The Kata of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu

Shoden Level or Omori-ryu

There are three levels of Iai (aware and ready) kata (formal techniques) in Eishin ryu.
The first or shoden level consist of eleven forms developed by Omori Rokurozaemon, a
student of Hasegawa Eishin and an expert in Shinkage Ryu kenjutsu. With the
unification of Japan the samurai had no wars to fight (1615-1867). Omori combined a
series of sword drawing exercises with the etiquette of the tea ceremony to create the
formal Seiza Kata. This was the birth of ‘Iaido’ where techniques of self-defense
became techniques of self-development.
These kata are used for grading for second dan and above in the All United States
Kendo Federation. They are called the koryu kata, which means classical martial
traditions or ancient forms. All but one, Oikaze, begin from the seiza (kneeling)
position. The O chiburi (blood throw) is done standing with the feet together.

Present Name English meaning and explanation of technique

1. Mae Front The enemy is in seiza before you when he

goes for his sword.

2. Migi Right You is facing right and your enemy is in

seiza at your left.

3. Hidari Left You are facing left and your enemy is in

seiza at your right.

4. Ushiro Rear You are facing the rear and the

enemy is in seiza behind you.

5. Yaegaki Barriers within Your enemy survives your first over head
cut and plays possum barriers until you
begin noto. As he attacks again, you move
back and draw to block a cut to the leg and
 counter-attack with kirioroshi.

6. Uke Nagashi Flowing Block Your standing attacker is facing from the
left. You perform a rising deflecting block
and counter-attack.

7. Kaishaku Assist Onward Acting as one who helps another, as he

commits seppuku (Hara-Kiri).

8. Tsukekomi Seize Opportunity Your enemy is to the front. Using a flowing

block, you counter-attack to the head and
then to middle level. Then step back into
hidari jodan. Lower to the left knee to the
floor bringing the blade forward and
perform a wiping chiburi and then noto.

9. Tsukikage Moon Shadow Your attacker is standing to your right. You

rise and cut under his arms, push him back,
and cut him down.

10. Oikaze Chase the Wind Standing, you chase the enemy and cut him
down before he can escape.

11. Nukiuchi Sudden Attack Seated, you cut the enemy down as he bows
before you.

Chuden Tatehiza waza

(Middle level techniques)

The second level consists of Eight kata. These are self-defense techniques
developed and added to the ryu by Hasegawa Eishin after 1610 when he became the
seventh headmaster. Tatehiza means ‘standing knee’ and is difficult for westerners to sit
in at first. It is a position the samurai used for resting when wearing a full suit of armor.
The cleansing of the blade in these forms is performed with a yoko-chiburi by snapping
the sword to the right almost parallel to the floor.

1. Yoko Gumo Cloud Bank This is similar to seiza mae

except for the yoko-chiburi
cleansing of the blade.

2. Tora-no-Issoku One leg of a tiger Stepping back out of

tatehiza block a cut to the
right leg and counter-attack.

3. Ina Zuma Lightning Flash Stepping back out of

tatehiza cut up under the
 standing attacker’s forearms
and as in the seitei iai Kesa
Giri then bring the left knee
down and counter-attack
with kirioroshi.

4. Uki Gumo Floating Clouds Sitting in tatehiza facing to

the left, look right then rise
away from a grab to the
tsuka (handle) of your
sword and counterattack,
dragging the enemy to the
ground and cutting
diagonally from right to
left.

5. Yama Oroshi Mountain Wind Facing left grab the tsuka

with both hands moving it
in a clock wise circle to
avoid it being grabbed and
counter attack with the butt
end of the sword to his face.
Draw the sword, drag him
to the floor and cut with
kirioroshi.

6. Iwa Nami Waves breaking Facing right step back with

the left foot while drawing
the sword. Draw the
against the rocks left foot to
the right turning 90% to the
left and slide forward with
the right foot thrusting
forward into the attacker
bringing the left knee to the
floor. Drag him to the right
and cut him with kirioroshi.

7. Uroko Gaeshi Fish Scale Rollover This kata is similar to seiza

migi where you are seated
facing right, but your
enemy is standing to your
left. The major difference
besides the starting position
is that you rise as you turn
and step back after you turn
 instead going forward.
Counter-attack moving
forward and kneeling with a
kirioroshi.

8. Nami Gaeshi Returning Wave In this form you are seated

with your back to a standing
enemy. Turn 180% pivoting
on the balls of your feet and
rise before stepping back
and return forward to
counter-attack with
kirioroshi.

9. Taki Otoshi Cascading Waterfall In this form you are

seated facing the rear when
the enemy grabs the end of
your saya to prevent you
from drawing your blade.
Step back rising and then
forward pressing the tsuka
down and up to tear it out of
his hand. Step forward with
the right foot turning 180%,
tsuki, pull the blade out and
step toward the enemy
going down on the left knee
performing kirioroshi.

10. Makko Direct Cut This kata is similar to the

seiza Nuki-uchi, but instead
of drawing the blade to
Face to Face the left side of
the enemy’s head, lift it
straight up blending
nukitsuke, furikaburi, and
kirioroshi into one
movement. Perform yoko-
chiburi and noto.

Okuden Suwariwaza
(Deep Level Crouching Techniques)

The eight core tatehiza kata and the ten standing tachiwaza were developed
during the Sengoku Period (Age of Warring States) by Hayashizaki Jinsuke using a long
tachi style sword. It was originally known as Hayashizaki-ryu. The kata were later
revised by Hasegawa Eishin, the seventh headmaster of the style, using the shorter and
straighter katana that is thrust cutting edge upwards through the belt. The school became
identified by his name do to his fame as a peerless swordsman. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the
ruler of Japan from 1582 to 1598, bestowed upon Eishin the title of Muso Ken (Sword
without equal). The first seven headmasters of the style were contemporaries who lived
through a great age of conflict. Each contributed to the development of what would
become Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu (Unequalled Direct-Lineage Eishin Style).

