which has been handed down ever since as a separate tradition to each headmaster of the Suiō-ryū Iai Kenpō. The tradition of oral transmission of techniques continues to the present day, in the person of the 15th sōke of Suiō-ryū Iai Kenpō, Katsuse Yoshimitsu Kagehiro (also iaidō kyōshi 7. dan, kendo kyōshi 7. dan, jōdō renshi 6. dan). The headquarters of the tradition, the Hekiunkan ("Hall of Blue Clouds"), is located at Shizuoka City, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan. Curriculum The Suiō-ryū is a comprehensive martial tradition with a focus on iai-techniques. Among the forms practiced are the following sets: Goyō - Basic offensive techniques from seiza (5 kata) Goin - Basic defensive techniques from seiza (5 kata) Tachi-iai - Standing forms (9 kata) Kuyō - Advanced forms from seiza (9 kata) Kumi-iai - Paired standing techniques (9 kata) Several sets of kage-waza, "shadow techniques", that offer counters and answers to the variables in the Kuyo, Tachi-iai and Kumi-iai kata-sets (27 kata total) Yami - a set of both offensive and defensive techniques intended to be of use when the practitioner finds themselves in complete darkness Most of the solo kata can be, and are, also practiced with a partner, often with the aid of another kata, i.e. by pairing an offensive kata with one that offers a suitable defensive response. In addition, there are also a large number of forms for other weapons. Jōhō - Techniques for the staff (both jō against sword, jō against jō) and short staff Kogusoku - Semi-armored, armed grappling techniques Naginatajutsu - Techniques for the glaive, both naginata against sword and naginata against naginata. In addition there is also a set of solo kata against cavalry Kenpō - Battlefield sword against sword forms, also forms for a short sword Wakizashi - Techniques for the companion sword Kusarigamajutsu - Techniques for the sickle and chain, both against a long sword and two swords (This is actually a separate tradition, Masaki-ryū Fukuhara-ha Kusarigamajutsu) Succession The founder's son Yohachirō succeeded his father to become the 2nd head of the tradition and the lineage has continued unbroken to the present day. Traditionally, the kage waza were shared only with the successor to the tradition, in a form of transmission called isshi sōden. However, now nearly all of the physical techniques of the tradition are taught openly. Even today though, one set of iai kata, which represent the very essence of