Iai

The Art of Drawing the Sword

“Iai“(pronounced e-eye) is a traditional Japanese sword drawing arts that focuses on quickly drawing and cutting at the same time in one breath. Historically, it was designed for both offensive surprise attacks and, initiating an attatck or counterattack. Today it still holds with modern applications.

Iai focuses on not only the precise drawing of the sword, but also on the practitioner as an individual. The focus, balance, and control learned through the art dramatically enhances us overall.

Iaido vs Iaijutsu

Once potential students get familiar with these arts, many get confused between “Iaijutsu” and “Iaido”

Iaido Develops your personal traits like character, persona, and temperament.
Iaijutsu develops combative skills like dexterity, efficiency and focus.

Our dojo sees them both as mutualistic

 Ichinyo (一如) means “All is one” All separate items are integrated as one. The weapon and a still heart matches action and stillness.

Developed during Japan’s feudal era, sword drawing was designed for samurai facing unexpected attacks, preparing them to defend themselves at any time in any situation. Over time, these skills evolved into Iaido, which focuses on the more fundamental and dignified aspects of sword-drawing practice.

Unlike other forms of exercise, these arts provide both mental and physical benefits, improving the practitioner’s powers of concentration and physical control of their bodies. This is the reason Iaido is often described as “Moving Zen.”

Iaido practice utilizes the solo use of unsharpened metal katana swords called an Iaito or Mogito. The actual techniques, called waza, are developed from orthodox teachings that have been handed down from teacher to student for centuries.

Tosa No Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai

土佐無双直伝英信流居合

Tosa Musō Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai is a 450-year-old classical Japanese sword art focusing on drawing from the seated and standing positions developed within the Tosa Domain in Japan. (Now called Kochi). The translation is “Peerless, Directly Transmitted School of Eishin”

This ancient sword drawing art takes the basic movements learned in modern Iai and redirects the focus of the sword’s movements without intentional conscious thought. This concept is called “Mushin.”

This deep study is achieved by constant arduous practice, creating a calm non- judgmental mind regardless of both external and more importantly internal stimuli. Elevated self assurance and centered mindset are some of the results of dedicated training that goes beyond just learning sets of waza and shapes.

In our traditional style of Tosa Eishin Ryu Iajutsu, we challenge the individual exploring variations of timing, distance and strategies, expanding the basics of an already challenging art as it was taught heart to heart for hundred’s of years. This can be a life changing experience with deep personal reward.

Kenjutsu

The Art of the Sword Once It Has Been Drawn

Kenjutsu is a traditional Japanese martial art focused on the use of the katana in combat, it is part of the Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu curriculum.

The kata consists of partner practice using traditional wooden swords called Bokken. It is not “free fighting” and there is no competition involved, as it would be too dangerous. Training is done through two-person Kata, or pre-arranged movements, with both individuals benefiting from this training.

The spiritual aspect involves a great amount of self-reflection and awareness of who we are by not comparing ourselves with others as this is the birth of inner demons.

Buki Keiko training is “spiritual practice” because there are no tangible benefits, no rewards, no glory, or fame. Superficially, these arts may look like they have no practical use other than light exercise. However, there are many personal benefits.

Early training focuses on developing physical skills, and we measure our progress by our satisfaction of performing physical practice with others. After a considerable amount of time, Budo then takes us to a spiritual pursuit in which we deal with personal conflicts within us which no one else can see. The weapons are then used philosophically to “cut down” these internal demons. This is the lifelong pursuit of the Budo practitioner.

Below is the Lineage of Tosa Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu

• Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu, founder
• Tamiya Heibei Shigemasa, 2nd generation
• Nagano Muraku Nyūdō Kinrosai, 3rd generation
• Todo Gunbei Mitsushige, 4th generation
• Arikawa Seizaemon Munetsugu, 5th generation
• Banno Danemonnojō Nobusada, 6th generation
• Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Hidenobu (Eishin),
  7th generation
• Arai Seitetsu Kiyonobu, 8th generation
• Hayashi Rokudayū Morimasa, 9th generation
• Hayashi Yasudayū Masatomo, 10th generation
• Ōguro Motoemon Kiyokatsu, 11th generation
• Hayashi Masunojō Masanori, 12th generation
• Yoda Manzō Norikatsu, 13th generation
• Hayashi Yadayū Masamoto, 14th generation
• Tanimura Kamenojō Takakatsu, 15th generation
• Gotō Magobei Masasuke (?-1897), 16th generation
• Ōe Masamichi (1852–1927), 17th generation
• Hokiyama Namio (1891–1935), 18th generation
• Fukui Harumasa (1884–1971), 19th generation
• Kono Hyakuren (1899 – 1974), 20th generation (Sokeship Revoked)
• Takeshima Toshio (1929 – 2007), 20th generation
• Muranaga Hidekuni (1948 – 2024) , 21st generation
• Yoshinouchi Yuji (1957 – ), 22nd generation