Philosophy
New
Students
What
to Expect
Daito
Mushin Ryu
History
Iaido is the art of drawing and cutting with the Japanese sword. It is one of many martial arts that the Samurai studied.
Classes consist of traditional katas from the Daito Mushin Ryu, Tameshigeri (cutting practice) and related training with wooden weapons, including bokken (wooden sword), wakisashi (short sword), tanto (dagger), nito-ryu (two swords), jo (short staff) and variations against one another.
Philosophy
- A false sword builds a false spirit.
- Weapons training is essential.
- You must not be a danger to yourself or others.
Swords used in the study of Daito Mushin Ryu are live blades, meaning they are sharp. In the past, only Shinken, true hand forged Japanese swords, were allowed. Today some flexibility has been introduced due to the increasing cost and limited availibility of Shinken. Modern blades must be approved by the Iaido Sensei. Generally speaking, you must train with a sword that you respect.
The use of bokken is allowed in lieu of a live blade. In this instance one is not pretending that they are using a live blade, but are being honest about what they are training with.
Weapons training introduces the interactive aspect of Daito Mushin Ryu. Here the students are given an attack and a counter to practice. The consequences of moving too soon or too late quickly become clear. The use of weapons reinforces the concepts embedded in the Iaido katas.
Membership is not guaranteed. If you present a danger to yourself or others you will be asked to leave until such time that this dangerous behavior has been overcome.
Beginning students often do things that are not in their best interest; these actions will be corrected and do not fall into the definition of dangerous behavior.
RULE:
If you think you are going to hurt yourself or someone
else, you are going too fast. Slow Down!
Quoting a Karate Sensei from long ago:
"Remember these things we do, cannot be undone."
New Students
Currently new students are being accepted. Prospective students may visit the Dojo during weapons or Iaido class. Addition information may be obtained by email at:
The minimum age is 15, but there have been rare exceptions. Any student below the age of 18 must be accompanied to class by a parent.
What
to Expect
- Begin with weapons class.
- Iaido training begins with a bokken.
- The transition to a sword comes at the students own pace.
- Patience is an absolute requirement.
Daito Mushin Ryu has only white belts and black belts; there are no intermediate belts. Students progress from kata to kata based solely on their demonstrated ability.
The sole goal of earning a black belt leaves little to the future once that goal has been achieved. The Japanese word for first degree black belt, Shodan, translates roughly into "beginning rank". The black belt is not an end, but is where one truly begins to learn.
Daito
Mushin Ryu
The name literally translates into "long sword", "no mind", "school". Although Mushin may translate into "no mind" do not confuse it with "mindless".
The concept of Mushin is difficult to translate into English. The most common modern example is hitting a car's brakes during an emergency. The action is instinctive, bypassing the thought centers of the brain. Only later does the driver fully comprehend his actions. Mushin is a perception and reaction on a level that does not allow time for conscious consideration.
Performance at this level in any endeavor requires years of dedicated practice.
The History of Daito Mushin Ryu
Graziano Sensei trained in Fusashima, Japan in the early 1960's under Takashi Kazumi Sensei in the Yagyu Shinkage Ryu. This style traces back to the Tokugawa shogunate (early 1600's) when the Yagyu family served as sword instructors to the Shogun and his family. When Graziano Sensei lived in Michigan, he studied the Muso Shinden Ryu (another very old style) under Masaki Shibata Sensei. Later, Graziano Sensei studied under Sadeo Kotaka Sensei in Ohio. Graziano Sensei found important elements in each of these styles. When he decided to pass on his knowledge of the sword to his students in Florida, he chose to include techniques from all of these styles. Because the merged style was not true to any one style, it would have been disrespectful to have used his Sensei's style names for this new style. He chose to give it a new name, the Daito Mushin Ryu (the Long Sword, No Mind style).
Today, Grant Sensei, a long-time and devoted student of Graziano Sensei, is the head Iaido instructor. Grant Sensei holds the rank of Sandan in the Daito Mushin Ryu as developed by Graziano Sensei.
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