Yagyu Munenori (柳生宗矩)
Traditional Era · 1571–1646
About
Yagyu Munenori served as sword instructor to three successive Tokugawa shoguns, making his Yagyu Shinkage-ryu the official martial art of Japan's ruling family. His book The Life-Giving Sword merged Zen Buddhism with swordsmanship, profoundly influencing Japanese martial philosophy.
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Martial Arts
Founded: Yagyu Shinkage-ryu
Achievements
Sword instructor to three Tokugawa shoguns
Author of The Life-Giving Sword
Teachers
Kamiizumi Nobutsuna
Shinkage-ryu