What is Iaido?

Mugai Ryu is a traditional, feudal-era style of swordsmanship founded around 1700 by Tsuji Gatan Sukemochi. The style aims at teaching practical, combative sword techniques, with an emphasis also on Zen and the attainment of enlightment through swordsmanship. Practice centers on learning the formal sword drawing and cutting solo forms, as well as paired combative forms using partners. More advanced students will have the opportunity to learn forms from other styles, such as the Sekiguchi Ryu and the Niten Ichi Ryu. Iaito (training swords) are optional if owned, otherwise beginners may borrow or purchase wooden training weapons. 6-week Introductory Course and Ongoing Training.

About the Instructor

Ken Pitchford Sensei brings to the dojo over 21 years of martial arts experience. Living in Japan since 1979 on military assignment, he returned to the United States in the summer of 2001. Since that time he has been teaching Iaido, Kendo, and Jujitsu at the Japanese Culture Center. Having spent so long in Japan studying martial arts, Pitchford Sensei brings deep understanding of each of the arts he teaches.

He started his martial arts career studying Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Karate in 1981 under Nagamine Shoshin Sensei in Naha. Pitchford Sensei studied under Nagamine Sensei for over seven years, earning his Shodan in Karate before studying under Kishaba Sensei in Yonabaru. He studied under Kishaba Sensei, a student of Hohan Soken Sensei, until Kishaba Sensei's death. Pitchford Sensei achieved the rank of Roku Dan, Sixth Degree Black Belt, in February 1998. One of the highlights of his time on Okinawa was in 1987 when he was picked as a representative of his dojo to perform Karate Kata in front of the Crown Prince, the current Emperor of Japan.

In 1982 Pitchford Sensei met Dr. Gordon Warner and started practicing Mugai Ryu Iaihyodo (Iaido). In 1984 he achieved shodan. Since then, Pitchford Sensei received Taikai Sho while a Godan for excellence in Iaido. Pitchford Sensei received his Rokudan in 1995 from the Nippon Iaido Federation. While still a Godan he was awarded two scrolls (something usually only given after one achieves Rokudan) from the soke (headmaster) of Mugai Ryu. These scrolls are a traditional license and a scroll of strategy awarded when a certain level of skill is achieved. This license is from the style, in this case Mugai Ryu, and independent of any rank award from the federation. The next level of scroll is known as Menkyo Kaiden and is the scroll of full transmission of the style.

Sensei Pitchford also was awarded the rank of Yonmokuroku by Shitama Sensei, the soke of Sosuishitsu Ryu Kumiuchi Koshi no Mawari, in 1999. This rank is the equivalent of a Yondan. Sosuishitsu Ryu is a style of jujitsu (Kumiuchi) and Iai (Koshi no Mawari) dating back over 350 years. Pitchford Sensei is a student of Usuki Sensei the head of the Tokyo dojo of Sosuishitsu Ryu.

Haga Dojo practices Kendo as a martial art, rather than sport. This old dojo practices Shinto Munen Ryu Kenjutsu and Hasegawa Eishin Ryu Iaido in addition to Kendo practice. Pitchford Sensei has been a member of this dojo for the past 7 years. No rank is given in this dojo.

Pitchford Sensei is also a student of Yonehara Sensei the soke of Sekiguchi Ryu. He has been studying this style of Iai for 9 years. Sekiguchi Ryu is a style of from Kumamoto Prefecture. Members of Sekiguchi Ryu also practice Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu (Miyamoto Musashi's style) and preserve the teachings of Aoki Sensei.

In addition to his martial arts training Pitchford Sensei studied Japanese Armor under Sasama Sensei, the foremost authority on the construction and authentication of Japanese armor in the world. The National Museum in Tokyo calls Sasama Sensei "The Armor God." Pitchford Sensei studied under Sasama Sensei for 4 years.