Michio Takase (高瀬 道雄, Takase Michio) stands as the current director (Kancho) of Renshinkan, one of the most secretive and authentic branches of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu. Born in 1964 in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, Takase represents the direct lineage from Takeda Sokaku through Toshimi (Hosaku) Matsuda → Takeshi Maeda → Michio Takase.

At age 19 (1983), Takase entered the Renshinkan dojo under Takeshi Maeda Shihan, a notoriously private master who had inherited the complete system from Toshimi Matsuda (one of only 18 people ever awarded the Kyoju Dairi teaching license by Takeda Sokaku himself). 

For decades, the Matsuda-den transmission remained almost completely closed to outsiders — Maeda Sensei taught only a tiny handful of devoted students in Gunma and Tochigi, and the deepest aiki secrets were guarded with extreme discretion.

 Takase trained intensively under Maeda for over 30 years. In 1997 (Heisei 9), he received promotion to deputy instructor (professor substitute) and began teaching in the Gunma-Tochigi-Saitama area while still serving as Maeda’s right-hand man. 

When Takeshi Maeda passed away, Takase inherited full responsibility for the school, its ancient scrolls, and the complete oral and written transmission. A major turning point came in 2017: after decades of near-total secrecy, Takase made the historic decision to open the Matsuda-den Renshinkan teachings to qualified students worldwide — including the first non-Japanese practitioners. 

This shift has allowed the profound aiki of this lineage — characterized by extreme subtlety, seated suwari-waza mastery, internal “aiki-age” principles, and the integration of ancient makimono (scroll) knowledge — to finally reach a broader audience without compromising depth or authenticity.