Mugai-ryu Meishi Ha

While my martial path is firmly rooted in traditional Okinawan Uechi-Ryū Karate-dō—deeply anchored through the Uechi-Ryū Denshō Oryūkai, a community I founded—exploring the Way of Sword became an inevitable, passionate journey.

It provides an invaluable opportunity to rethink, deepen, and daily enrich my own martial practice.

My Path: Mugai Ryū Meishi-ha

Today, the core of my weapons training lies in Mugai Ryū Meishi-ha. To me, the Japanese sword is not merely a fascinating blade; it is an uncompromising mirror of truth and a tool for inner transformation.

  • Practice Rooted in France and Europe: I am proud to learn as part of the European branch of Mugai Ryū.
  • Serving as the head of this branch in France, I lead Tenshinkai France under the guidance and support of Shihan Luciano Morgenstern (European Representative).
  • The Spirit of Ken Zen Ichi-Nyo (Sword and Zen as One): Founded in the 17th century, Mugai Ryū is deeply imbued with the philosophy of Zen Buddhism. Guided by the principle that “the sword and Zen are one,” we cultivate patience and emotional stability through repetitive practice, breath control, and complete presence in the “here and now.” My aim is to move beyond the mere “myth of the samurai” and prioritize authentic self-cultivation (internal discipline).
  • Never-Ending Learning: Teaching does not mean reaching a final destination; I remain first and foremost a student. To preserve the geometric purity of the forms (kata) and rigorous technical fidelity to the style, I train on a very regular basis with experienced European instructors, such as Mr. Simon Landsberg (Tenshinkai Dojo Hamburg).
  • Beyond the Forms: To cultivate an authentic feel for the edge alignment (hasuji) and cutting realism, I combine the subtleties of kenjutsu and iaihyōdō with dedicated training in tameshigiri (cutting practice on actual targets).

Tradition and Biomechanics

Before dedicating my life to the martial arts, I spent over two decades working at the highest international level in competitive cycling as a national coach (notably across three Olympic Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016).

This scientific and human experience allows me to approach the sword from a distinctive perspective. I integrate precise principles of physiology, biomechanics, postural alignment, and mental training into traditional martial arts. The goal is to demystify modern misconceptions without compromising the integrity of the original forms.

My goal in the near future is to continue expanding the instruction of Mugai Ryū Meishi-ha, offering a dedicated environment to explore this deeply rooted Japanese martial art with rigor and integrity.

Follow My Sword Journey

You can follow my progress and reflections throughout this exploration of Mugai Ryū via the links below:

  • Podcast: Listen to my practitioner reflections on the audio podcast “Liomugai: The Way of the Sword and Budō.”
  • Our Practice Group (Keikokai): https://tenshinkai.fr
  • Kenjutsu Blog: Read articles at LioMugai.com
  • Social Media: Follow training updates in English on Instagram at @liomugai and on our dedicated Mugai Ryū YouTube channel.

Feel free to explore and connect!