Itten Dojo

  Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu — Evolution and Adaptation Our training with Nicklaus Suino Sensei of the Japanese Martial Arts Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is our third attempt to train in Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu (MJER) Iaido (the earlier attempts were in the first decade of this century). Until recently, despite the extent of our previous experience, I would have referred to Eishin-ryu as “the art of drawing the sword to an immediate, defensive technique,” but that is an incomplete understanding. As I’ve learned, the longer phrase that is the reference for the term iai is “Tsune ni ite, kyu ni awasu” (常に居て、急に合わす). This translates roughly as, “Being constantly in the moment, and swiftly adapting to respond.” That philosophy serves as the foundational concept for Eishin-ryu, representing a deep state of mental awareness and the capacity for instant physical reaction. Iaido is training to become fully present in every moment and provides physical and mental tools to restore harmony in t...

  Prior to the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Tosa Province on Shikoku was ruled by the Chōsokabe clan. Unfortunately for the Chōsokabe, the clan was caught on the losing side of the battle against the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and were stripped of their domain. The Yamauchi clan, supporters of Tokugawa, were rewarded with Tosa. The introduction to and establishment in Tosa province of what became Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū was impacted by elements of friction between former Chōsokabe retainers and their Yamauchi clan overlords. Read more at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/political-impacts . #ittendojo #iaido

  The June edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In “Kyudo Comes to PA,” Itten Dojo chief instructor Robert Wolfe discusses our introduction to kyudo, the art of Japanese archery, and the establishment of our kyudo study group—the only program of its kind in Pennsylvania. 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/104. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #kyudo #shodo

The May edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In “Beneath the Blade,” guest contributor Edward Castillo (Salahuddin Muhammed) Sensei reflects on “Ego, Honor, and the True Purpose of Combat.” 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/103. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #shodo

  Iaido Keiko: Reflecting on the Ancient to Steady the Modern Soul In these turbulent times, when the world outside the dojo doors seems determined to test every limit of human composure, the practice of iaido offers a quiet but profound antidote. As chief instructor of Itten Dojo in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, I have watched students of all ages and walks of life enter our training hall burdened by the relentless pressures of contemporary existence. They arrive carrying the weight of distant wars, the daily sting of rising gasoline prices and an ever-climbing cost of living, the dizzying upheaval of the AI revolution, the unsettling revelations surrounding the existence of aliens or higher-dimensional beings, the sharp divisions of political discord, and the persistent threats to personal health that shadow every headline. Yet within the simple ritual of drawing and sheathing the sword—precise, deliberate, and utterly solitary—they begin to discover something essential: an inwa...

  Zanshin: The Remaining Mind in Japanese Martial Arts In the dojo, as in life, the most critical moments often come not during the peak of action, but in the quiet that follows. This is the essence of zanshin —the “remaining mind” or “lingering awareness”—a concept that permeates the classical Japanese martial arts we practice at Itten Dojo. Over more than five decades of training, beginning with Isshinryu karate in 1975 and extending through kenjutsu, aikijutsu and aikido, Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu iaido, and Nihon Jujutsu, I have come to see zanshin not as some abstract philosophical ideal, but as a practical, trainable state of being that separates competent technique from true mastery. It is the calm, alert readiness that persists after the cut, the throw, or the release of the arrow. Without it, even the most flawless execution is incomplete, for the opponent—or the challenges of daily life—does not vanish the instant your strike lands. Read more at https://www.ittendojo.org/a...

  The April edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In “The Life of Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu,” guest contributor Jack James Sensei shares what is clearly the most extensively researched and documented history in English of Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu, the founder of iaido. James Sensei works as a translator and interpreter in Fukuoka, Japan. He has won the Fukuoka Prefectural Taikai across multiple grades and has represented Fukuoka at the All Japan Iaido Championships. He studies Muso Shinden Jushin Ryu and leads the Higashi Wakahisa Iaido Branch of Jushin Ryu Tekisuijuku. James Sensei is currently the only non-Japanese instructor teaching this tradition in Japan. In addition to his training and teaching, James Sensei devotes his time to researching the history of iaido, with a particular focus on Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu and the art’s development within the Tosa Domain. We are deeply grateful to James Sensei for his permission to reprin...

  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...

  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

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 ...

  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

  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

  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

  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

  It’s been two weeks since our October 25th visit to the Hayashizaki Jinja, the birthplace of iaido, and our opportunity to train in Japan at the Iai Shinbukan, the associated dojo on the grounds of the shrine in Murayama City. My head is still spinning. Ito Sensei and Higuchi Sensei recognized very quickly that we intended to make the most of every moment in that dojo, and they responded by packing the three hours with as much technique and insights as they could convey. Every member of the Shinbukan went above and beyond to help and made us feel very welcome. It was an amazing experience! #ittendojo #iaido

  The October edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In this issue, guest contributor Edward Castillo (Salahuddin Muhammed) Sensei presents an exceptional essay on Bushido, The Way of the Warrior, in “The Invention of Bushido: Nitobe Inazo and the Politics of an Idea.” 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/96. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #shodo

  The September edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In “JMAC at Itten #8,” Itten Dojo chief instructor Robert Wolfe reviews a milestone seminar with Suino Sensei and our JMAC sempai. In addition to the significance of the event in its own right, the seminar was actually the five-year anniversary of the start of our formal affiliation with JMAC. 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/95. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #shodo

  The August edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In this issue, guest contributor Edward Castillo (Salahuddin Muhammed) Sensei presents a convincing argument defining differences between martial arts and martial systems — “Tradition to Transmission: Distinguishing Martial Arts from Martial Systems and the Role of Pedagogy in Modern Martial Studies.” 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/94. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #shodo

The July edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In this issue, Itten Dojo chief instructor Robert Wolfe presents a retrospective on the 2025 JMAC Crucible, the 12-hour, locked-in training event from which “Nobody Leaves Unchanged.” 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/93. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #shodo

The June edition of Sword and Spirit has been posted. In this issue, guest contributor Edward Castillo (Salahuddin Muhammed) Sensei continues his series on dojo culture with “Creating Dilemmas in Martial Arts: Hot to Build Thinkers, Not Just Robots,” a methodology for instructors to “develop students that can thrive under pressure, not just perform under instruction.” This is one of his best-ever essays! 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/92. All back issues of Sword and Spirit are available at https://www.ittendojo.org/articles/swordandspirit. #ittendojo #japanesemartialartscenter #iaido #jujutsu #judo #shodo