Class Info
Bitchuden Takenouchi-ryu Kobudo
Bitchuden Takenouchi-ryu is one of the three main surviving branches of the Takenouchi-ryu (the other two being the Soke and Sodenke main lines). The Takenouchi-ryu is one of the oldest still extant composite martial ryu (schools) in existence in Japan, begun in 1532 CE by Takenouchi Hisamori. Wayne Muromoto, the main instructor for the Martial Arts Club of Hawaii (Seifukan) has a Chuuden Mokuroku, Toritate Shihan rank (equivalent to modern martial arts of about fifth dan, permission to teach) from Ono Yotaro, 16th generation headmaster (soke) of Bitchuden Takenouchi-ryu, Choufukan dojo, Kyoto, Japan.
Training is in unarmed grappling (in armor and unarmored), staff at various lengths, sword, kogusoku (short sword), jutte (truncheon), naginata, batto iai, rope binding, shuriken, etc.
(The photo above shows Wayne training at Choufukan under the tutelage of Ono sensei.)
Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iai
Wayne Muromoto was introduced to Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu iai in 1983, at the Butokuden, Kyoto Budo Center, Kyoto, Japan, while he was on a one-year scholarship to study tea ceremony. His teacher was Ohmori Masao. He returned frequently for further training and also attended workshops with the Hawaii Kendo Federation when it formed an iai section, attaining sandan before the Seifukan Club was disinvited from further workshops, ostensibly because we did not participate in Kendo. We are currently in a loose, informal affiliation with Ken Maneker sensei of Shinkenkai, Vancouver, Canada. Maneker sensei is a sempei (senior) to Wayne under Ohmori sensei. After Ohmori sensei’s passing, Maneker sensei studied for years with Iwata Norikazu sensei, and developed a blending of styles between Ohmori and Iwata sensei’s teachings. Since we are not affiliated with any organization, we do not give rankings out and simply just train in MJER iai.
(The photo above is Rev. Clark Watanabe demonstrating iai at the St. Louis’ Japan Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden.)