History of Iaido

• Muso - Peerless, without equal;
• Jikiden - Direct, from teacher to student;
• Eishin - A swordmaster who devised many imprtant techniques;
• Ryu - Style.

This form of Iaido has a lineage and history about 450 years long. The founder of the art was a man named Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto Shigenobu, who named his style Shimmei Muso-Ryu (Divinely inspired unparalleled style) as it is said the system came to him after praying for guidance. This style is considered the foundation for both Eishin-Ryu and another form of Iaido widely practiced Muso Shinden-Ryu.

It is thought that the name Eishin-Ryu came from the 7th generation soke or headmaster, who was named Hasegawa Mondonosuke Eishin.

To our club and style, a most important soke in the lineage was Oe Masamichi Sensei, the 17th generation soke and the last undisputed headmaster of the ryu. Among the other names that Oe Sensei was known by in his life was Roshu, from which we obtain the name Roshukai (society of Roshu) and Roshkai Eikoku (UK Roshukai).

The swordmaster who guides us today has devoted himself to furthering the methods of Oe sensei, and is our present headmaster. This man is Iwata Norikazu Sensei.