolinsrilanka.com. Retrieved 2024-08-29.

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