Muden juku & Koshinkai – Horikawa den Daito-ryu
An Exchange to Break new Ground
( Article from the June issue of Hiden Magazine)
Report by the Secretary of General Affairs, Daito Ryu Koshinkai
On Saturday, April 19, 2025, an open seminar was held at the International Martial Arts Training Centre in Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture, by Daito-ryu Muden Juku. On this significant occasion, eight members of the Daito-ryu Aiki Jujutsu Koshinkai- an organisation who can also trace its lineage to Horikawa Kodo Sensei- attended the training and engaged in an enthusiastic exchange that transcended individual affiliations.
Introduction to Daito Ryu Muden Juku
Muden Juku is a Daito-ryu organization founded by Hiroo Iida in 2001. Shihan Iida was a graduate of Kodokai and studied directly with Horikawa Kodo Sensei in his later years. Its headquarters is in Sapporo City, in Northern Japan, and it has developed into an international organization with chapters in Ireland, the United States, and Portugal. This year (2025) marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of Muden Juku and to commemorate this, it was decided to hold our first international training camp in Japan. The training camp lasted for seven days, and on the Saturday an open seminar was held encourage participation from non members.
Tadashi Nomoto Shihan and Hiroo Iida Shihan
The Day of the seminar
At 9:30 a.m., eight members of the Koshinkai group arrived at the venue. After changing clothes, we greeted Master Iida and were welcomed with open arms.
In the morning session (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.), participants were divided into beginners and advanced levels. The beginner group worked on the basic techniques of Aiki, which is emphasized by Muden juku, and the advanced group worked on practical Aiki Jiu-Jitsu techniques, which are a fusion of Aiki and Jiu-Jitsu. In particular, in the advanced group, we were carefully instructed on techniques on one on one basis, including Zatori shomenuchi ikkajo (defence from an overhead strike from seated position) , tsuki kotegaeshi (wrist/forearm throw from a strike), Tenchi nage (heaven/earth throw), Shiho nage (omni directional throw/pinning technique), ushiro ryotedori sankajo (lock affected from a rear grab), and varieties of aiki nage (throws with aiki)
Opening of the second session of the Muden Juku Open seminar
Iida Shihan emphasized the importance of applying aiki at the moment of touching the opponent, and I was impressed by his attitude that once aiki is applied, he does not attempt to manipulate the opponent in such a way that may give them any physical cues that they may use to counteract the technique. This contributed to a situation in which I could experience and understand the meaning of “Muden” (the transmission of emptiness) contained in the name of Muden Juku.
Iida Shihan also repeatedly mentioned the importance of kata practice. The phrase “The purpose of kata practice is to imitate the form of the technique as it is presented” was impressed, and even when an advanced practicioner took the role of Uke (the person who initiates the attack and receives the technique), they are required to assume the attitude of “throw with the form, be thrown with the form!” This is done in order to help guide the beginning practicioner by allowing them to ‘enter into’ the principle embedded in form of the technique rather than simply blocking their attempts.
Reunion for the first time in 25 years and special performance
At the noon break, the head of the Koshinkai organisation, Tadashi Nomoto shihan, arrived at the venue. It was his first meeting with Iida Shihan in 25 years. The sight of old comrades who had once practiced together at the Kodokai Headquarters Dojo in Kitami and now once again faced each other evoked another aspect of the power of training in budo: that is, its ability to transcend the distance created by time’s passage.
Training resumed at 2 p.m., and at 3 p.m., a special performance was given by the Shihan of both groups
Nomoto Shihan performed advanced demonstrations such as ninin dori (two person throw), sannin dori (three person throw), bo aiki (aiki with a staff), kasa dori (aiki while holding an open umbrella). What was particularly impressive was the demonstration of Aiki, in which the ukes firmly attacked Nomoto sensei who took their power and returned it to them, rendering them powerless.
Nomoto Shihan Demonstrating aiki from a two- person attack
On the other hand, Iida Shihan demonstrated an advanced technique of “applying Aiki even before touching.” The demonstration focused on the aiki technique when in formal sitting position (known as seiza) and also demonstrated the cramping techniques of aiki on two people when they attacked simultaneously. When I asked Master Iida about this afterward, he said, “In the past, when I was studying with Horikawa Sensei, I practiced the application a lot of basic techniques only after being firmly grabbed by the attacker.” Iida Shihan developed this instantaneous application of aiki through his own efforts, and has refined this technique the level that he can applies Aiki the instant of contact, or even before actual contact is made. It was a valuable opportunity for the participants to compare the different approaches to the world of “Aiki”.
Iida Shihan demonstrating instantaneous aiki at the moment of contact
Memories of Horikawa sensei
After the practice, everyone took a commemorative photo, and after taking a bath, the social gathering started at 6 p.m. The banquet began with a greeting and toast from Iida shihan, and with a delicious meal, the two shihan talked about their memories of Horikawa Sensei and their practice at the Kodokai。
After the reception, a small group of people in Iida’s room had a deep conversation that lasted until late at night. While watching precious videos of Horikawa Sensei brought by Nomoto Shihan, Iida Shihan told us in detail about the training and the teacher’s techniques at that time.
In fact, the video was shot by Shihan Iida, who was the secretary general of Kodokai at the time. In those days, video cameras were as expensive as cars. Even so, Iida sensei purchased a camera with a strong desire to record Horikawa-sensei’s skills in order to leave it to future generations. Thanks to this footage, we are still able to study Horikawa sensei’s movements.
There was no shortage of discussion on the topic of weapons techniques that Horikawa specialised in, such as bo jutsu (wooden staff) and nitoryu (two sword techniques) and before I knew it, the clock struck one o’clock in the morning.
Members of Muden Juku and Koshinkai at Katsuura training centre
Illuminating the Path for the Future of Aiki
The next day, while having breakfast together, the two shihan discussed their future plans. Both shared the same desire that “Horikawa Kodo Sensei’s Aiki should not be left to disappear,” and all members shared the aspiration to continue to cooperate and convey the worth of Aiki to the general public through open seminars, hands-on sessions, books, video materials, and electronic media.
This open seminar was an opportunity not only to pass on techniques, but also to reaffirm the bond between masters, disciples and friends, with a view toward making further connections between various martial arts groups in the future. While respecting differences in techniques and expressions of aiki, the fact that different groups can walk together upon a path forged by shared lineage martial arts can act as a positive example in the martial arts world of today.