our association | Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Germany e.V.
1984 | the beginnings
Ishihara Tadakatsu Sensei from the then Japanese Embassy in the GDR gave the first insight into the art of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaido to a group of interested people from West Berlin.
Ishihara Sensei was a direct student of Esaka Sensei and became the first teacher of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu in Germany on his behalf. The first training courses were held in Berlin, Bielefeld and Münster.
Esaka Seigen Sensei
From these beginnings, continuous training soon developed. Now Esaka Sensei also came regularly from Japan to Germany to personally take care of the quality of Iaido in Germany. Under his leadership, intensive training courses were held annually and graduation examinations were held. These courses were not the only ones to attract interested parties from all parts of Germany. Little by little, the present dojos came into being.
1993 | Foundation of our German Association
At the personal request of Esaka Sensei, a German Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaido Association was registered in 1993 to provide a common umbrella organization for all those training in Germany and to enable comparable quality standards for all.
1994 | Teaching Permission
Gerald Eisenack Sensei (our national coach until 2013) received from the then head of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Japan and Zen Nihon Iaido Renmei (ZNIR), Fukui Seizan Torao Soke, the legitimacy to spread Iaido in Germany and to give exams.
2011 | Foundation of Kokusai Renmei
Esaka Sensei founded our present international umbrella organization "Ippan Shadanhoujin Seitou Seiryu Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido Kokusai Renmei" - Kokusai Renmei for short - after he resigned from ZNIR and all his previous positions there.
Background of this difficult decision was above all his already for a long time grown deep concern for the further continuance of traditional technology (see below); in addition, a direction decision of the Soke at that time for the further contact with non-Japanese Iaidoka. Esaka Sensei did not want to share responsibility for these developments - not least out of concern for us. We respected and followed this decision of Esaka Sensei.
The picture shows Esaka Sensei's teacher Kono Hyakuren Soke. Under the leadership of our teachers, we strive to keep this tradition alive.
2011
we received recognition as a German shibu.
Esaka Sensei installed our long time president Raymond Schröder Sensei as Kaicho of the German Shibu.
2012
we decided at our general meeting to couple the memberships in our national association and the Kokusai Renmei.
2014
Martin Peter Sensei succeeded Gerald Eisenack Sensei as national coach of the German Shibu. Gerald Sensei we thank for all his work over the years.
2021
Esaka Sensei resigned due to age and handed over his office to Kobara Kenichi Sensei. We are happy and grateful to have him as a teacher.