History

Created by Jinsuke Shigenobu in 16th century Japan, this unique tradition of defensive swordsmanship (iai) was preserved in an unbroken line of headmasters through the centuries; codified by Nakayama Hakudo (1869 - 1958), and taught worldwide by Mitsuzuka Takeshi Sensei.

Muso Shinden-ryu means an iai school developed according to a divine vision given in a dream.

MU = a vision, a dream
SO = a thought, an idea
SHIN = a god
DEN = A root, an origin
RYU = to flow, a school

I = to exist, to be present
AI = to pull together, to concentrate
DO = a way

Muso Shinden-ryu traces its roots back to Hayashizaki Minamoto no Shigenobu (1546 - 1621). At the age of 21 he went to a Shinto shrine and stayed there for 100 days. According to a vision he received in a dream, he developed the batto-techniques, where one draws the sword and strikes with a single motion. He called his style Shimmei Muso-ryu. This was the first systematized iai school, although similar fast-draw techniques were already used in some of the older schools of kenjutsu.

Later, his students named the style Shin Muso Hayashizaki Ryu. It is believed that Hayashizaki himself stressed the spiritual side of training. There is a temple, Hayashizaki-Iai-Jinja, dedicated to him.

Muso Shinden Ryu as we know it today was born in the early 1900's from this foundation of spiritual practice. Nakayama Hakudo Sensei, a man who had dedicated his life to the study of kendo and iai, came to the conclusion that the classical arts should be reinterpreted and opened to the general public in order for them to survive in the changing world. He reorganized the Muso Shinden-ryu kata using techniques from Omori Ryu and Eishin Ryu. He stressed the importance of sword training, no longer as a just a practical art, but as a method of improving oneself. The sword is no longer a tool for cutting down your enemy, but a tool for cutting your ego as well.

Mitsuzuka Sensei and Sylvain Sensei performing kumitachi

Sensei's Passing

Mitsuzuka Takeshi Sensei, 1926-2008

Mitsuzuka Takeshi Sensei lost his battle with cancer on March 6, 2008 at 10:29 AM. Sensei was born on September 15, 1926, to mother Hisayo and father Mounya in Miyagi-ken, Furukawa Shi Sakura no me, the middle son of five. In May of 1943 he entered service in the Japanese navy, at seventeen years of age. After the war, he joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, retiring in 1970 with the rank of sergeant. Mitsuzuka Sensei married his wife, Hiroko, in 1953; in 1956 they had their only son, Munehiro.

Mitsuzuka Sensei began his training in Iaido on March 1st, 1955 under the watchful eye of Nakayama Hakudo Sensei. Nakayama Sensei was 85 years old at the time and would only live for another three years. Mitsuzuka Sensei continued his training and modeled the Seiteigata in Gordon Warner and Donn Draeger's well-known book, Japanese Swordsmanship. Later, he founded the San Shin Kai and began teaching Iaido throughout the world.

Listed below are his many accomplishments in budo.

Iai

'56 3/18: 3 dan in Iai from Nakayama Hakudo Sensei (Yushin-kai Iaido Renmei)
'59 8/15: 5 dan in Iai from Danzaki Sensei and Omori Sensei (Dai Nippon Iaido Kenshukan)
'67 5/17: Iaido Kyoshi Certificate (All Nippon Kendo Federation)
'79 5/5: 8 dan in Iai (All Nippon Kendo Federation)

Kendo

'72 4/24: 5 dan in Kendo
'75 5/8: Kendo Renshi Certificate (All Nippon Kendo Federation)

Jodo

'77 3/15: 5 dan in Jodo from Shimizu Sensei (Shindo Muso-ryu)

Judo

'76 11/26: 4 dan in Judo (Kodokan)

Other

'61 4/13: Judo Seifukushi (Bone Setter)

Levels of Practice within the San Shin Kai

Shoden (First Level)

大森流 Omori Ryu

一 ippon me—初発刀 Shohatto
二 nihon me—左刀 Sato
三 sanbon me—右刀 Uto
四 yonhon me—当刀 Atari-to
五 gohon me—陰陽進退 Inyoshintai
六 roppon me—流刀 Ryuto
七 nanahon me—順刀 Junto
八 happon me—逆刀 Gyakuto
九 kyuhon me—勢中刀 Seichuto
十 juppon me—虎乱刀 Koranto
十一 juippon me—逆手陰陽進退 Gyakute Inyoshintai
十二 junihon me—抜刀 Batto

Seiteigata

一 ippon me—Mae
二 nihon me—Ushiro
三 sanbon me—Uke-nagashi
四 yonhon me—Tsuka-ate
五 gohon me—Kesa-giri
六 roppon me—Morote-tsuki
七 nanahon me—Sanpō-giri
八 happon me—Ganmen-ate
九 kyuhon me—Soete-tsuki
十 juppon me—Shihō-giri
十一 juippon me—Sō-giri
十二 junihon me—Nuki-uchi

Shindo Munen Ryu

一 ippon me—Iwanami
二 nihon me—Ukifune-gaeshi
三 sanbon me—Norashi-gaeshi
四 yonhon me—Utsusemi
五 gohon me—Matsukaze
六 roppon me—Zangetsu-hidari
七 nanahon me—Zangetsu-migi
八 happon me—Doto-gaeshi
九 kyuhon me—Raito-gaeshi
十 juppon me—Yoto
十一 juippon me—Into
十二 junihon me—Inazuma-gaeshi

Keishi Ryu

一 ippon me—Mae-goshi
二 nihon me—Muso-gaeshi
三 sanbon me—Migi no Teki
四 yonhon me—Mawari gaki
五 gohon me—Shiho

Chuden (Middle Level)

Hasegawa Eishin Ryu

一 ippon me—Yokogumo
二 nihon me—Tora no Issoku
三 sanbon me—Inazuma
四 yonhon me—Ukigumo
五 gohon me—Yama Oroshi
六 roppon me—Iwanami
七 nanahon me—Uroku Gaeshi
八 happon me—Nami Gaeshi
九 kyuhon me—Takiotoshi
十 juppon me—Nukiuchi

Okuden (Deep Level)

Oku Iai

Suwari Waza

一 ippon me—霞 Kasumi
二 nihon me—脛囲 Sunegakoi
三 sanbon me—戸詰 Tozume
四 yonhon me—戸脇 Towaki
五 gohon me—方切 Shiho giri
六 roppon me—棚下 Tanashita
七 nanahon me—両詰 Ryozume
八 happon me—虎走 Torabashiri
九 kyuhon me—暇乞其 Ito Magoi (3 versions)

Tachi Waza

一 juppon me—行連 Yukizure
二 juippon me—連達 Rentatsu
三 junihon me—惣捲 Somakuri
四 jusanbon me—惣留 Sodome
五 juyonhon me—信夫 Shinobu
六 jugohon me—行違 Yuki chigai
七 juroppon me—袖摺返 Sodesurigaeshi
八 junanahon me—門入 Moniri
九 juhappon me—壁添 Kabezoe
十 jukyuhon me—受流 Uke Nagaeshi