Welcome

Thank you for visiting the Musojikiden-Eishin-Ryu Tosaohta-Ha website. Musojikiden-Eishin-Ryu (“Eishin-Ryu”) is a prominent school of Japanese sword-drawing (“Iai”) and Tosaohta-Ha is a derivative style based on the teachings of Master Tsugiyoshi Ohta (1892-1984). Master Ohta hailed from the former Tosa fiefdom, for centuries heartland of the Eishin-Ryu school, and his style emphasizes Iai as a practical combat art. Tosaohta-Ha techniques thus emphasize lethal speed and accuracy, as well as fast “renozkuwaza“ (linked-techniques) to counter multiple opponents. Much of the training is with live blades and a high level of physical fitness is required. This is in contrast to the mainstream of current-day Eishin-Ryu, which tends to emphasize attributes such as character development over actual combat skill. Another feature of our style is that techniques from both the Tanimura-Ha and Shimomura-Ha variations of Eishi-Ryu are taught. We are also the only style of Eishin-Ryu that preserves and transmits the traditional Oral Teachings. The Tosaohta-Ha style is currently headed by second-generation Master Hiromasa Serizawa, who is the sole disciple to be granted permission by Founder-Master Ohta to transmit his style. Examples of Tosaohta-Ha technique may be viewed via the links below.