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A brief history of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu and club lineage

Chidokan MJER dojo

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 11th generation headmaster, Oguro sensei, the school split into two styles. Tanimura Kame No Jo Masanari, the 15th 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, the17th 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

oemasamichi.jpg
Oe Masaji sensei

Club Lineage

The clubs instructor is a student of Iwata Norikazu sensei, who was well known for his technical knowledge and skill as well as his publications on MJER. Iwata sensei was a direct student of Mori Shigeki sensei, holding menkyo kaiden from both him and Yamamoto Takuji sensei, who were both Oe Masaji senseis' deshi. He also studied under Taoka Den and Fukui Harumasa, also Oe senseis students. The lineage before Oe sensei is well known and can be found on many MJER websites so will not be repeated here.

Notes on MJER waza
Relevant information for MJER will be added as time goes on...for  a comprehensive guide to the waza, refer to Iwata sensei's notes on Colin Hyakutakes website. I can't see the point of repeating them here, too much typing to do!
This list is designed as a memory jogger, as I have a terrible memory for names...

SEIZA NO BU

 

MAE                               CUT TO FRONT

MIGI                               CUT TO RIGHT

HIDARI                          CUT TO LEFT

USHIRO                         CUT TO REAR

YAE GAKI                      CHASE AND CUT

UKE NAGASHI            AVOID AND CUT

KAESHAKU                 SEPPUKU ASSIST

TSUKE KOMI               AVOID ATTACK AND CUT

TSUKI KAGE               CUT TO WRISTS

OE KAZE                       CHASE AND CUT

NUKI UCHI                   VERTICAL CUT

 

CHUDEN, TATE HIZA NO BU

 

YOKO GUMO                       CUT TO FRONT

TORA NO ISSOKU              PARRY TO LEG

INAZUMA                           CUT TO WRISTS

UKE GUMO                          AVOID GRAB TO SWORD AND CUT TO NECK

OROSHI                                 AVOID GRAB TO SWORD AND USE TSUKA

IWANAMI                           THRUST

UROKU GAESHI                 LOW CUT TO LEFT

NAMI GAESHI                    LOW CUT TO REAR

TAKI OTOSHI                     SAYA GRAB

MAKKO                                VERTICAL CUT

 

OKUDEN, TATE HIZA NO BU

 

KASUMI                               DOUBLE CUT TO FRONT

SUNE GAKOI                       PARRY TO LEG

TOZUME                              TWO FRONT DIAGONAL CUTS

TOWAKI                              REAR TSUKI AND FRONT CUT

SHIHOGIRI                           FOUR WAY CUTS

TANASHITA                       IN ALCOVE

RYOZUME                            NARROW PASSAGE

TORA BASHIRI                   CUT FORWARD AND BACK

 

OKUDEN, TACHI WAZA

 

YUKI ZURE                          TWO FRONT DIAGONAL CUTS

TSURE DACHI                     REAR TSUKI AND FRONT CUT

SOMAKURE                        MULTIPLE OPPONENTS

SODOME                              LOW CUTS

SHINOBU                              STEALTH

YUKICHIGAI                        TSUKA STRIKE

SODE SURI GAESHI           THROUGH A CROWD

MONIRI                                 GATEWAY

KABEZOE                             NEARBY WALLS

UKE NAGASHI                    AVOIDANCE AND CUT

 

SEIZA NO BU

 

ITAMAGOI                          SMALL BOW

ITAMAGOI                          MIDDLE BOW

ITAMAGOI                          BIG BOW

 

BANGAI

 

HAYANAMI                       

RAIDEN

JINRAI

 

TACHI UCHI NO KURAI

 

DE AI

TSUKE KOMI

UKE NAGASHI

UKE KOMI

TSUKE KAGE

SUIGETSU TO

ZETSUMYOKEN

DOKU MYOKEN

SHIN MYOKEN

UCHI KOMI

 

TSUME AI NO KURAI

 

HASSO

KOBUSHI TORI

NAMI GAESHI

YAE GAKI

UROKU GAESHI

KURAI YURUMI

TSUBAME GAESHI

GANSEKI OTOSHI

SUIGETSU TO

KASUMI KEN