is a style of classical Japanese swordsmanship. It was founded by Mima Yoichizaemon Kagenobu at the end of the Sengoku period. The style specialises in iaijutsu but other arts, such as jà Âjutsu, naginatajutsu and kusarigamajutsu are practised as well.
Mima Yoichizaemon Kagenobu (1577âÂÂ1665) was born in the Dewa Province to Mima Saigà «, a priest at the Jà «nisha Gongen Shrine. In his youth he studied the Bokuden-ryà « of swordsmanship, as well as a style of jà  practiced by Shintà  mountain priests (Kongà  Jà  jà Âhà Â).
When he was 18, he was beaten in a friendly duel by his father's friend, the samurai Sakurai Gorà Âemon Naomitsu, who had utilized iai-techniques of the Hayashizaki school, and afterwards began to study under him. After being given an overview of those techniques and vowing to create a style of his own, Yoichizaemon travelled throughout Japan, to test his skills against other martial artists. During this period he trained in the naginatajutsu of the Buddhist monks from Mount Hiei, techniques that were applied often by the monks during the Warring States period.
Yoichizaemon was not content to develop only the physical side of his martial arts during this time. Instead, he continued training in ascetic practices, and meditated nightly, even going so far as to go on long retreats to secluded holy sites deep in the mountains. His perseverance in both his physical and spiritual training led to his eventual enlightenment. In the twentieth year of his exertions, he was struck with a vision of white gulls floating effortlessly and without conscious thought on water, and realised he could now use his sword in the same effortless manner.
Based on his vision Yoichizaemon created the traditions 64 core techniques and named the style that arose from his revelation the "Suià Â-ryà «", or Water-Gull style of swordsmanship.
The spiritual, philosophical aspects of the tradition permeate the Suià Â-ryà «'s techniques, and the core waza, or techniques, are directly linked to Mima's teachings based on Ryà Âbu Shintà Â, a system of interpreting Shintà  deities into Mikkyà  Buddhism.
Yoichizaemon continued training and travelling throughout his life, and at age 67 retired to pass the Suià Â-ryà « to his son, Mima Yohachirà  Kagenaga. To the core techniques established by the founder, Yohachirà  added the ten basic Goin and Goyà  forms, which serve to establish strong basic technique. The 9th sà Âke Fukuhara Shinzaemon Kagenori created Masaki-ryà « Fukuhara-ha Kusarigamajutsu, in part based on the Masaki-ryà « of Manrikigusari, which has been handed down ever since as a separate tradition to each headmaster of the Suià Â-ryà « Iai Kenpà Â. The tradition of oral transmission of techniques continues to the present day, in the person of the 15th sà Âke of Suià Â-ryà « Iai Kenpà Â, Katsuse Yoshimitsu Kagehiro (also iaidà  kyà Âshi 7. dan, kendo kyà Âshi 7. dan, jà Âdà  renshi 6. dan). The headquarters of the tradition, the Hekiunkan ("Hall of Blue Clouds"), is located at Shizuoka City, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan.
The Suià Â-ryà « is a comprehensive martial tradition with a focus on iai-techniques. Among the forms practiced are the following sets:
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.
The founder's son Yohachirà  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 sà Âden. 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 the tradition's teachings, is set aside only for communication to the tradition's next sà Âke.
The line of succession is as follows:
Instead of the modern kyà «- and dan-grades, Suià Â-ryà «, like most other koryà «, uses a more traditional menjà  system of licenses. These licenses are, from lowest to highest, Shoden, Chà «den, Shà  Mokuroku, Chà « Mokuroku, Dai Mokuroku, Shà  Menkyo, Menkyo Kaiden and Inka. The Inka license is given only to the successor to the tradition and is not accessible to others. These licenses act as recognition from the sà Âke that the practitioner has demonstrated a physical and mental progression in the tradition and later that they have his permission to transmit the teachings of the ryu.
As is also common in classical schools, to properly learn its teachings the practitioner must formally join the school through an oath, keppan. In this oath the future member swears not to teach or demonstrate Suià Â-ryà « without the permission of the sà Âke to preserve the school's integrity.
The writer of the popular manga series Kozure Ookami (Ã¥ÂÂé£ãÂÂç¼) or Lone Wolf and Cub, Koike Kazuo utilized the name of the Suio ryu for the style of swordsmanship practiced by the protagonist of the series. After learning of its actual existence he visited the headquarters of the tradition in Shizuoka, called the Hekiunkan, to pay his respects. Later, the fight choreographer of the second series of the TV show, featuring Yorozuya Kinnosuke, visited the Hekiunkan and impressed with the movements of the tradition spent some time learning the kata of the school. In the final series of this TV show, the actual kata from the tradition are performed and referenced in amongst the other more stylized movements.