What is iaido?
Iaido is the art of reacting to a surprise attack by counter
attacking with a sword.
An in-depth reading of the Japanese characters for iaido is:
I = being, AI = harmony, DO = way . "The way of harmonising oneself
in action.
The Iaidoka (a practitioner of iaido) wields a sword: not to
control the opponent, but to control himself. Iaido is mostly
performed solo as a series of Waza. The Iaidoka executes various
techniques against single or multiple imaginary opponents. Each
Waza begins and ends with the sword sheathed. In addition to sword
technique, practitioners require imagination and concentration in
order to maintain the feeling of a real fight and to keep the Kata
fresh. In order to properly perform the waza, Iaidoka also learn
posture and movement, grip, and swing. Iaido is never practised in
a free-sparring manner.
Iaidoka practice to prepare for a surprise attack, where an
immediate, efficient solution to the problem of aggression is
necessary. Therefore, the technique is highly refined. Every
unnecessary movement is cut away. Technique is simple and direct.
The training method is aimed towards development of the
practitioners every mental and physical resources.
Iaido 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.
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 existant 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 iaï-do has had many names since then. It is
considered the foundation for the two major styles of iaï-do
practised 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.
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:
Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto Shigenobu
2 - Tamiya Heibei Narimasa
3 - Nagano Muraku Nyudo Kinrosai
4 - Momo Gumbei Mitsushige
5 - Arikawa Shozaemon Munetsugu
6 - Banno Dan-Uemon-no-Jô Nobusada
7 - Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eïshin
8 - Arai Seitetsu Seishin
9 - Hayashi Rokudayu Morimasa
10 - Hayashi Yasudayu Seisho
11 - Oguro Motoemon Kiyokatsu
12 - Hayashi Masu-no-Jô Masanari
13 - Yoda Manzo Takakatsu
14 - Hayashi Yadayu Masataka
15 - Tanimura Kame-no-Jô Takakatsu
16 - Goto Masasuke Magobei
17 - Oe Masamichi Roshu
18 - Hokiyama Namio
19 - Fukui Harumasa Tekkotsu
20 - Kono Minoru Hyakuren
21 - Fukui Torao
Current soke is Ikeda Takashi Seiko 22nd Generation.
Most iaï-do historians agree that the inspiration for the name
eishin ryu came from the name of the seventh generation headmaster,
Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eishin. Certainly the characters used in his
name are the same as those used in the name of the style.
After the eleventh generation, the lineage split into two separate
lines: one leading to Saito Iamau, the eighteenth generation soke
of the muso shinden ryu, and the other to Ikeda Takashi Seiko, as
shown above.
There are a number of others, less widely practiced forms of Iaï-do
that grew out of Hayashizaki Jinsukes 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.