1. Kasumi Misty Haze Moving forward step out

with the right leg and cut
across the enemy’s eyes.
As he leans away, turn the
wrist and cut back at the
level of the leg, then around
behind to perform kirioroshi
as you slide forward. Again
it ends with yoko-chiburi
and noto coming back into
iai-goshi.

2. Sune Gakoi Shin Guard This form is just like Tora-

no-Issoku except the enemy
is closer and it is performed
faster.

3. To Zume Close/Near Two enemies are seated

before you. Turn 45% as
you rise to a keeling
position and cut down the
enemy using just the right
hand. Then turn 90% to the
left to cut down a second
enemy using a two hand
cut.

4. To Waki Beside the Door Seated between two

enemies, draw and stab the
one to the left before
turning 180% as you rise to
one knee and cut down the
enemy to the right.

5. Shiho Giri Four Directions Cut You are seated in the

middle of four enemies, all
facing the same direction.
Draw and stab the enemy to
 the left rear, then rise to one
knee as you turn 270% and
cut down the one seated to
the right rear. Turn 180%
to the left to cut the enemy
to the front left and then
turn 90% to cut down the
one at the front right.

6. Tana Shita Under the Porch You are hiding in ambush

under a veranda or
cupboard. As you draw,
slide your right foot forward
as far as you can in a crouch
and draw the body after it in
a very low posture as you
bring the sword back over
your head. Then rise to one
knee and perform
kirioroshi.

7. Ryo Zume Both Sides Close In a narrow space, draw

forward and bring the tsuka
back toward navel. Thrust
the kissaki to the front
before pulling back and
perform a kirioroshi.

8. Tora Bashiri Tiger’s Run This is very similar to

Oikaze, but from tatehiza.
Rise to a crouch and run
forward in short steps
before drawing and cutting
down the enemy. After
noto run backwards in short
steps and perform the kata
again stepping back and
coming down on one knee
with kirioroshi.

Okuden Iai Tachiwaza

(Deep Level Standing Techniques)

1. Yuki Zure Walking Together You are prisoner being

escorted by two enemies.
You drop back two steps,
 draw and cut down the one
to the right using the right
hand, then turn 90% and cut
down the one to the left
using kirioroshi. End with
yoko-chiburi and noto.

2. Tsure Dachi Companions Same situation as above

except the enemy to the
right is ahead of you and the
one to the left is behind.
Draw the tsuka toward the
front right while performing
saya biki. Step left as you
thrust into the enemy. Then
turn 180% to the right and
shuffle step and perform
kirioroshi.

3. Somakuri All Around This kata is very similar to

Sougiri of the Seitei-gata
except it has a longer and
lower power stance when
cutting. Again it starts
forward then retreats with a
uke nagashi followed by a
right cut to the head, left cut
to the clavicle, right cut to
the upper ribs, left cut
across the lower stomach,
and then straight down from
head to groin.

4. Sodome Stop Everything In this form you have three

enemies coming up a flight
of stairs. On the third step
draw forward and down to
the right with a strong saya
biki. On the next step
perform noto without a
Chiburi. Then repeat this
twice before performing
yoko-chiburi and then noto.

5. Shinobu Stealthily It is dark and you cannot

see the enemy, but you
 know he is there. Move
slowly and quietly forward
and to the left crouching
while drawing your blade.
Lightly tap the kissaki on
the floor in front of your
original position. When the
enemy cuts at the sound,
you stand and cut down
behind the sound of his
sword.

6. Yuki Chigai Passing By As you walk forward two

enemies pass on your left
and more vulnerable side,
going the other way, one in
front of the other. Stepping
forward with your right
foot, strike the second one
in the face with the tsuka-
gashira. Withoutstepping,
pivot 180% to the left as
you perform uke nagashi
and cut down the first
enemy with a kirioroshi.
Turn back to the right
pivoting on the balls of
thefeet and bringing the
blade over your head and
return, cutting the other one
down.

7. Sode Suri Gaeshi Sleeve Touching As you walk through a

crowd, draw the blade and
place it over your left
shoulder as you cross your
arms. Step up to the
bystanders and put your
arms between them. Being
careful not to cut them,
shove the bystanders apart
and cut the enemy down
with kirioroshi.

8. Moniri Enter the Gate Three enemies ambush you

as you enter through a low
 gate, two in front and one
behind you. Draw your
blade and from your hip
thrust forward into the first.
Turn 180% to the left, step
completely under the gate
before performing
kirioroshi to avoid the beam
overhead. Then repeat the
same technique to cut down
the third.

9. Kabe Zoe Against the Wall This form is against one

enemy in a confined space.
Draw the sword straight up
while pulling down on the
saya. The kirioroshi cuts
through and ends pointing
toward the floor. The
chiburi is snapped down
and to right. Noto is
performed by return the
blade in almost the same
way it was drawn.

10. Uke Nagashi Flowing Block Your enemy is in front of

you. Step forward with
your right foot then step
across in front of it with
your left foot as you draw
your sword half way out of
the saya. Then step back
and to right with your right
foot bringing the blade up
in a flowing block. Lift the
left foot and stamp it down
bringing the right foot to it
while performing kirioroshi.

Sources; ‘Flashing Steel’, by Masayuki Shimabukuro and ‘Kim’s Big Book of Iaido’,
Kim Taylor