Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo

Suio Ryū Iai Kenpo is a style of classical Japanese swordsmanship. It was founded by Mima Yoichizaemon Kagenobu (1577-1665). He was born in the Dewa Province to Mima Saigu, a priest at the Junisha Gongen Shrine. He studied Bokuden Ryū, as well as some style of jo practiced by Shinto priests.

When he was 18, he began to study the iai techniques of the Hayashizaki school under Sakurai Gorozaemon. After being given an overview of those techniques, he travelled throughout Japan, to study under different masters and perfect his skills. For some time, he trained in the naginatajutsu of the Buddhist monks from Mount Hiei, techniques that were applied often by the priests during the Warring States period.

He was not content to develop only the physical side of his martial arts during this time. Instead, he continued training as a Shinto priest, and meditated nightly, even going so far as to go on long retreats to secluded holy sites deep in the mountains. It was because of this spiritual side of his training that he eventually attained enlightenment. In the twentieth year of his training, he was struck with a vision of white gulls floating effortlessly and without conscious thought on the water, and named the style that arose from his revelation the "Suio Ryū", or Water-Gull style of swordsmanship.

The spiritual, philosophical aspects of his training are everywhere in the Suio Ryū techniques, and the core waza, or techniques, are tied to the Shinto cosmology that defines the heavens and earth.

Yoichizaemon continued training and touring throughout his life, and at age 67 retired to pass the Suio Ryū to his son, Mima Yohachiro Kagenaga. To the core techniques established by the founder, Yohachiro added the 10 basic Goin and Goyo kata, which serve to establish strong basic technique. The 9th sōke, Fukuhara Shinzaemon Kagenori, introduced Masaki Ryū kusarigamajutsu to the curriculum. The tradition of oral transmission of techniques continues to the present day, with the 15th sōke of the Suio Ryū Iai Kenpo, Katsuse Yoshimitsu Kagehiro.