The Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu style of Iaido
Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido has a history which extends back nearly 450 years. The roots of the style began with a man named Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto Shigenobu who developed a form of swordsmanship which was later to evolve into what we now call Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. During this evolution, other styles sprang forth from the Eishin Ryu lineage and many of them are still practiced in Japan today. In any case, Hayashizaki is considered by practitioners of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu to be the founder of their art and the first headmaster in a line which remains unbroken to this day. The current (22nd) headmaster, or Soke, of the art is Ikeda Takashi who became the headmaster in 2000.Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu is the most widely practiced style of Iaido in Japan today and is slowly making its way out into the rest of the world. It is a relatively new art in the U.S. and the fact that many of the Instructors in the U.S. were trained in Japan is helping to keep the quality of the training at a high level. The Eishinkai
The Eishinkai was formed in 2000 by Gregory W. Huff shortly after his return from Japan. It was the wish of his Sensei, Maruyama Chikao Sensei (Hanshi, Judan) of Saga City, that he teach Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido when he returned to the States. The name Eishinkai comes from the name of Maruyama Sensei's dojo in Japan, the Eishinkan. Although there are schools of swordsmanship springing up everywhere, the sad fact is that a great number of these schools have no basis in actual Japanese sword arts and many of them are teaching "styles" which are the product of nothing more than the vivid imagination of the teachers. Many of these "teachers" have learned the sum total of what they know from no other source than the movies and television. Unfortunately there has been no major movie or television show made which has accurately portrayed legitimate Japanese swordsmanship to any degree. Thus, the unknowing public are the victims of these frauds and con-men who, themselves, are ignorant of the true nature of the Japanese sword arts. The sad fact about these people is that many of them are deceiving themselves as well, since some of them honestly believe they have become masters of swordsmanship after after having seen a couple of action movies.Having said all of this, be assured that there are legitimate Dojos out there. Finding one that teaches the style you want to learn in your area is the hard part. The Eishinkai in Woodbridge directly follows the teachings of the current headmaster (Soke) of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, Ikeda Takashi Soke. Ikeda Soke follows a tradition of Japanese swordsmanship which extends back 450 years in Japan and is being perpetuated by students of Eishin Ryu in Japan and throughout the world. The Eishinkai remains in close contact with the Soke's organization (Seitokai) and the All Japan Iaido Federation.The Training
The Eishinkai Practices Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. If this is what you want to learn, come to the dojo and we will teach it to you. If this is not what you want to learn, then go somewhere else. My point is this: we train in a traditional art in a traditional way. The dojo is not an open forum. The instructor teaches, the student learns. It's as simple as that. In the world of retail business there is a saying that says the customer is always right. Well, in the dojo (any real dojo) the student is not a customer. When you come in to the dojo, you come to learn what they have to teach. If this does not suit you, there are countless schools (not dojos) out there that will take your money, smile at you a lot, tell you how wonderful you are, make up any technique that you think you want them to teach you, present you with all the ranks you are willing to buy, and send you away happy.When you come to the dojo, come prepared to sweat. Come prepared to go home tired and sore some evenings. Come prepared to spend an entire training session sometimes on a single detail of a single technique. In swordsmanship a slight, often imperceptable error in a technique can be enough to determine life or death.The first thing a student learns is manners and customs of the dojo. Only then can he/she begin to learn to use a sword. Basics are the key to solid sword techniques. Proper attitude is the key to learning the basics. The various waza (or kata) are the backbone of the training. Often, drills with wooden swords are employed to reenforce the training with actual swords (or Iaito).Having said all of the above, keep in mind that although the training is often hard and always serious the overall atmosphere of the dojo must be one of respect. Respect is a two way street and everyone deserves it, if for no other reason then just for being a human being. You will find the teaching at the Eishinkan to be strict and stern but mutual respect in the dojo will always take precedence over everything else. It is sad fact that there are some "schools" out there whose teachers feel they have to beat respect into the students. Maltreatment and abuse of students builds fear, not respect and "teachers" who employ these tactics are unfit to teach, even if they are actually experts in their art.Commitment
Budo is not a game. It is not for children. Training in the arts of war is for serious adults. Both men and women can derive benefit from Iaido training. As a general rule, age 18 is the minimum age at which one can expect to have the maturity for Iaido training, however, some youths as young as 16 may display the proper attitude and maturity to properly learn the art. Acceptance of anyone into the dojo is always the decision of the Sensei.In any case, once you have spent some time in training and have decided to stick to it, you are expected to demonstrate a certain commitment to the art. There are no contracts at the dojo. You will be expected to submit the gessha (training fee) on a monthly basis and you are free to quit any time you want. In fact, you are encouraged to discontinue training if you shoud decide that Iaido is not for you. However, you are either a member of the dojo or you are not. If you quit, you quit. There is no such thing as taking a few months off for softball season, or because you want to join a bowling league or whatever. If this is your intent, you can save your time and ours by not even starting the training. Of course, a business trip, family emergency or things of this nature are certainly reasons for missing some training and can be taken care of between you and the Sensei on a case by case basis.The Eishinkai is not a profit seeking enterprise. We train for the love of the art, not to make money. We are just as happy with one student as we are with a dozen as long as each one is dedicated to training seriously in Iaido. There are other things you will need to know before you decide to begin training. The Sensei will talk to you and answer all your questions so that you understand how the dojo runs. You can find out such things as the training schedule, monthly training fee and other such details if you contact us at the Eishinkai.Also, if you have any other questions at all or are just curious about Iaido we would like to hear from you. If you already train in any style of Iaido we would also like to hear from you since we are always interested in making contact with others who are out there training. 
