About Iaido
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Iaido is the Japanese martial art of drawing the sword and cutting in a single motion. Iaido, as we know it today, originated almost 450 years ago in the Sengoku period of Japan, a time of constant wars. The originator, Jinsuke Shigenobu, formed the style that eventually became known as ‘Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu’ ( 無雙直傳英信流居合道 ), which was based upon his wartime experiences.

Since that time, several related styles of Iaido have formed, but many which remain are based upon Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu (commonly called ‘Eishin Ryu’), and retain the core teachings of this style.

As time passed and Japan entered an era of extended peace during the Tokugawa period, those who studied Iaido and many other martial arts, sought to find their place in a changing world. The need for pure combat efficiency took on a smaller role, and the desire to define purpose and meaning for the austere training methods of the martial arts gained importance.

Today, Iaido training is primarily a vehicle for personal development. Iaido training is based on ‘kata’ and ‘kumitachi.’ Kata are prearranged practice forms done by one person, and kumitachi are performed in pairs. Kata and Kumitachi are the repository of the original combat strategies.

Iaido training methods require intense mental and physical concentration. Repeating these forms, very precisely, over many years, provides a vehicle for physical and personal development, and a chance for students to better understand themselves and their place in the modern world.

Our affiliation is with the Nichirei Dojo  near Ishikawa-dai station in southwest Tokyo, founded by Furuoka Masaru (Nittosai). We studied directly under Furuoka Masaru for many years. After his passing in 2006 his son, Furuoka Takashi Sensei, became the current headmaster of this line of Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu (see ‘Our Lineage’ below).

Furuoka M. Sensei also developed a modern variation of Iaido, called Hiken Muso ryu Iaigiri-do, with strong emphasis on tameshigiri as an integral component of training.

Iaido Kata (solo) & Kumitachi (paired)
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Eishin Ryu Iaido has several groups of kata (solo practice) and kumitachi (paired practice) that gradually take a student from basic to advanced use of the Japanese sword. Progression is step-wise, starting from ‘seiza’ (a seated position) to standing. Generally the solo kata is taught first, then the kumitachi is added once the student has a good grasp of the basics.

Training is with shinken and bokuto. In this school/dojo we do not use an iaito or moguito (unsharp practice sword) that is common in most, but not all, Iaido schools today. 

While using a shinken (real Japanese sword) may sound dangerous… yes it can be. We do not take this training method lightly, and initial lessons are taught slowly and carefully. In fact most Iaido is practiced slowly as a general rule.

Use Youtube to view an Eishin ryu demonstration vs. a Katori Shinto Ryu demonstration. You will see very different speeds of training, with Iaido being performed relatively much slower. Slower equals a very careful learning process designed to maximinze safety with the given weapon. 

The benefits of properly learning to use a Japanese sword/shinken from the onset of one’s training reduces dangerous and counter productive habits that can occur when using an iaito (unsharpened practice sword).

The belief is that the proper mindset, concentration, and swordsmanship skills produced by learning to use a real sword is of critical importance.

Related Dojo
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USA – Shobukan Dojo | Foothills Budokai – Denver, Colorado,       Torrance Budokai – Torrance, California,

Japan – Tokyo: Three(3) dojo near Ishikawadai station on the Tokyu-Ikegami line

Nichirei Dojo (primary), Yukitani Middle School, Okuzawa Junior High