Internal Martial Arts 

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Instead of still water, a gentleman will take

other people as his mirror. Looking in the mirror of still water,

he may see his own appearance only. Looking in the mirror of other people, he can

foresee the fortune or misfortune he will meet.

2026

Kenichi Sawai and the Taikiken Tradition

Discover the story of Mr. Kenichi Sawai, founder of Taiki-Shisei-Kenpou - Taikiken. Learn how he learned yiquan from Chinese Master Wang and brought it to Japan.

In the spring of 1940s China, where the echoes of distant conflict rumbled through hidden courtyards and quiet gardens, a young Japanese fighter stepped onto foreign soil with ambition blazing in his eyes. He was Mr. Kenichi Sawai, a man from Fukuoka Prefecture, born in 1903, already boasting a fifth-dan in Judo and fourth-dan in Kendo and Iaido. Sawai’s journey would defy expectations, blending old-world discipline with a hunger for something new—an encounter that would reshape his understanding of combat and, in time, martial arts history itself.

That moment arrived in the form of Master Wang, a name that resonated across China’s martial arts landscape. By all appearances, Wang seemed unimposing—thin, modest in stature, hardly the figure one would expect to stand at the pinnacle of Chinese kung fu. Yet the world recognized Wang’s mastery, and Sawai, confident in his Japanese prowess, stepped forward for a test of skill he believed he’d easily win.

What followed was a revelation, one etched into Sawai’s soul with every failed throw and each futile attempt to grapple with Wang. Traditional Judo techniques, so reliable in Japan, found no purchase. Each time Sawai reached out, he was effortlessly cast aside, an airborne reminder that he had stepped into another dimension of martial skill. Even when Sawai attempted to attack Wang with a wooden practice blade, he was thwarted with the same startling ease. Wang’s quiet words after dispatching every assault—“A sword or a stick is just an extension of the hands”—revealed a philosophy that struck at the heart of combat itself.

Sawai emerged from the experience shaken to his core, so shocked he could not eat. But in the aftermath of defeat, he found a new calling. At the age of 36, he sought to learn the art that had humbled him: Yiquan. Initially, Sawai trained under one of Wang’s devoted disciples, Master Yao Zongxun, a figure destined to carry Wang’s legacy forward. Under Yao’s guidance, Sawai’s skills flourished, evolving at a remarkable pace. Soon, he earned the privilege of training directly with Master Wang—not only in the open floor of the gym but also in the intimate setting of Wang’s own garden. There, among the rustling leaves and soft earth, Sawai stood as the lone foreigner learning directly from the source.

As the years slipped by, Sawai’s mastery of Yiquan’s principles grew ever deeper. His background in Judo and Iaido did not hinder his progress; instead, it added richness and breadth to his new skillset. He drew attention not only for his rapid improvement but for his unique perspective as a Japanese martial artist studying in a Chinese tradition. Yet just as Sawai’s martial world expanded, the world around him shook.

On August 15, 1945, World War II ended. Japan’s defeat stunned Sawai, leaving him contemplating the most desperate of escapes. It was Master Wang who stepped in once again, this time to save his very life. Urging Sawai to return home rather than succumb to despair, Wang insisted there was a greater purpose waiting. Sawai heeded the call, crossing the seas back to a humbled Japan.

There, he reconnected with the martial community, practicing alongside Masutatsu Oyama, who would later found Kyokushin Karate. Sawai passed on what he had learned to Oyama’s students, sharing the lessons born of struggle and humility. But Sawai’s true contribution to Japan’s martial scene came on Sunday mornings in Tokyo’s Meiji Jingu forest, beneath tall trees and clear skies. There, he taught Taikiken—his interpretation of Yiquan—to dedicated students, weaving together the threads of his Chinese apprenticeship and his Japanese heritage.

In time, Taikiken would take root, becoming a quiet but powerful legacy of a man who began as a traditional martial artist and evolved into a visionary. Sawai’s story remains an inspiration, a Sports Illustrated-worthy saga of defeat, resilience, and ultimate triumph, reminding us that sometimes, the greatest victories emerge not from overwhelming strength, but from the humility to learn anew.

Kenichi Sawai Iaido, click picture

Kenichi Sawai Tanshu, click picture