Zen & Mugai Ryu

The deep relationship between Zen and Mugai Ryu

Zen, as it applies to Kenjutsu, is not a simple thing to explain.  If one is to understand Zen, then that understanding must come from direct experiences and insights.  The difference between true understanding [satori] and thinking you understand is quite vast.  Because of the difficulty required to achieve Satori, many Budo were developed to incorporate the principles of Zen to aid in the pursuit of Satori. The Samurai recognized this and arts such as Chadō [tea ceremony], Shodō, [Calligraphy], and Ikebana [flower arranging] were all popular with the Samurai class as adjuncts to sword training.  In addition to the formal practice of Zazen (seated Zen meditation), these Budo were considered different ways to walk the path towards Satori. 

Mugai Ryu and Zen have a very close relationship. Mugai Ryu’s founder, Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi trained as a Zen Monk in the late 1600’s in Japan and was granted a poem by his Zen Master Sekitan Ryōzen (石潭良全) to evidence his attainment of Satori. Because of this extensive Zen Training, it was a requirement that any student of Tsuji Gettan’s must first enter into Zen training before being accepted into the Mugai Ryu dojo. As such, Mugai Ryu has a very strong Zen influence which can be seen in the compactness and lack of surplus movement in the kata.

All the kata in Mugai Ryu are in response to an attack. True to the principals of Zen, the true Iaidoka strives to attain a settled mind in the midst of chaos. One does not provoke the fight nor wish to kill, but strives to attain a state of Munen Muso [無念無想] wherein the stillness of a settled mind can react instinctively to any aggression and thus bypass the fixations of the discriminating mind.  Some basic Zen concepts that can be applied directly to Mugai Ryu are:

Mu [無] – One of the more important points in Zen is ‘Mu’ [無]. Mu is the mind in a state of emptiness. ‘Mu’ means no, un~, nothing, no-thing, etc., it is the Mu of Mugai Ryu.

Mushin [ 無心] – Mushin is a state of no-mind, of detachment from fear, surprise, doubt and preconception.  It is bypassing the discriminating mind to see things as they really are, and see them instantly not as our egoic self wishes them to be.

Mujushin [ 無住心] – Mujushin is the non-abiding or non-attachment of your mindset. This means that your mind doesn’t rest with any one particular thought, but moves freely and unencumbered to be of the most use and flexibility to what is most important at the time.

In The Unfettered Mind, a treatise on Zen Buddhist Philosophy and Martial Arts, Rinzai Zen Master Takuan Soho said, “Wherever you put your mind, you will be taken there…let your mind be free to go where it is needed”.   If you have trained enough, you can trust in your mind to do the right thing without conscious input. Having Mushin and Mujushin means that your actions are automatic, fast, and perfect for the situation.

Muga [ 無我] – Muga means no ego. If you worry about life and death, you’ll never reach the harmony and perfectness of Zen.  Even if you win against your enemy, it won’t be a perfect victory, but a victory of chance.

Samurai were attracted to Zen long before it became mainstream in Japan.  For Samurai, the constant training of Mushin, Mujushin and Muga was of the same importance as training with the sword.

Understanding Zen ties all the parts of Mugai Ryu together. Keep in mind the principle of Zen as you train and you will find that Mugai Ryu will permeate your whole life.  And that you don’t need a sword to train.  This is certainly the highest ideal of Mugai Ryu. Your state of being is so highly developed and your soul so polished that even without a sword you will still have the upper hand.

If there is a fight, it will be because you choose to let the fight progress and whatever you have in your hands will become the weapon you will win with, even if your hands are empty. Equally in such a state of mind you will be able to choose not to fight if that is a more suitable path, but ultimately you are in control of whatever situation arises.

Zen is about being in a completely calm and relaxed state of mind so you can react instinctively. Years of training allows your instinctive reaction to be the most correct reaction in every situation.  Zen is very simple, but you need to take the time before you arrive at this state. The poem given to Tsuji Gettan upon his enlightenment evidences this concept perfectly:

“Ippo jitsu mugai
Kenkon toku ittei
Suimo hono mitsu
Dochaku soku kosei”

“There is nothing but this one truth
it’s all-encompassing and everlasting
a feather carried by the winds upholds this truth.
To experience harmony in the face of confusion
is enlightenment”.