At Calgary Rakushinkan, we practice Mugenshintō-ryū Iaijutsu, a classical Japanese sword art with deep roots in the Aizu domain traditions. The style was shaped by Takeda Sōkaku—famous for Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu—and codified by his disciple Yamamoto Ittōsai Kakuyoshi. Mugenshintō-ryū blends the precision of iaido, the combative realism of kenjutsu, and the body skills of taijutsu into a single, integrated system.
We train Mugenshintō-ryū because it preserves authentic combative principles rarely found in modern martial arts. Practice is not limited to form—each movement is studied for its timing, distance, and effectiveness under real conditions. The same principles of spacing, posture, and body control developed through the sword directly enhance our aikido and other budō training.
Refined awareness of distance and timing
Improved body mechanics through coordinated posture, breathing, and movement
Sharper decision-making by learning when to move, cut, or remain still
Connection to history via a direct lineage from pre-modern Japan
Integration with aikido—sword principles reinforce unarmed technique
For us, Mugenshintō-ryū is more than a sword art—it is a living tradition that strengthens both the body and the mind, and deepens our understanding of the spirit of budō.
A list of Mugenshintō-ryū kata can be found here