Tosa Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido
The iaido as we know nowadays was founded in the Edo-era (1603-1868). Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (1546-1621) is considered to be the founder of the iaijutsu and, at the same time, the preparer of the iaido. At the end of the 20th century, Emperor Meiji banned sword-carrying, condemning the sword martial art, the iaido.
Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu (MJER) was named after Hasegawa Chikaransuke Eishin (circa 1716 – 1736), from whom comes the Eishin Ryu forms (Kata). The style (koryu = old school) originally from Kochi (formerly known as Tosa), is now widespread throughout Japan. Our teacher, Iwata Norikazu, learned the original Tosa style from his masters Sigehi Mori, Takuji Yamamoto and Fukui Harumasa, all of whom were students of Oe Masamichi, hence the name Tosa Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu (TMJER). Oe Masamichi (1852 – 1927) is associated with the reformation of the Eishin ryu, which also meets the requirements of the modern age while retaining its essence. Iwata sensei (sensei = master, teacher) was not only a well-known iaidoka but also a TMJER researcher who collected the secrets of Master Oe for the rest of his life.
Hunor Mihalik was a direct student of Master Iwata. He has received enough knowledge for many more years, which is still being processed.
Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei (ZNKR) Iaido
The solitary forms (kata) introduced by the iaido committee of the All Japan Kendo Federation (Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei) in 1969 are referred to as ZNKR iaido. The originally 7 katas were extended to 12, the goal of the committee with these katas is the cooperation between the different koryu schools and at the end of the day the survival of iaido. The ZNKR katas (over against the koryu katas) are standardized and are written, how they should be performed. Accordingly they are the basis of the examination system and the competitions. In Europe, the European Kendo Federation (EKF), in Germany the German Iaido Federation (DIaiB), and in Hungary the Hungarian Kendo Iaido and Jodo Federation (MKIJSZ) represent the iaido section of the ZNKR.
I get the instructions from Hunor Mihalik sensei for ZNKR iaido too.
