Keizan Murray
Director • Dōjō-chō
Every student arrives for a different reason.
Some know exactly why they’ve come. Others are still discovering that answer. Wherever someone begins, Keizan believes good instruction begins by meeting them there.
His approach to teaching is rooted in the belief that the most meaningful lessons cannot simply be given—they must be discovered. Rather than providing every answer, he encourages students to explore, ask questions, and cultivate understanding through sincere practice. Every class is an opportunity to leave the tatami with a clearer understanding than when they arrived.
Keizan’s martial arts journey began at the age of six and has continued for more than four decades. His studies have included Ying Jow Pai, Xingyi Quan, Bagua Zhang, and Wing Chun, alongside a lifelong interest in Taoist and Zen philosophy. In 1997, while serving in the United States Marine Corps and stationed in Japan, he encountered Aikido, a practice that would shape the course of his life.
After returning to Chicago in 2005, he began studying under Meido Moore Shihan, whose instruction—and the lineage of Fumio Toyoda Shihan—continues to guide his understanding of budō. Alongside Aikido, his study of Meishi-ha Mugairyu Iaihyodo has further shaped his appreciation for deliberate practice and lifelong learning.
In 2022, Keizan founded Mushinkan Kokyo as a place where these traditions could be practiced, preserved, and shared. Today, he holds the rank of Yondan (4th Degree Black Belt) in Aikido and Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) in Meishi-ha Mugairyu Iaihyodo.
Despite decades of study, he considers himself first and foremost a student. Every teacher, every training partner, and every return to the tatami offers another opportunity to learn—an opportunity he is grateful to share with others.
Brian Pettett
Chief Instructor • Iaido
Every movement has a purpose.
Brian Pettett approaches Iaido with the quiet precision that defines Mugairyu Iaihyodo itself. His instruction encourages students to slow down, pay careful attention to the smallest details, and discover that lasting understanding is cultivated one kata at a time.
Since 2005, Brian has led the Mugairyu Iaihyodo program with a deep commitment to preserving the tradition entrusted to him. He studies under Niina Toyoaki Gyokudō, Sōke of Meishi-ha Mugairyu Iaihyodo, and Tony Alvarez Sensei, head of the United States Federation of Mugai Ryu.
Brian holds the rank of Nanadan (7th Degree Black Belt) within the Meishi-ha lineage and is one of only four jikimon-deshi (direct students) of Niina Gōsōke in the United States. He has also been awarded Okuiri-sho, granting him permission to study the inner teachings of Mugairyu, and the title of Renshi, recognizing his formal instructor’s license and continued dedication to the preservation of the art.
For Brian, every return to the dōjō is another opportunity to continue learning, honoring a tradition that has been entrusted to him and quietly sharing it with those who choose to begin.