Eric Weiland

Bashochou of Tenshinkai Dojo New Jersey

I began my Iaido journey in college after attending a class with a friend and immediately loved it. As a rarer form of martial art that happened to be too far from my college for me to attend on a regular basis, I enrolled in American Family Kenpo in Massachusetts. After training during my college years, I returned home to NJ and endeavored to continue my journey.

In my hometown, Iaido was still difficult to find so for a while, I focused on other activities such as Ice Hockey, Rock Climbing, Mountain Biking, and Sailing. Though I remained active and imbibed the mentality of physical fitness and self-discipline I took from Martial Arts, I always kept an eye out for an Iaido dojo.

Finally, after the pandemic, I came across Mugai Ryu taught by Sensei Morgenstern in Koln, Germany. I was immediately intrigued with the teachings and the curriculum which included not just Kata but Kenjutsu and Tameshigiri. I have now been training solely in Mugai Ryu for the past 2.5 years and find with it a peace from the stress of my day job with the Zen mindset taught and a closeness to the Japanese culture I admire.

My own learning in Iaido, Budo, Bushido, and becoming a modern day Samurai is only just beginning and I am excited for the journey. I hope you will join us and allow me to share with you what I have learned. Ganbatte kudasai.