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Who We Are
The Roshukai offers instruction in the classical style of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Japanese Swordsmanship to any sincere student irrespective of what association or group they may belong to and is in much demand in Japan.
The Eikoku Roshukai ( English branch ) is neither an organization or association but is based on traditional school that has its roots in Japan that go back over 500 years.
Some years ago, a group of like minded people in the UK began to organize regular seminars to advance the knowledge and understanding of the classical Iai of the Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. It soon became clear that in order to do this, funds would have to be raised to finance visits from Japanese instructors. However, in raising funds the philosophy of the group is still to provide, at the cheapest possible costs to students, regular seminars with UK instructors of very high calibre. The annual membership is kept very low at just £25.00 per year, with the cost of seminars at only £10.00 this value for money approach is deliberate in order to encourage as many students as possible to join and attend as many seminars as possible.
Handbooks, courses and insurance are all available within the membership. A regular magazine called “Obi” is sent out free to each member to keep them informed of news and events and to provide a forum for discussing a wide range of topics associated with Martial Arts and Iaido in particular.
The group is run by its members for its members. None of the participants receive any remuneration of any kind for activities associated with the group. The formula works, the membership continues to grow with members across the country.
Headmaster
Iwata Norikazu Sensei was born in 1913, his training began in Kochi with students of Oe Masamichi, he went on to University in Tokyo and continued his training there under Mori Shigeki, another famous student of Oe Masamichi. Today at the age of 92 Iwata Norikazu Sensei is the 19th generation headmaster of the ryu and holds the Menkyo Kaiden (highest level certificate).
He is famous in the sword world of Japan, and is held in the highest regard. Not just as a swordsman, but a historian and writer on the subject, he is still fit and healthy, training and teaching regularly, he has dedicated the rest of his years to passing on the teachings of Oe Masamichi, he does this through the vehicle of the Roshukai. The Roshukai has spread through Japan, Iwata Sensei fears that the Koryu (classical sword) will die out with the event of modern sport IAI introduced in the mid 50s.
| Iwata Norikazu Sensei 19th Generation Hanshi Menkyo Kaiden Hachidan Zenkoku Roshukai Kaicho |
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Chief Instructors
| Neil Kemp | Brian Morrison | Mark Sykes | Steve Watering |
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| Kaicho |
