Originally Posted by
Chris deMonch
Anywho, there is a koshirae style that is attributed to Yagyu, with a ribbed saya and menuki flipped on the opposite sides so they're swelling under the palms instead of the fingers. Usually when I see it done it's with hineri maki though, not katate maki. As it was explained to me though, the "Yagyu Koshirae" that's popular on Iaito is/was more of an Owari Yagyu thing. Years ago when I asked my teacher about it he seemed indifferent to the matter.
Just to add to Mr. deMonch's post here, Yagyu-koshirae is attributed to Yagyu Renya Toshikane, the 5th soke of (Owari) Yagyu Shinkage ryu. In the Yagyu-kai, there are some that use it, and others that don't. There's no rule, or even an especially concrete tradition. It seems to me that those that choose it do so because of pride and the historical connection. Those that don't use it do so simply because, for whatever reason, the sword they use doesn't have it.
Josh Reyer
Swa sceal man don, žonne he ęt guše gengan ženceš longsumne lof, na ymb his lif cearaš. - The Beowulf Poet