| Iai-do History |
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Iai-do Chivalry in Japan was taught that sword is one's spirit, and spirit with integrity brought forth-honorable use of the sword. With this essence at heart, the samurai warriors sought the dignity in perfecting the sword within, both internally and externally refining their own vitality while striving for perfection. The composition of the Japanese sword is made of two different metals; the inner core is soft to sustain possible snap from sudden impact and the outer shell is made of hard steel forged over and over again for it's rigidity and the striking power to cut. For the tempered edge, the blade is covered with special heat resistant clay. It is designed with a curved blade, enabling to draw the sword as fast as possible. Practical yet complex as the Japanese sword, so is the art of drawing the sword here on end referred to as Iai-Do. Iai-Do is the way of defending against an enemy by taking command of the adversary's fate. Because every movement is precisely controlled, Iaido is never intended to be offensively aggressive. While walking, standing, or even when seated, one must always be fully alert and aware of the surroundings, invariably prepared to defend by cutting down any attacker in accords with austere etiquette.
HISTORY OF MUGAI RYU IAI HYODO According to “Mugai Ryu Iai Hyodo,” also referred to as "Iai Heido'" published by its 15th Headmaster Soke Hosho Shiokawa in 1986, Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi (1649~1728) 辻月丹資茂 founded the Mugai Shinden Kenpo.
Yamaguchi Ryu Kenjutsu "Menkyo Kaiden" Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi, from hereafter just referred to as Gettan,was born in village of Masugi in Omi district (presently Shiga prefecture), and his father was a samurai to Sasaki Takatsuna. At age of 13, Gettan left home for Kyoto to study Yamaguchi Ryu Kenjutsu from Yamaguchi Bokushinsai. Gettan trained with him for thirteen years and at age of 26, he received the “Menkyo Kaiden,” mastery of the Art. Then he left for Edo (presently Tokyo) and opened his own dojo in a town called Kojimachi.
Mugai Enlightenment During his earlier time in Edo, Gettan realized he needed Zen (Spiritual and Mind) to further understand his study of swordsmanship. Thus, he studied Zen and classical Chinese Literature from a Zen Master Monk Sekitan at Kykoji temple in Azabu town. In 1694, at age of 45, Gettan is said to have reached the Enlightenment, SATORI. In Zen world, an enlightenment usually means that one’s mind and spiritual pursuits reach the absolute clarity and/or certainty. Gettan solved the mystery of his own pursuit, MUGAI, thus written and introduced a new style “Mugai Shinden Kenpo.” The term MUGAI is in the poem below Gettan received from his Zen master Monk Sekitan while under his training. Gettan had placed tremendous Zen emphasis in his swordsmanship. For Gettan, the “Sword and Zen are of the same Path.” 一方実無外 - Ippou jitsu mugai 乾坤得一貞 - Kenkon toku ittei 吸毛方納密 - Suimo hou nomitsu 動着則光精 - Douchaku soku kousei Due mostly to Zen enlightenment implemented deeply in his new sword way, Gettan’s reputation excelled. He not only had many students but numerous influential lords were his students as well. Among them three Major Lords known as Dai Daimyo(s) were: Ogasawara Sadonokami Nagashige · 4th Generation Lord of the Mikawa Yoshida Province, Sakai Tadataka · 5th Generation Lord of the Maebashi Province at the time, but generations later Sakai heirs were transferred to Hemeji Province, and Yamanouchi Toyomasa · 4th Generation Lord of the Tosa Province. Additionally, 32 lords from medium to smaller sized provinces, Dai or Sho Myo, around 150 Jikisan (upper class Samurai, directly connected or employed by Shogun) and 932 Baishin (lower class Samurai). Gettan was well respected sword master of his time. Though he did not choose a lord to serve, he had many lords as his students. A lord, Daimyo, is like a governor of each state or province and some Dai Daimyo and Daimoyo had significant posts in Bakufu (Shogun’s Central Government). They were extremely influential. In addition to the sizes of province the lords ruled, the levels of positions in the Bakufu measured their political strength. If a samurai does not have a lord to serve, then he is regarded as the lowest class of samurai. For a sword instructor such as Gettan, having no lord to serve would normally suggest lower demand to draw new students. Not at first, however, it was different for Gettan. His supreme understanding of Zen and the sword, Gettan placed a deep impact in the history of the Japanese sword schools.
Mugai Ryu Lineage Gettan did not have a son, so years later he sent his nephew Tsuji Uheita to Lord Sakai Tadataka’s Maebashi Province (later Himeji Province) as the Shinanyaku (Clan’s Head swordmaster), and also sent his adopted son, Tsuji Sukehide to lord Yamanouchi Toyomasa’s Tosa Province as the Shinayaku. This is the beginning of the two Mugai Ryu Lineage.
Gettan also learned Jikyo Ryu Iai from its founder Taga Jikyoken Morimasa and then implemented this Iai into his Mugai Shinden Kenpo curriculum. Taga Jikyoken Morimasa learned Shin-Tamiya Ryu Iai from Wada Heisuke Masakatsu, and this lineage goes all the way up to the Tamiya Ryu the founder Tamiya Heibei Narimasu, and his teacher was Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu, who is widely accepted as the father of Iai. Soke Hosho Shiokawa and Hanshi M. Sakimukai
Nakagawa Mugai Ryu Iai Hyodo The next few Tsuji heirs, as well as those who ranked high in Mugai Shinden Kenpo continued to learn Jikyo Ryu Iai from its succeeding headmasters until the style met its fate, marking the Sixth headmaster their last. Though the lineage of Jikyo Ryu Iai was lost, its name and the kata were kept in the Mugai Shinden Kenpo curriculum for centuries. The Mugai Shinden Kenpo masters also taught Jikyo Ryu Iai. Soke Nakagawa Shiryu Shinichi practiced both Himeji and Tosa lines of Mugai Ryu, and later unified the two curriculums lines and named it, "Mugai Ryu Iai Hyodo"
As stated in our "Jodo History Page" when Hanshi M. Sakimukai first met Soke Hosho Shiokawa at Hanshi Nakajima's Osaka Keishicho (Police Dept) Jodo Club in 1962, Soke Hosho Shiokawa was already the next headmaster of Mugai Ryu Iaihyodo. Hanshi M. Sakimukai received • Menkyo Kaiden • 10th Dan • Hanshi • from Soke Hosho Shiokawa. Hanshi M. Sakimukai also received Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido from late Hanshi Tomioka in Kagoshima ZNKR.
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