Komei Juku International

This sword art was founded approximately 400 years ago, in the late 1500’s, by Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto Shigenobu. Legend has it that he undertook long study and ascetics, and finally received divine inspiration to develop a style of swordsmanship which allowed him to defeat his father’s killer. Hayashizaki taught the techniques he learnt to others, and his method became known as Hayashizaki Ryu.

From these origins, the seventh headmaster, Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eishin, a superior swordsman in his own right, codified the style and named it Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu.

The 17th headmaster, Oe Masamichi, re-codified the curriculum, giving it the current outline, and added the new block of material, the Omori Seiza Waza. From the headmastership of Oe Masamichi the school descends in three branches, Komei Juku belonging to the Yamauchi Ha lineage (named after the 18th headmaster, Yamauchi Toyotake).

Training consists primarily of iaijutsu (individual sword-drawing techniques), kumitachi (paired techniques), kenjutsu (combat techniques), suburi (cutting exercises), kata (complex patterns of techniques), tameshigiri (test cutting), and mutodori (sword-taking techniques and unarmed defence against the sword). Also studied at Komei Juku Australia and New Zealand is Ryoen Ryu Naginatajutsu.