Asayama Ichiden-ryū (浅山一伝流) is a venerable koryū (old school) of comprehensive Japanese martial arts founded around 1566 by Asayama Ichidensai Shigetatsu during Japan's tumultuous Sengoku (Warring States) period. Born from battlefield necessity, this sōgō bujutsu emphasizes practical armed and unarmed combat, including intricate jujutsu, kenjutsu (swordsmanship), and various weapon arts, often with an underlying awareness of armored combat. Transmitted through centuries, the school evolved into various independent lineages, meaning no single headmaster governs it today, yet its rich and diverse traditions continue to be preserved and practiced across different branches globally.

The All Nippon Kyudo Federation (ANKF), known in Japanese as Zennihon Kyūdō Renmei (全日本弓道連盟), is the primary governing body for the traditional Japanese martial art of Kyudo (弓道 - "The Way of the Bow") in Japan. Established in 1949 after the post-WWII ban on martial arts was lifted, the ANKF played a crucial role in standardizing and promoting Kyudo both domestically and internationally.

The origins of Japanese archery are ancient, tracing back to prehistoric times when bows were used for hunting and warfare. During the feudal era, kyūjutsu ("art of archery") flourished as a vital skill for the samurai class. However, with the introduction of firearms, the bow's role on the battlefield diminished, leading to a shift in emphasis from pure combat utility to a "Way" of personal cultivation. This transformation formalized into Kyudo in the early 20th century, notably in 1919 when the name officially changed from kyūjutsu to kyūdō.

Shotokan (松濤館, Shōtōkan) is one of the most widely practiced and influential styles of Karate-Do (空手道) globally. It is a traditional Japanese martial art that originated in Okinawa and was significantly developed and introduced to mainland Japan by Master Gichin Funakoshi (船越 義珍, 1868–1957), often referred to as the "Father of Modern Karate."

Aikikai Aikido (公益財団法人合気会 - Kōeki Zaidan Hōjin Aikikai) refers to the original, foundational organization of Aikido. It is directly descended from the art as taught by its founder, Morihei Ueshiba (植芝 盛平), often affectionately called Ō-Sensei (大先生 - "Great Teacher"). The Aikikai Foundation is centered at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo (合気会本部道場) in Tokyo, Japan, which serves as the global headquarters for Aikido.

Mugai Ryū Iaihyōdō (無外流居合兵道) is a specific and highly regarded style of Iaido (the art of drawing the Japanese sword) with a strong emphasis on practical, combative application and a deep connection to Zen Buddhism. While it's often recognized simply as "Mugai-ryū Iaido," the full name "Iaihyōdō" highlights its distinctive philosophy.

Mugai Ryū was founded by Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi (辻月丹資茂) in 1693 (some sources say 1680) during the mid-Edo period. Tsuji Gettan was a highly skilled swordsman who had studied Yamaguchi-ryū Kenjutsu and Jikyō-ryū Iaijutsu. Crucially, he also deeply immersed himself in Zen Buddhism under the master Sekitan Ryōzen. This profound connection between Zen and swordsmanship (often expressed as Zen Ken Ichi Nyo - Zen and Sword are One) became the defining characteristic of Mugai Ryū.

While Tsuji Gettan's original school, Mugai Shinden Kenpō, was primarily a Kenjutsu (sword fighting) school, the iai techniques from Jikyō-ryū that he and his successors also mastered became integral. In the modern era, Nakagawa Shiryō Shinichi (11th Soke) significantly reorganized and systematized the iai curriculum, effectively creating what is now widely known as Mugai Ryū Iaihyōdō. Although historically distinct, the iai (from Jikyō-ryū) and kenjutsu (from Mugai Ryū's original kenjutsu) are typically taught together within the Mugai Ryū curriculum today.

Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū (無双直伝英信流), often referred to as MJER, is a prominent and widely practiced traditional Japanese martial art that specializes in Iaido (居合道). Iaido is the art of drawing the Japanese sword (katana) from its scabbard (saya), executing a decisive cut, shaking blood from the blade (chiburi), and re-sheathing it (noto), all in one fluid and controlled movement.

MJER traces its roots back over 450 years to Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (林崎甚助重信), who is considered the founder of Battōjutsu (the practical art of drawing and cutting with the sword). Legend states he developed his innovative drawing techniques after a period of intense prayer and training, seeking to avenge his father's death.

Over centuries, the art evolved through various influential masters. While Hasegawa Eishin is honored in the name, Ōe Masamichi (大江正路), the 17th generation, played a critical role in the late 19th/early 20th century. He reorganized and systematized the vast curriculum, consolidating various branches and making it more accessible for wider instruction, which led to the widespread practice of Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū today.

Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu (大東流合気柔術), often shortened to Daitō-ryū, is a classical Japanese martial art (koryū) with a long and complex history, recognized as a significant influence on many modern martial arts, most notably Aikido.

Historical Background:

The origins of Daitō-ryū are traditionally traced back over 1,000 years to Prince Teijun, the sixth son of Emperor Seiwa (858-876 AD), and further developed by Minamoto no Yoshimitsu (1045–1127), a samurai and scholar who is said to have studied human anatomy through dissecting bodies of war dead to understand joint manipulation and vital points. The art was then secretly transmitted through generations of the Minamoto clan and later the Takeda clan of the Aizu domain, as an "inside-the-clan martial art" (o-tome-bujutsu).

Daitō-ryū became more widely known in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through Takeda Sōkaku (1859-1943), the 32nd headmaster in the traditional lineage. Sōkaku traveled extensively throughout Japan, teaching the art to a select group of military officers, police officials, aristocrats, and high-ranking martial artists from other styles. His teachings were highly influential, and he is largely credited with systematizing and propagating Daitō-ryū in its modern form.