Master Teachers: Kimura Masaharu Sensei  
 
"The first time we met, he looked exactly like Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei. He took a look at me and told me that I looked like Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei as a young man. It seems to be that Deshi (personal students) pick up the look or feeling of their teacher. Now that I've been together with Grandmaster Sato Kinbei Sensei for a while, when people see us, they mistake us for father and son. I am happy to know about that."
Shoto Tanemura Sensei

Masaharu (Masaji) Kimura Sensei was the second most accomplished student of Takamatsu Sensei, after Fumio Akimoto.
He was born in 1901 and joined Takamatsu Sensei’s dojo at the age of 17.

He had to obey the three rules that Takamatsu Sensei instructed his students to follow at that time:
  • no alcohol,
  • no smoking and...
  • no fighting!

At the time of Kimura Sensei’s joining the dojo, Takamatsu Sensei was teaching Jujutsu of the Takagi Yoshin lineage, and the famous Kukishin ryu Bojutsu.
Kimura Sensei received Menkyo Kaiden (Grandmastership) in both these schools at the age of 36.
 
  Kimura Sensei lived very close to Takamatsu Sensei and as a result was able to train almost every day.
Due to this it is possible that no other student of Takamatsu Sensei trained with him as much as Kimura Sensei.		  
  Takamatsu Sensei once told Kimura Sensei:  
"Jujutsu is not for fighting, it is something you must develop for your life during the entirety of your life".
  Grandmaster Kimura Masaharu Sensei passed away on the 14th of January 2000, at the age of 99, due to illness.