What is Iaido?

Iaido is the art of reacting to a surprise attack by counter attacking with a sword. Today, the most widely practiced style of Iaido in central Japan is "Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu," meaning "Peerless, Direct Transmission, True-Faith Style." Eishin-Ryu claims a unbroken history of about 450 years, making it the second oldest extant martial art form in Japan. The only budo form with a longer history is "Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-Ryu," an eclectic system of fighting arts that includes some "Iaijutsu," the art of drawing the sword and reacting to surprise attacks. The founder of Eishin-Ryu was Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto Shigenobu, who lived between 1546 and 1621 in present day Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. Iai is an authentic martial art that proved its martial values in a time of constant battle and warfare, that was preserved and passed on directly from teacher to student over generations in an unbroken lineage for 450 years. Iaidoka developed the mind towards an ultimately peaceful, harmonious, and active state ready to react and deal with any life situation. Less | More On Iaido

History of Eishin Ryu Iaido

The full name of the style of Iaï-do that is the most widely practiced in central Japan today is Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, meaning peerless, direct transmission, true-faith style of Eishin.” Eishin Ryu claims a lineage about 450 years long, making it the second oldest existent martial art form in Japan.

The founder of Eishin Ryu was Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto Shigenobu, who lived between 1546 and 1621 in present-day Kanagawa prefecture. Many of the historical details of Hayashizaki's life are suspect, since, like most famous martial artists in Japan, his story has been widely fictionalized, but it seams clear that he grew up during a time of constant warfare in Japan, and was exposed to various sword fighting methods from an early age. It is said that he went to Yamagata prefecture to pray for guidance and receive divine inspiration for a new way of drawing the sword. Whatever the circumstances, at some point he established his own style of swordsmanship and called it shimmei Muso Ryu, “divinely inspired, unparalleled style”.

Hayashizaki's Iai-do has had many names since then. It is considered the foundation for the two major styles of Iaï-do practiced today: Eishin Ryu and Muso shinden Ryu. In each generation a headmaster, or Soke, has been appointed to guide the practice of the art, and each Soke has had his own influence on the development of Iaido. There are a number of others, less widely practiced forms of Iaï-do that grew out of Hayashizaki Jinsuke’s art. Today, Eishin Ryu is practiced by two or three thousand people in Japan, and has exponents around the world. The administration of the system is primarily handled by the Eishin Ryu Traditions Association, led by the Soke, and by the all Japan Iaï-do Federation, which oversees competitions and promotions in many different Iaï-do styles.

Eishin Ryu claims an unbroken line of transmission from Hayashizaki Jinsuke through twenty two generations to the present-day Soke, Ikeda Takashi Seiko, who was appointed by his predecessor Fukui Tarao Soke. The names of all the headmasters from the founders time are as follows:

  1. 2 Tamiya Heibei Narimasa
  2. 3 Nagano Muraku Nyudo Kinrosai
  3. 4 Momo Gumbei Mitsushige
  4. 5 Arikawa Shozaemon Munetsugu
  5. 6 Banno Dan-Uemon-no-Jô Nobusada
  6. 7 Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eishin
  7. 8 Arai Seitetsu Seishin
  8. 9 Hayashi Rokudayu Morimasa
  9. 10 Hayashi Yasudayu Seisho
  10. 11 Oguro Motoemon Kiyokatsu
  11. 12 Hayashi Masu-no-Jô Masanari
  12. 13 Yoda Manzo Takakatsu
  13. 14 Hayashi Yadayu Masataka
  14. 15 Tanimura Kame-no-Jô Takakatsu
  15. 16 Goto Masasuke Magobei
  16. 17 Oe Masamichi Roshu
  17. 18 Hokiyama Namio
  18. 19 Fukui Harumasa Tekkotsu
  19. 20 Kono Minoru Hyakuren
  20. 21 Fukui Torao

Current Soke is Ikeda Takashi Seiko 22nd Generation. Sensei Jon M. Perry has studied Eishin Ryu Iaido with masters Katsuo Yamaguchi Meijin 10th Dan, Tadao Ochiai Hanshi 10th Dan, Sekiguchi Komei Soke Yamaouchi-Ha, and Hidetori Iwasa Kyoshi 8th Dan. Beginning Iaido training in 1990, Sensei Perry has dedicated over 16 years to developing swordsmanship and bringing true Japanese Budo to New Mexico.