Posts

Image
  Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu ( 無双直伝英信流 ), often abbreviated as MJER or simply Eishin-ryu, stands as one of the oldest and most authentic koryu (classical) schools of iaido, the Japanese martial art centered on the swift drawing, cutting, and re-sheathing of the katana. The name itself encapsulates its essence: Muso signifies “peerless” or “without equal,” Jikiden denotes “direct transmission” through an unbroken master-to-student lineage, and Eishin derives from the seventh headmaster’s name (Hidenobu, alternatively pronounced Eishin). With a history spanning over 450 years, this style of swordsmanship represents an unbroken, direct transmission of techniques developed for combat, focus, and self-discipline. As a foundational school, it serves as a cornerstone for modern iaido, training practitioners to respond to surprise attacks with calm precision and to remain “face-to-face” with the reality of mortality. Learn more at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/mjer . #ittendojo #japan...
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
  The March edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In “The Sacred Legacy of Hayashizaki Myojin,” Itten Dojo chief instructor Robert Wolfe kicks off a several issue series on the birth and development of iaido. This month, the focus is on the Iai Shrine in Yamagata Prefecture, where the art of iaido was born. For the April issue, we anticipate a guest contributor will share what is clearly the most extensively researched and documented history in English of Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu, the founder of iaido. Download the newsletter by joining the Sword and Spirit group on Facebook, or directly from our website, at https://www.ittendojo.org/dbfiles/download/swordandspirit/pdf/101. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #shodo
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
Following our October 2025 trip to Japan that included training at the birthplace of iaido with the members of the Shinbukan dojo and a ceremony at the Hayashizaki Jinja (known as the Iai Shrine), we decided to restore a kamidana  (a small, elevated Shinto shrine) to the shomen (front wall) of our dojo in honor of the connections that we had made. In the same way that an embassy is considered sovereign territory of the nation it represents, we wanted to bring a tangible representation of the “spirit” of Japan into our dojo. The presence of a kamidana in a traditional Japanese martial arts dojo can cause hesitation among Christian practitioners, as well as members of the Judaic or Islamic faiths. The concern is understandable: the First Commandment strictly forbids placing other gods before God, and a  kamidana  represents  Shinto —a religion involving  kami , or spirits. However, a closer examination of the role of  kamidana  within the context ...
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
  The February edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In “When an Exclamation Replaces Thought,” guest contributor Edward Castillo (Salahuddin Muhammed) Sensei presents for this 100th posting of Sword and Spirit a special essay on “Why Class, Culture, and Precision Matter in the Dojo.” Download the newsletter by joining the Sword and Spirit group on Facebook, or directly from our website, at https://www.ittendojo.org/dbfiles/download/swordandspirit/pdf/100. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #shodo
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
  The January edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In “Want for Nothing,” guest contributor and Itten Dojo alumnus Peter Hobart takes on the daunting topic of the Void, viewed through the lens of Musashi’s writings in the Book of Five Rings. Download the newsletter by joining the Sword and Spirit group on Facebook, or directly from our website, at https://www.ittendojo.org/dbfiles/download/swordandspirit/pdf/99. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #shodo
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
  The December edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In “2025 Year in Review,” Itten Dojo chief instructor Robert Wolfe looks back on all that members of our dojo did in the past year — and this is one of our largest issues ever. Download the newsletter by joining the Sword and Spirit group on Facebook, or directly from our website, at https://www.ittendojo.org/dbfiles/download/swordandspirit/pdf/98. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #shodo
Post a Comment
Read more
Image
  The November edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In October, members of Itten Dojo and some family members made a ten-day trip to Japan. One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the Hayashizaki Jinja, the Iai Shrine where the art of iaijutsu/iaido was created 400+ years ago by Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu, where we trained with the members of the Shinbukan Dojo and participated in a prayer and blessing ceremony conducted by the chief priest of the Shinto shrine. In “Iaido Pilgrimage,” Itten Dojo chief instructor Robert Wolfe reports on what was a truly amazing experience. Download the newsletter by joining the Sword and Spirit group on Facebook, or directly from our website, at https://www.ittendojo.org/dbfiles/download/swordandspirit/pdf/97. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #shodo
Post a Comment
Read more