“The person who is true to his training at this early stage will progress rapidly,” Miki says, “and in time he will have a basis to practice iaido at any training hall in the world.” Each position has its history and applications - for example, shoden and chuden could be used if a samurai became injured or crippled in battle.
Iaido teaches three such positions: shoden, which is the full kneeling position chuden, in which one knee is up and one is down and okuden, in which you’re standing.
You’ll also learn how to position your body. The proper methods for cleaning, transporting and storing the sword are also covered. They include learning the proper manner for entering the training hall, the etiquette for beginning and ending class, the way to bow to the sword, the method for picking it up and putting it down, and the technique for attaching it to your belt. Likewise, learning the formalities of iaido is tedious and time-consuming. True warriors know that the hardest part of combat is not the fighting but the waiting. You should know that even though your primary physical task is to learn how to draw your blade, cut your opponent to shreds and return it to its scabbard, you will likely never have to wield your weapon against an attacker. You must adopt the formalities of caring for and handling the sword. Rather, iaido is a serious form of training, and you must dedicate yourself to learning etiquette and protocol. “But that is not what the art is all about.” “Many people think that iaido is about attaining a high rank, cutting objects with a sword, and looking cool by carrying a sword and wearing a hakama,” Miki says.
You may also need to purchase a pair of black tabi (traditional split-toed socks). In the wrong hands, it can be deadly.Īs an iaido stylist, you’ll need a three-piece uniform: a hakama (pleated trousers), a keikogi (heavyweight jacket) and an obi (belt). Although such a weapon may be your prized possession, don’t take it to the dojo unless your instructor tells you to. The third type is a samurai sword with a live blade. Like the bokken, it’s used for solo practice and partner exercises. The second type of sword is a dull metal practice weapon. Consider getting two or three bokken because eventually you will have to practice sanbon kumitachi (pre-arranged three-point sparring drills) in which more than a little wood-on-wood contact will occur. As a beginner, you’ll use it to hone your techniques. The first is a bokken, or wooden practice sword.
You should buy at least three swords for your arsenal. A good way to start your search is to inquire at local dojo that teach karate, aikido and other traditional Japanese arts.
That makes learning iaido similar to learning how to fish: You have to go where the fish are. While karate schools can be found in just about every town in the United States, iaido schools are rare. That will ensure that you’re learning proper technique from a qualified instructor in a safe environment, says Miki, who is the chief instructor of the Japan Karate-do Organization. It’s best to enroll in an iaido school that’s internationally recognized and certified. “That helps them control their ego and avoid having to prove themselves as they journey toward enlightenment and a higher level of mental and spiritual development.”įor practitioners of other martial arts who wish to embark upon the iaido journey, Miki offers these eight steps to mastery. “Another reason people like iaido is because instructors usually discourage them from over-emphasizing competition,” says Minobu Miki, a karate master who’s studied the sword art for more than 40 years. They like the formal training the art entails, as well as the ritual and tradition that inspire them to wonder what it would have been like to wield a sword in battle against a warlord’s army. Westerners are attracted to iaido because it’s a fascinating method of sword fighting with roots that can be traced back more than 400 years.