An Overview of Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu

Seito Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iai-Heiho (iaijutsu) is an authentic tradition of Japanese swordsmanship that traces its lineage directly to Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu, the Founder of what would become Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu (or simply Eishin-ryu). Hayashizaki Sensei, through rigourous training and introspection, established the methods that would become the bais for his system of iaijutsu in the closing years of the Sengoku Jidai of 16th Century feudal Japan. These methods were later modified and built on by Hasegawa Eishin Chikaranosuke, for whom Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu is named, the 7th lineage holder in a line of transmission from Hayashizaki Sensei. One of the oldest extant koryu, or classical schools of Japanese martial arts, Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu is a system of strategies and methods of face-to-face combat, beginning with the sword in the saya. In fact, it is often said that the life of iai lies in nukitsuke, the act of simultaneous drawing and cutting with the sword. It is this emphasis on combative techniques and strategies of swordsmanship beginning with the sword in the saya that designates Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu as a system of iaijutsu.

While Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu is identified primarily as a school of iai, it should be understood that iaijutsu, as taught within our lineage of Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu, does not stand in isolation from kenjutsu (the techniques of swordsmanship that are employed after the sword has been drawn), but is rather a component of a broad range of sword methods (toho). The lineage of Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu practiced and taught within the Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai / Jikishin-Kai International is a sogo budo and includes extensive training in both iaijutsu and kenjutsu, as well as suemonogiri or tameshigiri (test cutting), kodachijutsu (short sword techniques), and juho (jujutsu). In addition to the practice of solo iaijutsu waza, kenjutsu training is introduced immediately in Eishin-ryu, initially in the form of the basic katachi, or paired kata (also called kumitachi) known as Tachiuchi no Kurai, and then progresses to advanced sets of katachi as well as the practice of bunkai and oyo as in the form of kumitachi distilled from the waza. Further sets of paired kata are studied at advanced levels of training.

Our line of Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu is represented by Shimabukuro Masayuki Hidenobu, Hanshi, Soshi and Chairman of the Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai / Jikishin-Kai International (KNBK/JKI). Shimabukuro Sensei is the senior-most student of Miura Takeyuki Hidefusa, Hanshi, Nippon Kobudo Jikishin-Kai and 20th Generation Headmaster of our line. Shimabukuro Sensei's senior-most student is Carl Long Shihan, Vice-Chairman of the KNBK/JKI.