Iaijutsu is the 450-year-old art of the Samurai swordsmanship in face-to-face combat. Beginning with the sword still in its scabbard. It entails drawing the sword and attacking or defending in a single motion, finishing the opponent, and returning the sword smoothly to the scabbard.

Muso Jikiden Eishin - Ryu is Japan's oldest and most popular style of Iaijutsu under the direction of Sensei Masayuki Shimabukuro, 7th dan, holder of the title of Kyoshi ("Warrior Instructor"). Sensei is the Chairman of both the Nippon Kobudo Jikishin-Kai USA and the Nippon Kobudo Jikishin-Kai International.

Iaijutsu is widely considered to be the pinnacle in Martial Arts training. This is due to the extreme precision of its techniques and tremendous concentration and self-discipline. The intensity of the focus develops character, strength, commitment, spirit and attitude to their highest level.

The Pasadena Academy of Self Defense instructs this strong and unique style of Iaijutsu.

The originator of the root style that became the Eishin-ryu is a relatively mysterious figure. Hayashizaki Junsuke Shigenobu is said to have been from the Okushu region in northern Japan (from the Uno Mataji Sensei Den: Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iai, distributed by the Kyoto Eishinkai). The location is currently in Hayashizaki district, Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture. The Bugei Ryuha Daijiten says that Junsuke's family was from Ohbayashiyama in Yamato Province, descended from the priest Ikebo.

He was supposed to have received a divine inspiration about iai, particularly the use of a longish handle (tsuka) after undergoing ritual austerities and training for 100 days. Most texts say that he received his inspiration from a vision he received at the Hayashizaki Myojin shrine in Tateoka, in Northern Japan. The Godaiki claims that the deity at the shrine was a manifestation of the god of Kashima. The Kashima shrine, along with the Kashima shrine, were considered in the most ancient of days as sites for patron deities of northern warriors on their way to subdue northern tribes and rebellions. He received an inspiration in a vision about his sword, and called it muso ken ("sword inspired by a vision"); thus the name of his style was first called the Hayashizaki Muso-ryu.