Okabayashi Sensei's training can be traced directly back to the Takeda
family of the Daito Ryu. He studied Aikijujutsu mainly under the late Takeda
Tokimune, 36th Soke, and Hisa Takuma, Menkyo Kaiden (higest rank) of
the Daito Ryu. Sensei trained in Ono Ha Itto Ryu Kenjutsu exclusively under Tokimune
Soke, and holds a Menkyo in this system.
Sensei holds the teaching title of Kyoju Dairi in the Daito Ryu
Kyoju Dairi in the Daito Ryu signifies a mastery of the techniques: the
hiden mokuroku (118 teachings), chuden mokuroku (65 teachings), aikijujutsu mokuroku
(80 teachings), and goshen yo no te (84 teachings).
It is an interesting note that Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido, also held
a Kyoju Dairi from the Daito Ryu.
Sensei formed the Hakuhô Kai in order to preserve the traditional
Daito Ryu bujutsu in the face
of other interpretations adapting themselves to modern-style movement and
a contemporary budo philosophy
(there are even systems that refer to their aikijujutsu as aiki
do). Sensei's goal is to preserve the strength of Daito Ryu
that is embodied in Hitoemi movement and its
historically proven techniques and methods.
He later formed the independent system of Hakuhô Ryu, feeling that the
insights that he had received from Tokamune Soke and his application of
scientific principles to training and the learning of the Takeda system of
aikijujutsu differed enough from the existing curriculum to warrant this.