Master Sokaku Takeda (1859–1943) was known as the reviver and founder of the martial art Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu.

He was born in Aizu and grew up in a time of war and civil strife. He was the second son of Sokichi Takeda, a samurai of the Takeda clan who worked his farm and was a teacher at a local school in a Buddhist temple.

Sokaku's mother, was Tomi Kurokochi who was a daughter of Dengoro Kurokochi, a Yari and Kenjutsu master.

Sokaku received his first martial arts training with his father who had a dojo at their home. Sokichi was an expert in sword (kenjutsu) and spear (yari), and had also been a sumo wrestler with the rank of ozeki.

In 1873, Takeda traveled to the dojo of his father's friend, Sakakibara Kenkichi. There he stayed on as a live-in student and immersed himself in training.

Later he also received a license (inka) in the spear arts of the Hozoin-ryu.

His sword skills were unparalleled and he was greatly feared.

From 1875, he spent ten years as a guest in the Kyoshin Meichi-ryu dojo of swordsman Momonoi Shunzo. Around 1868, Saigo Tanomo became a Shinto priest (Hoshina Chikanori). In 1875 Sokaku studied for entrance to priesthood, and while there, received instruction in the arts of oshikiiuchi from Chikanori.

Although he decided against becoming a priest, he visited many times, and under Chikanori's instruction is said to have perfected miraculous skills of understanding another thoughts.

In 1898 Chikanori wrote a poem in Sokaku's enrollment book, saying the age of the sword had ended, and it was time to pursue jujutsu.

Sokaku Takeda began identifying himself as a practitioner of both Daito-ryu aiki jujutsu and Ono-ha Itto-ryu. He traveled around Japan teaching both arts and came to be recognized as the reviver of Daito-ryu.

Sokaku was a small man, but his eyes were piercing and his techniques were of the highest level. He is said to have been able to sense a person's past, present, and future even before being introduced.

He is thought to have taught around thirty thousand people during his life, the signatures and seals are all entered in his enrollment books.

In his later years Sokaku focused his activities in Hokkaido. He passed away in 1943 at the age of 83 while teaching in Aomori Prefecture.