JAPANESE SWORDSMANSHIP

BATTODO – IAIDO – KENJUTSU

MUGAI-RYU

Mugai-ryu is a traditional school of swordsmanship (Koryu) whose reputation is built on formidable efficiency combined with profound spiritual asceticism. Mugai-ryu prioritizes economy of motion and the power of the mind.

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IAIDO

Iaido is the Japanese martial art of drawing the sword, cutting, and re-sheathing in a single, fluid motion. Also described as “moving Zen,” it is for the practitioner a reflection of his ego and hesitation.

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BATTODO

While Iaido focuses on the perfection of form and the spiritual draw,
Battodo is the practical application of the Japanese sword. It is the study of how a blade actually behaves when it meets a target

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About Me

INSIGHTS

The Concept of ‘Mu’ (無)

by lionel | February 4, 2026 | Philosophy | 0 Comments

In the name Mugai-ryu, the first character is Mu (無). It is a word that echoes through the halls of Zen temples and the history of Japanese swordsmanship, yet it remains one of the most elusive concepts for a practitioner to grasp. In 1693, when the founder Tsuji...

Decoding the strange name of Iaido in Mugai-Ryu

by lionel | January 28, 2026 | Training | 0 Comments

A few months ago, I received my first Mugai-ryū certificate. It was, of course, a great honor to be recognized by a school with such a profound samurai lineage. I found myself feeling that same spark of excitement my own students feel when they receive their...

Understand the Japanese Kamon

by lionel | January 22, 2026 | Japan | 0 Comments

The word Kamon translates literally to "house mark." Unlike European heraldry, which is often complex and colorful, Kamon are almost always circular and designed in a single color (usually white on black or vice versa). Originally, these marks were used by the...

Choosing the right blade

by lionel | January 19, 2026 | Katana | 0 Comments

Buying your first iaito is always a puzzle and as most of you I made the common mistakes.The most important is to select the right length. The First-Time Buyer’s Puzzle: A Warning on Blade Measurements Buying your first Iaito often feels like solving a complex puzzle....

Happy New Year from Japan !

by lionel | January 5, 2026 | Japan | 0 Comments

After the precision of the workshops in Seki and the focus of the Dojo, my journey brought me to a place of profound silence: Arigatayama, near Gotemba. I spent a few days in this sacred space, located under the watchful presence of Mount Fuji. In the world of Budo,...

Inside Nosyudo Sword Manufacturer

by lionel | December 18, 2025 | Katana | 0 Comments

These past days were very busy in term of training, anyway I found the time to go to Seki City considered as "City of Blades." For over 800 years, this small city located in Gifu Prefecture has been the heart of Japanese swordsmanship. The history of Seki as a...

Tokugawa Ieyasu: Discovering His Legacy

by lionel | November 30, 2025 | History | 0 Comments

In the past days I had the opportunity to get enough time to follow Tokugawa Ieyasu legacy starting from Shizuoka to Nagoya.It was an important historical deep dive considering Tokugawa's impact is huge in Japanese history with the end of war period and the start of a...

How Zen Poetry Shaped the Soul of a Samurai School

by lionel | October 28, 2025 | History | 0 Comments

In the world of Japanese martial arts, few schools embody the profound connection between Zen philosophy and the blade as deeply as Mugai-ryū Iaihyōdō. At the very heart of this ancient swordsmanship tradition lies a powerful poem, or kanshi, penned by its founder,...

The Spirit of Liomugai

After two decades coaching competitive sports and ten years immersed in Okinawan and Chinese martial arts, discovering Japanese swordsmanship felt like entering an entirely new world. This is the world I invite you to explore with me here.

Liomugai—derived from my name, Lionel, and the concept of ‘without borders’—represents my lifelong curiosity for Budo and a life lived across France, the UK, the USA, Spain, and Japan.

The Essence of Liomugai

The primary goal of this website is to help others discover the beauty of Japanese sword arts and the profound philosophy that accompanies them. It is an invitation to explore the “Way of the Sword” through the eyes of a student (and no more).
The content shared here is for informational and entertainment purposes only.It is not intended to replace formal instruction under a qualified teacher in a recognized Dojo.Never attempt to replicate techniques shown here without professional supervision.
Proper safety protocols and etiquette (Reigi) are vital to preventing serious injury.
LioMugai shall not be held responsible for any injuries, accidents, or damages resulting from the use or misuse of the information provided on this site.

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