Iaido - Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu

Iaido

Iaido (居合道), the knowledge of "the sword way," is considered the quintessential classical martial art in Japan, a Japanese Kobudo, Nihon Kobudo.

Practiced by the Japanese samurai, it involved drawing the sword as quickly as possible while simultaneously performing a decisive defensive and/or offensive move to secure victory over the enemy. At times, samurai were caught off guard by surprise attacks. Drawing the sword quickly and effectively meant the difference between life and death.

Iaido became a special skill for some samurai who could defeat their opponent before even unsheathing their sword, with the cut being the conclusion of an already secured victory. Inseparable from the history of Kenjutsu, the tradition attributes the creation and development of the sword art during the Edo period (1603 - 1868) to Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (1542-1621), not so much for the technique, which had already been developed by other schools, but for its transcendental spiritualization.

Known today as Iaido (居合道), "the Way of the Japanese Sword," its practice differs across the various styles taught in Japanese schools, each with its own characteristics and teaching methodology.

Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (1542-1621).
Founder of Iaido
Hayashizaki Iai Shrine. 

Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu

We teach the Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu (無想直伝英信流) school. Eishin Ryu is one of the oldest and most prestigious Iaido schools, founded in the 16th century by Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (1542-1621). The Eishin Ryu school specializes in Japanese sword techniques, particularly in the art of drawing and cutting quickly, that is, in the art of drawing the sword, making a decisive cut, and returning to the guard position.

The style was consolidated during the Edo period (1603 - 1868), and its focus is on the precise execution of fast and effective cuts, as well as the spiritual and mental development of the practitioner, an essential component in the tradition of Iaido.

The primary goal of the school is the "transition" of the practitioner’s mind between calmness, alertness, and decisive action. This is reflected in the emphasis on mental control and spirituality that accompanies the technique, where the goal is perfection in the execution of the cut, both physically and mentally. The lessons in the school focus not only on sword techniques but also on character building, discipline, and self-control.

Training includes several learning phases, ranging from basic cutting forms to more complex sword applications in combat. The curriculum includes kata (pre-established combat forms), where practitioners work with both the long sword (katana) in simulated sword attack-defense situations.

The school follows a traditional hierarchical structure, where the teaching system of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu has remained relatively unchanged over the centuries, though it has been passed down through a chain of masters who have preserved the tradition and integrity of the art.

Today, Eishin Ryu remains one of the leading Iaido schools practiced worldwide, with different branches and dojos established in various countries. The school continues to be a pillar in the preservation of traditional Iaijutsu and in training practitioners who seek not only to master the technique but also to achieve the spiritual and mental harmony that is the essence of the art.

The school stands out for its deep connection to the history of Iaijutsu, and its influence extends to other disciplines related to the use of the Japanese sword, significantly contributing to the evolution of modern Iaido in general and Seibukan martial arts in particular.