[Translated from Japanese orginal]
Iai is a traditional Japanese martial art in which one siezes the opportunity
to counter an opponent's attack with one's own sword draw and cuts.
Unlike kendo, which is the discipline of fencing between opponents who already
have their swords drawn and ready, iai assumes the duel begins with the sword
still sheathed.
When confronted by opponents, iai dictates one smooth movement from drawing
the sword to counting the opponents and noting their positions, executing various
flowing cuts, and finally returning the sword to the scabbard.
Because of the characteristics of the art, real swords are used during practice.
Sometimes instead of real swords, iai practice swords of equivalent weight and
feel are used.
Also, in order to properly judge distance and timing, there is offensive/defensive
practice in pairs.
As far as the mental discipline is concerned, many people thing iai focuses
on "drawing the sword", when in fact iai really means "facing one's opponent".
Iai teaches us that he who is full of himself and opposes others become's his
own enemy, but if he remains meak in the face of others, with proper demeanor
and respect, then he is prepared to face any opponent.
Furthermore, it is said that it is most important to work towards maintaining
at all times a calm mind, to confront one's self and mend one's ways.
The founder of Mugai-ryu, Master Tsujigettan (also known as Heinai) was born
in 1650 in what is now Shiga Prefecture. When he was 13 he went to Kyoto to
study Yamaguchi-ryu fencing under Master Yamaguchi Bokushinsai.
At the age of 26 Heinai was certified as a teacher of Yamaguchi-ryu and with
the permission of the Edo government he opened a Yamaguchi-ryu school of fencing
in the 9th sector of Kojimachi in Edo (old Tokyo).
However, no one wanted to study under an unknown fencing teacher from the countryside,
so only a few students came to learn at his school.
Heinai realized that he required more spiritual education, and so he went to
study Zen and Chinese philisophy under monk Sekitan at Azabu Kyukoji Temple.
After monk Sekitan passed into the next world, Heinai continued his Zen practice
under the second chief priest Shinshu, and at the age of 45 Heinai achieved
enlightenment.
Heinai once again took the name Gettan Sukemochi and in 1693 founded the Mugai-ryu
fencing school.
Due to 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, and at
Kyukoji Template he was often in contact with many powerful lords of the time,
including the Lord of Ogasawara Sado, Sakai Kageyu Tadahira, leader of the feudal
Umayabashi clan, and the leader of the Tosa clan, Yamauchi Toyomasa.
Because Gettan's house was destroyed in the 1695 fires of Edo, the exact number
of his disciples are unknown, but it is known that in the 14 years to 1710 his
students included 32 households of major lords, 156 disciples of high rank,
and 930 other students.
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 Toji Kimata Tsuguhide
to the Yamaguchi house of the Tosa clan.Uheida also taught Isoda Bou of Sakai
house in Isesaki, and from there to the Naito household of the Koromo clan (present
day Fukuda City) as well.
When Gettan was 61 years old, at the discretion of Lord Sakai, he was to debut
in front of the fifth shogun Tsunakichi, but 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 acheivement.
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.
3 months before his death, it is said there is a beloved image of Gettan as
a Zen priest holding a hossu (Zen master's whisk), and in another beloved
image Gettan hold in his right hand a wooden practice sword, the sharp eyes
of a fencing master shining.
And so, having never had a family, in 1728 at the age of 79, on the same day
of the same month Zen monk Sekitan passed away, Gettan passed peacefully into
the next world while deep in meditation, his rosary in his left hand, his hossu
in his right.
Mugai-ryu iai is actually Jikyo-ryu, but Mugai-ryu kenjutsu is, because of the
current teachers, usually called Mugai-ryu iai. Gettan studied Jikyo-ryu 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 the original Mugai teachings and Jikyo-ryu iai consolidated
by master Nakagawa into Mugai-ryu Iai Heido.
As for iai practice, because we do not practice with real oponents (just individual
practice), students of iai must be careful to not simply perfom drawing, cutting,
and sheathing. The power and flow to actually cut an opponent is most desired.
This is not something that can be learned in a day, but requires careful practice
of the movements, the art, and the spirit of the sword over many years. When
the power and energy for cutting is manifested in form and shape, the spirit
and body have come together. If this spirit and energy is mastered, it is possible
to declare victory without ever drawing the sword.
And so, first and foremost iai is the art of not drawing and not cutting, but
in the remote case when it is necessary, the victory is decided in an instant.
Suimokai strives for this, and therefore demands dedication to building the
spirit of iaido.
Suimokai, based on Mugai-ryu Iai Heido, seeks through constant practice and repetition to find the spiritual path in the physical techinques, and in doing so to bring out the best qualities to build people of fine character.