About

Itsuo Tsuda (1914-1984)

Born into a samurai family turned industrialists, Itsuo Tsuda rejected his predetermined inheritance path at sixteen to pursue intellectual freedom. He studied in France under scholars Marcel Granet and Marcel Mauss before World War II, then returned to Japan where he explored cultural traditions and martial arts.

Around age thirty, Tsuda studied Seitai with Master Haruchika Noguchi for approximately two decades. At forty-five, he met aikido founder Master Morihei Ueshiba and remained his student until Ueshiba’s death in 1969.

In 1970, at age fifty-six, Tsuda left his job at Air France and relocated to Paris to spread aikido and his practical philosophy of ki (breath, life force) throughout Europe. He introduced “Katsugen Undo” (Regenerating Movement) practices across the continent and authored nine books in French, including The Non-Doing, The Path of Less, and Facing Science.

Tsuda emphasized that “the essence of action is respiration, breath, ki”—a philosophy that continues to guide the school’s practice today.

Régis Soavi Sensei

Régis Soavi began martial arts training around age twelve with traditional judo, progressing to aikido in the 1970s under masters Nocquet, Tamura, and Noro. He became an instructor in their schools and taught within the French Aikikai Federation.

In 1973, Soavi encountered Master Itsuo Tsuda in Paris and trained with him for a decade until Tsuda’s death in 1984. He also studied traditional Japanese martial arts including iaido, kenjutsu, and jujitsu under Tatsuzawa Sensei.

Around 1980, Soavi committed fully to Tsuda’s approach, which emphasizes “the practice of the Non-Doing through Aikido and Katsugen Undo.” Since 1982, he has dedicated himself professionally to teaching, conducting regular workshops across multiple dojos in Europe.

The School Today

The Itsuo Tsuda School brings together several dojos across Europe, some of which have been in existence for more than thirty years. These dojos function as independent, self-managed associations that collaborate on larger projects while maintaining their local character.

The school continues Itsuo Tsuda’s mission of spreading his practical philosophy through the integrated practice of Aikido and Katsugen Undo. Our workshops welcome practitioners seeking internal development through these complementary disciplines.

For deeper resources including articles, videos, interviews, and publications, visit itsuo-tsuda-school.org.