A complete guide to this esoteric aspect of sword fighting. Written by a noted master, this volume describes the techniques and katas of Musho Shinden Ryu (Traditional Spiritual Vision System), one of iaido's best-known schools.

Muso Shinden Ryu was founded by the great master Hayashi Jinsuke Shigenobu in the 16th century. Since that time, a succession of masters have guided the progress of the school, often adding katas and modifying techniques as their experiences dictated.

Illustrated with more than 800 photographs, this book records many iaido forms that thus far have only been orally transmitted. It documents the three styles of sword-drawing taught in the Muso Shinden Ryu system: Shoden (First Tradition), Chuden (Middle Tradition) and Okuden (Inner Tradition), each of which is actually a complete art of sword-drawing in itself. In addition, the Seitei Kata (Official Forms) of the All-Japan Fencing Federation and the All-Japan Sword Drawing Federation are described in detail.