Story of 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 HEIDO 

According to the “Mugai Ryu Iai Heido,” also referred to as "Iai Hyodo'" written by Soke Hosho Shiokawa, (15^th Headmaster of Mugai Ryu) published in 1986, Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi (1649~1728)   辻月丹資茂  founded the Mugai-Ryu Kenjutsu.  Gettan was born in village of Masugi in Omi district (presently Shiga prefecture), and his father was a samurai to Sasaki Takatsuna.     

Yamaguchi Ryu and the dojo 

At age of 13, Gettan left home for Kyoto to study in Yamaguchi Ryu Kenjutsu dojo from Yamaguchi Bokushinsai.  Gettan trained with Yamaguchi for thirteen years and at young age of 26 received “Menkyo Kaiden,” mastery of the Art, then left for Edo (presently Tokyo) and opened his own dojo in a town called Kojimachi. 

Mugai Enlightenment 

During his earlier time in Edo, Gettan felt he needed Zen (Spiritual and Mind) wisdom to further complete his study of swordsmanship.  Thus, he studied Zen and classical Chinese Literature from Zen Master Monk Sekitan at Kykoji temple in town of Azabu. In 1694, at age of 45, Gettan reached the Enlightenment, SATORI.  In Zen world, enlightenment means that one’s mind and spiritual pursuit reaches absolute clarity and/or certainty.  Gettan has solved the mystery of his own pursuit for MUGAI, and so introduced “Mugai Shinden Kenpo.”  Gettan no longer called his art Yamaguchi Ryu Kenjutsu.  The term MUGAI comes from the following poem below received from Zen master Monk Sekitan while Gettan was under his Zen training.  Gettan placed a great emphasis of Zen in his Mugai curriculum as he unquestionably believed that 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 to a Zen enhancement in his swordsmanship, Gettan’s reputation excelled, as he not only had many students but had numerous influential lords as his students.  Among them were three Major Lords known as Dai Daimyo: Ogasawara Sadonokami Nagashige (4^th Generation Lord of the Mikawa Yoshida Province), Sakai Tadataka (5^th Generation Lord of the Maebashi Province, but generations’ later Sakai heirs were transferred to Hemeji Province), Yamanouchi Toyomasa (4^th Generation Lord of the Tosa Province).  Additionally, 32 medium to smaller provinces lords Dai or Sho Myo, around 150 Jikisan (upper class Samurai, directly connected or employed by Shogun) and 932 Baishin (lower class Samurai).   

 Without a doubt, Gettan was well respected sword master of his time.  Though he did not have 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 additional significant posts at the Bakufu (Shogun’s Central Government) and they were extremely influential.  In addition to the size of province you ruled as a lord, the level of post at the Bakufu measured among each others individual’s political strength.  If a samurai does not have a lord to serve, then he is regarded as the lowest class of samurai, and for a sword instructor having no lord would make exceedingly difficult to draw students.  However, it was different for Gettan.  His supreme understanding of Zen and the sword, Gettan placed deep impact in the history of Japanese sword schools.        

Mugai Ryu Lineage

As Gettan did not have a son, in the later years he sent his nephew Tsuji Uheita to Lord Sakai Tadataka’s Maebashi Province (later Himeji Province) as their Shinanyaku (Clan’s Head swordmaster), and also his adopted son, Tsuji Sukehide to Yamanouchi Toyomasa’s Tosa Province as their Shinayaku.  This is the beginning of Mugai Ryu Lineage, Tsuji Uheita became the 2^nd and Tsuji Sukehide the 3^rd Headmasters of Mugai –Ryu Kenjutsu.   

Gettan also learned Jikyo Ryu Iai from its founder Taga Jikyoken Morimasa and implemented this Iai as part of his Mugai Ryu curriculum.  Taga Jikyoken Morimasa learned Shin-Tamiya Ryu Iai from Wada Heisuke Masakatsu, and this lineage goes to the Tamiya Ryu founder Tamiya Heibei Narimasu, and his teacher was Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu, who is widely accepted as the father of Iai. 

15TH Headmaster of Mugai Ryu Iai Soke Hosho Shiokawa, and Soke Sakimukai, Hanshi and 9 Dan Menkyo Kaiden.  (See below)

Nakagawa Mugai Ryu Iai Heido

The next few Tsuji heirs, as well as those who ranked high in Mugai Ryu Kenjutsu continued to learn Jikyo Ryu Iai from its succeeding headmasters until this style met its fate, marking the Sixth headmaster their last.  Though the lineage of Jikyo Ryu Iai was lost, name and kata were kept in the Mugai Ryu curriculum for centuries.  Quite naturally, since the Mugai Ryu masters were ones teaching Jikyo Ryu Iai, it was referred to as Mugai Ryu Iai.  Additionally, in later years, the 13^th Headmaster of Mugai Ryu, Soke Nakagawa Shiryu Shinichi, combined the Himeji and Tosa lines, and formally renamed to the present “Mugai Ryu Iai Heido” from Jikyo Ryu Iai and kata written in as a part of originally disclosed, “Mugai Shinden Kenpo.”  Although a controversy exists and the Iai kata practiced in Mugai-Ryu is actually Jikyo Ryu Iai, which had its root in Shin Tamiya Ryu Iai (newer version of Tamiya Ryu Iai), today it is known solely as the Mugai Ryu Iai Heido.   

Current Headmaster

Soke Nakagawa first chose Soke Ishii Gogetsu as his successor, to the 14^th Headmaster of Mugai-Ryu, but shortly after he revoked it.  Actually, at the time Soke Nakagawa thought himself was the 11^th headmaster, thus named Soke Ishii to be the twelfth.  Soke Nakagawa for a long time referred to himself as the 11^th headmaster, and later years realized he is not the 11^th but the 13^th headmaster, so advised this discovery to Soke Shiokawa. 

Fact or Fiction - This is an interesting story:  Soke Ishii Gogetsu was an Eishin-Ryu Iaido master, and his skills were so impressive that he was rumoured to become the next Soke, successor to the 20th Eishin Ryu Soke Kono Hyakuren, however, for whatever the reason, he was not chosen.  Subsequently, feeling betrayed, Soke Ishii left Soke Kono's Eishin Ryu along with his own (100 ~ 200) students and became Soke Nakagawa's Mugai Ryu student.  Soon after, Soke Ishii was named the successor to Mugai-Ryu Iai Heido lineage.  

However, after Soke Shiokawa winning the first place three consecutive years at the All Japan Mugai Ryu tournament held by Soke Ishii from 1957~59, received a letter from Soke Nakagawa dating, June 7, 1960, declaring Soke Ishii’s Hamon (revoking license and title).  A year later, Soke Nakagawa prepared that identical Menkyo previously named Soke Ishii to the 12^th headmaster's throne for Soke Shiokawa which appointing him to be the new headmaster.  This distinguishing Menkyo was awarded to Soke Shiokawa on May, 1961, therefore officially naming the next headmaster.  Soke Shiokawa honoring both of the identical Menkyo(s), and Soke Nakagawa's extraordinary finding, rewrote Soke Ishii the 14^th headmaster, and himself the 15^th headmaster.

Soke Shiokawa was at first senior to Soke Sakimukai's under Hanshi Nakajima of Osaka Keishicho (Police Dept) Jodo club.  Since Hanshi Nakajima's untimely death, Soke Sakimukai served Soke Shiokawa's organization.

Soke Sakimukai received Mugai Ryu Iai Heido Menkyo Kaiden, 10^th Dan and Hanshi from Soke Shiokawa.