HistoryLike most Iaido, Muso Shinden Ryu can trace its roots back to Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu, (sometimes known as Jinsuke Shigenobu) (1546-1621). As a young man he went to a Shinto shrine where he spent quite some time. After studying swordsmanship for some time he developed Batto-Jutsu techniques (techniques where one draws the sword and strikes with one motion). He called his style Shinmei Muso ryu. Later known as Shin Muso Hayashizaki ryu. Many different schools of swordsmanship developed and over the centuries, these techniques have been refined and adjusted to those we have today. The older styles of Iaido, of which there are many, are referred to as Koryu and are practiced all over the world. Muso Shinden Ryu as we know it today was born in early 1900s. by Nakayama Hakudo-sensei, a man who had dedicated his life to the study of kendo and Iaido. In the 18th century two branches of Iaido developed, Tanimura Ha and Shimomura Ha. It is Shimomura Ha which became the source for what is now known as Muso Shinden Ryu. Nakayama Hakudo (1869 - 1958) became the Soke (Headmaster) of the Shinomura branch and revised the curriculum. He laid out a plan of study having students pass through Shoden (entry level), Chuden (middle level), and two sets of Okuden (inner level). In addition to the revised curriculum he also modified some techniques. All Iaido kata (detailed choreographed patterns of movements) contain the same four elements:-
|