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Within the art of Iaido, the influence of Hayashizaki Jinsuke can not be understated. This mysterious man could quite easily be considered one the greatest influences on the art. While many people are aware of Hayashizaki, little is known for sure about him or his art. There are many legends, but hard facts are another issue. Regardless, his influence and teachings have been a strong force in a great number of ryuha. Probably the best known would be Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu and Muso Shinden ryu, both of which claim him as their founder. There are also a number of lesser-known ryuha that have felt his influence, either through his direct successors or his other students. Tamiya ryu, along with several Hayashizaki XYZ related ryu, all claim some connection to Hayashizaki's teachings.

embu Iaijutsu, Muso jikiden Eishin ryu , Komei Juku par Jaff RAJI begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting lors de la 4ème nuit des Arts Martiaux Traditionnels le 21 novembre 2010 à PARIS .

by Nicklaus Suino Sensei

This article appeared in the "SMAA Journal" Volume 14, Issue 2

Few arts present as many challenges of detail as does Japanese swordsmanship. One of the most misunderstood aspects of Eishin Ryu iaido is the proper grip on the handle of the iaito (iaido practice sword), called "te-no-uchi." The grip is crucial because it is the final lynchpin in the transmission of power from the body, through the arms, and into the cutting edge of the sword. A correct grip also provides "feel," which increases awareness of the sword's position and helps guide the edge through the correct path in cutting.

n many iaido ryuha, chiburi is a fundamental part of kata. Chiburi, usually written 血振 in Japanese, literally means "shaking off blood," and the image presented is that of flinging the blood of a defeated enemy off the blade with a deft movement before resheathing. Perhaps mainly due to the prevalence of Muso Shinden-ryu and Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu, some people believe that chiburi is a universal aspect of iai. However, many ryuha do not practice chiburi, and there is the opinion - which has become more widespread recently, thanks to the sharing of knowledge via the internet - that shaking off blood in this way is in fact impossible. If this is the case, then what purpose does chiburi serve? Is it pointless? Why do some ryuha practice it? And was it really ever intended to remove blood from a blade?

embu Iaijutsu, Muso jikiden Eishin ryu , Komei Juku par Jaff RAJI begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting lors de la 4ème nuit des Arts Martiaux Traditionnels le 21 novembre 2010 à PARIS .