Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu
Iaijutsu is the art of swordsmanship in face-to-face combat, as practiced by the samurai of feudal Japan. Unlike kenjutsu (kendo) – it begins with the sword still in its scabbard. An inner and outer calm is developed which is tremendously intimidating to the opponent. Sword skills require a philosophical training which permeates the entire life outside the dojo, building compassion and self-discipline. Today, the most widely practiced style of iaido in central Japan is “Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu,” meaning “Peerless, Direct Transmission, True-Faith Style.” Eishin-Ryu claims an unbroken history of about 450 years, making it the second oldest extant martial art form in Japan (the only budo form with a longer history is “Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-Ryu,” an eclectic system of fighting arts that includes some “Iaijutsu,” the art of drawing the sword and reacting to surprise attacks).
The founder of Eishin-Ryu was Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto Shigenobu, who lived between 1546 and 1621 in present day Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. Hayashizaki’s iaijutsu has been given many names since then and it has been handed down from master to student to the present day. It is considered the foundation for the two major styles of iaido that arepracticed today: Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu and Muso Shinden-Ryu. In each generation a headmaster, or soke, has been appointed to guide the practice of the art and each soke has had its own influence on its development. Eishin-Ryu claims an unbroken line from Hayashizaki through twenty-one generations to the present day soke, Sekiguchi Komei. Most iaijutsu historians agree that the inspiration for the name Eishin-Ryu came from the name of the 7th generation headmaster, Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eishin. Certainly the characters used in his name are the same as those employed in the name of the style. After the 11th generation, iaido branched off into Muso Shinden-Ryu by Nakayama Hakudo. The original branch become known as Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu after Oe Masamichi.
Currently these two are the most widely practiced iai styles in Japan. There are also a number of other, less-widely practiced, forms of iai that grew out of Hayashizaki’s art. Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu is the descendant of an unbroken line of tradition that stretches back some 450 years to its origins in ancient Japan. Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu originated this technique that was to become Iai out of necessity after his father was slain. And if, after vanquishing his powerful foe Hayashizaki had lost the need for Iai, we might not know his name today. But instead of a one-use tool, Hayashizaki sama found an immortal use for this technique. He found a powerful way to preserve life, and refine the human spirit all at once. Working on this solid foundation he began to build a sword style that would survive until these modern times. The seventh grand master Hasegawa Eishin shaped the school around the changing times, keeping true to its enduring spirit, and mastering a new type of sword. Hasegawa’s time saw the evolution of the sword from the Tachi design to the Katana. A different style of sword, with a different style of being worn. These stylistic changes demanded fundamental changes in the arts techniques. A challenge that was well met by the man whose name would come to label this style. In fact it was a demonstration before Toyotomi Hideyoshi around 1590 that earned the ryu the title “Muso Ken” (”Sword Without Equal”).
Through the years, several grandmasters have founded their own styles of iaido, the earliest being Tamiya Heibei, who is considered the second grandmaster of Eishin-Ryu, when it was still called Hayashizaki-Ryu.In the late eighteenth century a major schism occurred within the ranks of Eishin-Ryu. The 10th grandmaster, Hayashi Yasudayu, and the 11th grandmaster, Oguro Motoemon, both diedshorlty after one another in 1776. Following their deaths, two branches of Eishin-Ryu arose,each of which considered its grandmaster to be the 12th successor to the Eishin-Ryu lineage. One of these branches, Shimomura-ha, faded into oblivion earlier this century, while Tanimura-ha has survived to the present. In more recent times, another controversy has arisen. When the 17th grandmaster, Oe Masamichi, died in 1927, two of his students separately carried on the Eishin-Ryu tradition of Tanimura-ha. Masaoka Kazumi was widely considered the best swordsman among Oe's students, and most members of the style gravitated to him as 18th grandmaster after Oe's death. Another student, who had personally attended to Oe during his battle with cancer, came into possession of the style's credentials, and many chose to follow him as 18th grandmaster.
As a result, two branches now claim to carry on the traditions and lineage of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu. However, it was Masaoka Kazumi (of Oe's and Sensei Shimabukuro's lineage) who was invited to represent Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu when the major iaido styles convened to jointly create the Seitei Iai Kata for the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei (All-Japan Kendo Federation). In addition, Masaoka's successor, Narise Sakahiro, was elected to a remarkable three terms of office as president of the Dai-Nippon Iaido Yaegaki-Kai, the most widely recognized iaido organization of its time. Currently, the Dai-Nippon Butoku-Kai, Japan's oldest and most prestigious martial arts organization, recognizes Miura Takeyuki Hanshi, as Narise's successor to be the 20th grandmaster, as the official representative of the style, and has unanimously awarded him a 9th dan Hanshi ranking, the highest of any living member of the Butoku-Kai.
