About

This tradition handed down from the founder
This Suio Ryu transmitted from the masters
I, this wandering cloud, a lonely pine who has not reached its season
On this day, I find it expressed in my heart, that its roots will last through my age

Poem by Katsuse Mitsuyasu Kagemasa, 14th generation Soke of Suio Ryu.

What is Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo?

Suio Ryu Iai Kenpo (水鷗流居合剣法) is one of the few extant koryu (古流), or traditional systems of martial arts, practiced today. Its primary focus is iai-jutsu--the rapid drawing of the sword for combat. It is a classical-style of swordsmanship.

The tradition was founded in the Sengoku period (1467–1650) around 1600 by Mima Yoichizaemon Kagenobu (1577-1665). The tradition has been handed down through the generations over a single, designated headmaster––or soke (宗家). Today, the head of the Suio Ryu is Katsuse Yoshimitsu Kagehiro, who lives and teaches in Shizuoka City (formerly Shimizu city) in Shizuoka prefecture in Japan.

It encompasses a broad variety of techniques from pure iai-jutsu (sword) drawing techniques, to semi-armored grappling techniques called kogusoku. Amongst the waza, or techniques, of the Suio Ryu are jo-jutsu, paired sword forms called kumi-iai, naginata-jutsu, pure kenpo (battlefield) sword forms, and wakizashi techniques. The emphasis of the Suio Ryu is practical application; although waza practice is the norm, every technique is intended to be delivered with full strength and intent, as if one were actually cutting against a live opponent. In many ways, this is part of what makes the Suio Ryu unique, for most of the techniques that comprise a waza are meant to be paired against techniques from other waza so that their applications can be both understood and tested.

Katsuse Yoshimitsu Kagehiro, the current soke of the Suio Ryu.

The Suio Ryu was brought to America thanks to the efforts of Kiyoshi Yamazaki, who met with Katsuse-sensei and arranged for several of his students to begin training in the Suio Ryu. Since then, those students have trained as direct students of Katsuse-sensei, and were allowed to join the Suio Ryu family as a full branch organization. Today, the US headquarters are located at the Butokuden in Irvine, CA. While this website is primarily focused on the San Francisco Bay Area Shibu, there are several dojo throughout America that are officially permitted to teach Suio-ryu. Please see our Suio Ryu USA webpage for more details. For more information about the history of the Suio Ryu, please refer to the history section of this website.