A brief history of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu

The founder of iai was Hayashizaki Jinusuke Minamoto Shigenobu, a retainer of the Mogami family in Yamagata prefecture during the Eiroku period (circa 1560) in a town called Ogura (currently known as Murayama city). The name of his style was Hayashizaki Muso Ryu. Later in the Kyoho period (circa 1720) the seventh generation headmaster Hasegawa Eishin combined the old techniques with his own conceptions and changed the name of the style to Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. Around the time of the 11^th generation headmaster, Oguro sensei, the school split into two styles. Tanimura Kame No Jo Masanari, the 15^th headmaster, and Shimomura Shigeichi appeared in these two branches, and so they came to be called the Tanimura-ha (the main branch) and Shimomura-ha (a splinter group). Oe Masaji, the17^th generation headmaster, studied both styles and organised them into what came to be called seiza, tatehiza, and oku iai. This has been passed down through his students to Iwata sensei and now to us.Iwata sensei's main teachers at the Kochi dojo were Yamamoto Takuji, Mori Shigeki, and Taoka Den senseis. For more information on this please see the Roshukai website.

Nakayama Hakudo became the student of Hosogawa Yoshimasa and Yukimune Sadayoshi, teachers within the Shimomura-ha. Later he went on to make his own sword style, which is currently called Muso Shinden ryu.

Notes from Iwata sensei on iai.

The meaning of iai is killing people with a sword. There are lots of different methods and waza (technique). These are the best ways. Although there were many methods in the past, only the best ways have been carried through to todays iaijutsu practise.

The method of iai technical skill.

1. The best way is- if you can kill the enemy with one movement, then do so. That is why you must develop big, solid techniques.
2. Its not good form to use only the arm and the sword. You can't show good iai this way.
3. The meaning of iai is use your body-especially the tanden (stomach) so you can generate energy. Power from the shita-bara (lower abdomen) is used to kill.
4. The principle of cutting with a sword:

a)      To cut effectively, you must use the full stretch of the arm as much as possible.

b)      The best cut is to hit the target at 90 degrees square on to the target.

c)      When cutting, imagine (like chopping wood with an axe) splitting right through, top to bottom.

d)      For energy, first you need tanden, then chest, then arms, then sword, so the power can be transmitted right through the cut.

e)      Study how to grip the tsuka (sword handle). This is very important.

f)        How to cut in two is, make sure you grip the tsuka tightly and scribe a line with the kissaki (sword tip) at the right speed.

5. You need force. Use ki (energy force) to put fear into the opponent.

a)      Ganriki (eye power, kind of ki)

b)      Sword power and speed.

c)      Use force from the tanden.

6. How to frighten the opponent.

a)      You need ganriki, then the opponent will not be able to move.

b)      Kill with the sword.

c)      If you use the body's power, the enemy will not be able to oppose you.

7. Ideal iai. The best way is that the enemy should be frightened of you and then cut. To achieve this focus, you need to do a lot of repetitive training.