Mugairyu
http://suimokai.pupu.jp/english/index.htmlppo jitsu mugai
kenkon toku ittei
suimo hono mitsu
dochaku soku kosei
"There is nothing but the one truth:
It is universal, constant.
The wind-blown feather truly obtains this secret;
To know harmony amidst confusion is to be illuminated."
- as related to Tsuji Gettan Sukeshige by Sekitan Zenshi, ca. 1693
What is Mugai Ryu?
Mugai Ryu Iaihyodo is a three-hundred-year-old traditional line of Japanese
swordsmanship; it is a koryu art, meaning that the techniques have been passed
down in an unbroken line of transmittal since the feudal age of Japan. Mugai Ryu
comprises techniques for drawing the sword and cutting in the same movement
(iaido, or iaijutsu), as well as extended techniques for use in combative encounters
(kenjutsu), using either the long or short sword.
The Meishi-ha lineage of Mugai Ryu practices kireru ("cutting") iai: instead of being limited to strictly solo forms, students also engage in partner exercises to learn proper distance and timing to one's target, and periodically use live blades to ensure that their techniques an actually cut as intended. However, as a school heavily influenced by Zen, the ultimate goal is not simple sword skill; each student must strive to penetrate not only the kata, but the very essence of the martial Way.
A Brief History of Mugai Ryu
The founder of Mugai Ryu, Tsuji Gettan Sukeshige was born in 1648 in what is now
Shiga Prefecture. When he was 13 he went to Kyoto to study Yamaguchi Ryu; at
the age of 26 he received menkyo kaiden (full transmission), and opened a
Yamaguchi Ryu school in Edo (present-day Tokyo). However, only a few students
came to learn at his school as no one wanted to study under an unknown fencing
teacher from the countryside. Gettan realized that he required more spiritual
education, and so he went to study Zen and Chinese philosophy under monk
Sekitan at Azabu Kyukoji Temple. He continued his Zen practice under the second
chief priest Shinshu, and at the age of 45 achieved enlightenment. He took the
name Gettan Sukeshige and in 1693 founded the Mugai Ryu fencing school.
As a sword master and Zen disciple, Gettan felt that the sword and Zen were inseparable, as he explained in his seminal writing on the true meaning of Mugai Ryu, and any who wanted to learn Mugai Ryu fencing had to first become proficient students of Zen before Gettan would teach them the sword.
After 20 years of spiritual dedication, Gettan was known not just as a master of the sword, but as an enlightened philosopher and scholar as well. At Kyukoji Temple he was often in contact with many powerful lords of the time. Gettan was invited to teach for two powerful lords' houses, but being a restless spirit always seeking more, Gettan sent his students instead: his blood relative and second master of Mugai Ryu, Tsuji Uheida, to the Sakai house of the Umayabashi clan, and his adopted disciple and third master of Mugai Ryu, Tsuji Kimata Sukehide, to the Yamaguchi house of the Tosa clan.
When Gettan was 61 years old, at the discretion of Lord Sakai, he was to debut in front of the fifth shogun Tsunakichi. Unfortunately, Shogun Tsunakichi passed away before Gettan had an audience with him. However, for a masterless sword instructor to be invited to have an audience with the shogun at that time was an incredible achievement.
Gettan studied Jikyo Ryu iai from master Taga Jikyosai Morimasa, who did not have a pupil to carry on after him, and so instead of letting Jikyo Ryu fade, he brought his teachings into Mugai Ryu. Today's Mugai Ryu iai is therefore a combination of the original Mugai kenjutsu teachings and Jikyo Ryu iai, which was later consolidated by Nakagawa-soke into Mugai Ryu Iaihyodo.
Meishi-ha Organizational Structure
The study groups in the U.S. are part of the Gyokusuikai, which is the international
branch of the Suimokai organization in Japan, headed by Gyokudo Toyoaki Niina.
Suimokai is dedicated to the study and spread of traditional Japanese martial arts,
and specifically the Meishi-ha lineage of Mugai Ryu.
The Sacramento Mugai Ryu study group operates under the direction of Tony Alvarez Sensei, who administrates the US Federation of Mugai Ryu.
Gyokudo Toyoaki Niina (Niina-gosoke) Honbu dojo, Tokyo*Founder - Meishi-ha Mugai Ryu Iaihyodo
*Chairman - Suimokai
*Hanshi, Menkyo Kaiden
Renfield Kuroda-Sensei Honbu dojo, Tokyo
*International Director - Suimokai
*Renshi
Tony Alvarez-Sensei Senpokan, Costa Mesa CA
*Director - US Federation of Mugai Ryu
Bill Henderson-Sensei Senkakukan, Folsom, California
*Northern Calif. Senpai of Tony Alvarez Sensei
*Study Group leader - Mugai Ryu, program
