- born Masashi Matsuda (松田 鉦, Matsuda Masashi) - was a Japanese scholar of Chinese martial arts from Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture. "Ryuchi" was his Dharma name when he was a Shingon priest of Toji Temple.
Per Dr. Kenji Tokitsu, author and practitioner of Japanese martial arts, Matsuda is known for introducing and publicising various Chinese martial arts in Japan. His research and writing covered both Buddhism and martial arts.
He was the author behind A Historical Outline of Chinese Martial Arts and a manga called Kenji (supposedly based on his life story).
Overview
Born Masashi Matsuda, he was a admirer of martial arts, particiulary Su Yu Chang, a well-known martial artist in Taiwan's martial arts (Central Guoshu Institute). In his youth, he studied various Japanese martial arts.
Later, he would travel to Taiwan and become Su Yu Chang's apprentice. Later circa 1985, he became an apprentice of Ma Xianda in mainland China.
At some point he became a Shingon Buddhist monk and received his Dharma name, Ryuchi.
He wrote his autobiography “Nazo no kenpō o motomete” (『謎の拳法を求めて』Eng. "In Search of Mysterious Kenpo") based on his own martial arts history, which later became a big hit and served basis for the martial arts manga Kenji in 1989.
His work has unearthed obscure martial arts concepts, such as Aiki and Fa jin, to the Japanese public. His writing also conveys the essence of these martial arts to everyone in an easy-to-understand manner.
Matsuda was the chief editor of the martial arts magazine "Gekkan Hiden" (eng.『月刊秘伝』 "Monthly Secret").
Ryuchi Matsuda died of acute myocardial infarction at 7:39 on July 24, 2013. He was 75 year old at his death.
Martial Arts background
Matsuda first enrolled in Goju-ryu (Goju-ryu Kenbukan in Wakayama) and Oyama Dojo, the predecessor of Kyokushin Kaikan (awarded 3rd dan on April 15, 1967). After accumulating martial arts itineraries such as Jigen-ryū swordsmanship, Shinkage-ryu swordsmanship, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, Hakkō-ryū Jūjutsu (Minden master), Asayama Ichidenryu Sakai school, Kinbei Sato (ja), and possibly others. He later went to train across Taiwan and mainland China, where he learned some Chinese martial arts such as Chen-style taijiquan, Baji Boxing, Northern Mantis Boxing, Bagua Palm, and Yen Ching Boxing.
Martial Arts authority
In Japan, when it was common to recognize Shorinji Kempo as a martial art or Tai Chi as a health method when it came to Chinese physical skills, Matsuda, through his books, introduced Chinese martial arts such as Chen-style Taijiquan, Mantis Fist, and Bajiquan to public consciousness.
At that time, it was generally recognized that "Taijiquan is a health method born from martial arts", but according to Matsuda's book, Chen-style Taijiquan, one of the roots of various Tai Chi, was not a health method and became one as it spread to places like Taiwan.
At the time, there was almost no information on martial arts from mainland China and it was Matsuda's knowledge he acquired in his travels was considered the primary source in the matter.
In introducing Chinese martial arts, Matsuda pointed out that in China, the qualities and training are recognized by the teacher, and the selected person can learn the essence for the first time, which was a difference from the modern martial arts of Japan. Furthermore, differences between Japanese karate's and Chinese martial arts' power generation became topic of discussion for first time in Japan.
Despite introducing various Chinese Martial arts to Japanese public, Matsuda himself had little interest in starting any kind of full-scale teaching of kung to the public. Matsuda cited that he was not interested in idea of money-making or spreading an organizational entity, saying that he was more focused on his personal improvement via martial arts. In addition, Matsuda warned from the history of ancient martial arts between Japan and China that modern Japanese martial arts would gradually lose their essence due to competitions and that martial arts should not be exercised for "so-called strength" alone.
Kinbei Sato, Kyoji Kasao and others announced their works one after another, as if they were competing at the same time with Matsuda's series of works, and the word "Chinese martial arts" became established in Japan. Influenced by these books, Taiwan and those who learned in mainland China after the restoration of diplomatic relations between Japan and China became more popular. In this respect, Matsuda can be said to be a pioneer.