The founder of Eishin-Ryu was Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto Shigenobu, who lived between 1546 and 1621 in present day Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. Hayashizaki’s iaijutsu has been given many names since then and it has been handed down from master to student to the present day. It is considered the foundation for the two major styles of iaido that arepracticed today: Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu and Muso Shinden-Ryu. In each generation a headmaster, or soke, has been appointed to guide the practice of the art and each soke has had its own influence on its development. Eishin-Ryu claims an unbroken line from Hayashizaki through twenty-one generations to the present day soke, Sekiguchi Komei. Most iaijutsu historians agree that the inspiration for the name Eishin-Ryu came from the name of the 7th generation headmaster, Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eishin. Certainly the characters used in his name are the same as those employed in the name of the style. After the 11th generation, iaido branched off into Muso Shinden-Ryu by Nakayama Hakudo. The original branch become known as Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu after Oe Masamichi.
Currently these two are the most widely practiced iai styles in Japan. There are also a number of other, less-widely practiced, forms of iai that grew out of Hayashizaki’s art. Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu is the descendant of an unbroken line of tradition that stretches back some 450 years to its origins in ancient Japan. Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu originated this technique that was to become Iai out of necessity after his father was slain. And if, after vanquishing his powerful foe Hayashizaki had lost the need for Iai, we might not know his name today. But instead of a one-use tool, Hayashizaki sama found an immortal use for this technique. He found a powerful way to preserve life, and refine the human spirit all at once. Working on this solid foundation he began to build a sword style that would survive until these modern times. The seventh grand master Hasegawa Eishin shaped the school around the changing times, keeping true to its enduring spirit, and mastering a new type of sword. Hasegawa’s time saw the evolution of the sword from the Tachi design to the Katana. A different style of sword, with a different style of being worn. These stylistic changes demanded fundamental changes in the arts techniques. A challenge that was well met by the man whose name would come to label this style. In fact it was a demonstration before Toyotomi Hideyoshi around 1590 that earned the ryu the title “Muso Ken” (”Sword Without Equal”).
Through the years, several grandmasters have founded their own styles of iaido, the earliest being Tamiya Heibei, who is considered the second grandmaster of Eishin-Ryu, when it was still called Hayashizaki-Ryu.In the late eighteenth century a major schism occurred within the ranks of Eishin-Ryu. The 10th grandmaster, Hayashi Yasudayu, and the 11th grandmaster, Oguro Motoemon, both diedshorlty after one another in 1776. Following their deaths, two branches of Eishin-Ryu arose,each of which considered its grandmaster to be the 12th successor to the Eishin-Ryu lineage. One of these branches, Shimomura-ha, faded into oblivion earlier this century, while Tanimura-ha has survived to the present. In more recent times, another controversy has arisen. When the 17th grandmaster, Oe Masamichi, died in 1927, two of his students separately carried on the Eishin-Ryu tradition of Tanimura-ha. Masaoka Kazumi was widely considered the best swordsman among Oe's students, and most members of the style gravitated to him as 18th grandmaster after Oe's death. Another student, who had personally attended to Oe during his battle with cancer, came into possession of the style's credentials, and many chose to follow him as 18th grandmaster.
As a result, two branches now claim to carry on the traditions and lineage of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu. However, it was Masaoka Kazumi (of Oe's and Sensei Shimabukuro's lineage) who was invited to represent Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu when the major iaido styles convened to jointly create the Seitei Iai Kata for the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei (All-Japan Kendo Federation). In addition, Masaoka's successor, Narise Sakahiro, was elected to a remarkable three terms of office as president of the Dai-Nippon Iaido Yaegaki-Kai, the most widely recognized iaido organization of its time. Currently, the Dai-Nippon Butoku-Kai, Japan's oldest and most prestigious martial arts organization, recognizes Miura Takeyuki Hanshi, as Narise's successor to be the 20th grandmaster, as the official representative of the style, and has unanimously awarded him a 9th dan Hanshi ranking, the highest of any living member of the Butoku-Kai.
