LINEAGE 

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Lineage is extremely important in iaido as teachings are only done efficiently in person, in the direct presence of the teacher. Tradition and the distinctive style of the teacher are passed on to the students and will evolve in each student through practice, into his or her own style. 

 

Direct line from Oe Masamichi to Oshita Sensei:

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Oe Masamichi (17th Generation Headmaster, 1852-1927)
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Yamamoto Harusuke (Hanshi 9th Dan, 1893-1978)
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Yamashibu Yoshikazu (Hanshi 8th Dan, 1922-1993)
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Haruna Matsuo (Kyoshi 8th Dan, 1926-2002)
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Oshita Masakazu (Kyoshi 8th Dan)

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Haruna Matsuo Sensei (1926-2002) was from Okayama Prefecture and began his iaido training in 1972, at the age of 46. Before that he had been training Kendo since he was 16 years old. Haruna Sensei practiced at the Musashi Dojo in Ohara. Professionally, he taught Science at a junior high school. His iaido teacher was YAMASHIBU YOSHIKAZU Sensei. He was also instructed directly by YAMAMOTO HARUSUKE and TOMIGAHARA TOMIYOSHI Sensei. Haruna Sensei was two years in a row (1988 and 1989) in the final of the 7th Dan category of the All Japan Championships. He taught abroad for many years with the aim of contributing to the spread of iaido throughout the world. His first visit to Europe was in Great Britain in 1982, followed by regular visits from 1984 to 2001. At the time of his death, on 14th September 2002, Haruna Sensei was 8th Dan Kyoshi. 

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Oshita Masakazu Sensei was born in Hyogo prefecture in 1948. In 1978, he became a student of Haruna Matsuo Sensei. In 1990, he established the Kobe iaido dojo. After his house was destroyed in the great Hanshin earthquake disaster of 1995, he set up his own home dojo alongside his rebuilt house, the Kobe Genbukan Dojo. He is also a teacher for the Kobe Gakuin University Iaido Club. From 2010, he has served as the Iaido Chairman of the Hyogo Prefecture Kendo Renmei. In 2011, he won the Hakone Taikai. Oshita Sensei is currently 8th Dan Kyoshi and continues to visit the UK and Europe regularly to teach. 

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Our Dojo Leader, Stuart Shirreff, started practicing iaido in 1998. In 2000 Katsumushi Dojo was established under the guidance and support from Haruna and Oshita Sensei and the BKA. Without a formal teacher in the UK, Stuart attended many BKA and dojo events where he was given support by his BKA seniors and peers. He decided to follow Oshita Masakazu Sensei's teachings when the Japanese teachers visited the UK. From 2001, he started travelling regularly to Japan. His studies and practice along with the support of Oshita Sensei, Morita Sensei and other Snr Japanese teachers resulted in passing his Rokudan (6th dan) in Tokyo in November 2017, at his 1st attempt. In May 2019, Stuart was awarded his Renshi by the AJKF. Stuart is considered part of the Genbukan Kobe family and was made a direct student of Oshita Sensei in 2017.

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