Akuzawa Minoru and Aunkai

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. Akuzawa 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