Curriculum

Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at NY Spaces Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 Eighth Avenue (between 36th and 37th Streets), sixteenth floor. Visitors are welcome to observe free of charge during the first Thursday of the month.

Tuesday Ryushin Jigen Ryu Iaido

Thursday Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido

The curriculum on a given night may vary at the discretion of the instructor. Additional classes and workshops are held throughout the year. See the Events page for reports on New York Budokai's special activities.

MUSO SHINDEN RYU IAIDO

Muso Shinden Ryu is taught by Chief Instructor Phil Ortiz and Instructor Stanley Chin. MSR was codified as a distinctive style in the early 20th century by the legendary Nakayama Hakudo, and is one of the larger schools of iaido. Proficiency in MSR is the primary requirement for New York Budokai ranking.

Students begin with the first set of forms of the ryu, the Omori ryu, all but one of which begin from the kneeling position of seiza. Omori teaches basic stances, cuts and footwork.

After students have begun to understand the basic forms, they are permitted to move on to the chudan (middle level) set, Hasegawa Eishin ryu, all but the last of which begin from tatehiza, a rather difficult posture in which the iaidoka sits on her left foot, which is tucked beneath her. 

Her right foot rests flat on the floor in front of her, with the right knee slightly raised. Her hands rest, palms up, on her knees, prior to beginning each form. Hasegawa forms emphasize close-in encounters with an opponent. The upper-level set of solo forms are called Okuiai. There are two parts to this set--tachiwaza, all performed from a standing position, and iwaza, performed from tatehiza. These forms appear simple on the surface, but are actually very complicated and take years to perfect. In addition we practice the partner forms of Muso Shinden Ryu, the Tachi Uchi no Kurai.

RYUSHIN JIGEN RYU IAIDO

Ryushin Jigen Ryu is a small style originally from Kyushu. Training involves solo kata, partner kata and various kihon waza affiliated with the style. RJR is unusual in its use of a smaller, lighter-weight sword and many one-handed techniques. Retired Headmaster Terutaka Kawabata and current Headmaster Kunikazu Yahagi of the Seiseikan Dojo in Tokyo guide our training in this style (see the Events page for reports on visits by Yahagi Sensei to New York Budokai). Training consists of both solo and partner forms.

SHINTO MUSO RYU JODO

Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo is held as a workshop, led by Chief Instructor Phil Ortiz. Jodo teaches the use of a stick (jo) to defend against a sword. Jodo techniques started around the beginning of the Edo Period (17th century) and emphasize disabling an opponent without serious injury. Group members practice the kihon waza (technique exercises) and the Shoden set of kata. In addition, members practice tanjo (walking stick) techniques that were developed for self-defense at the beginning of the 20th century.

ADDITIONAL TECHNIQUES

In addition to the above, New York Budokai's curriculum includes solo exercises and partner kata developed by our Founder, Yoshiteru Otani

HAPPO GIRI

Happo giri means, literally, eight direction cuts, generally translated as cutting in eight directions.The exercise consists of practice cutting, in sets of ten, combining the kamae and cuts outlined in the technique section of this Web site. Mr.Otani designed this part of the curriculum based on his experience with teaching and learning iaido over many years. New York Budokai students perform happo giri as a warm up at the beginning of each class, and also use the exercise to check proper cutting technique.

KUMITACHI (PARTNER FORMS)

In addition to the solo iai forms of the different styles, New York Budokai members also do our own partner forms, which teach timing and distance (ma), courage and calmness of mind. Mr. Otani designed 20 kumidachi forms, which are supplemented by partner exercises from Tenshinsho Jigen ryu and the Tachi Uchi no Kurai of Muso Shinden Ryu. Students begin to practice these forms slowly, gaining in speed and intensity over time. As in many traditional dojo, senior members of the dojo have an obligation to teach newer members proper technique, and reckless behavior is never tolerated.

TAMESHIGIRI

The instructors believe that good concentration and a meditative mindset cannot be fully realized without proper technique, so New York Budokai members practice cutting paper and grass mat targets periodically. The emphasis of this training is to check technique, rather than as a potential form of competition.

TESTING AND RANK

New York Budokai follows a dan/kyu system like that used for many other modern martial art forms. New York Budokai is an independent dojo, and the awarding of rank reflects progress in New York Budokai's curriculum. A student who attends class regularly can expect to test for shodan (first-degree black belt) in two to three years. Regular rankings occur every two to three years, up to the rank of yondan (fourth degree black belt). Godan (fifth degree) rank is usually attained ten years after yondan, at which time the student is permitted to teach on her own if she wishes.