Iaido and Iaijutsu

Iaido is the Japanese martial art of drawing, cutting and sheathing the sword. Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido, which means “ the unequalled, unbroken lineage of Eishin style iaido” traces its lineage back over 500 years to its founder Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu.

Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Seitei Kata was developed to provide a series of kata for kendo students and a common set of kata for various ryus (schools) of swordsmanship. Each of the major iaido ryus are represented among the kata.

The main weapon in iaido is the katana, the long sword of the samurai and a symbol of their place in Japanese society. The sword used by students is an iaito, which is an unsharpened metal blade. Iaido students learn kata, solo movements using an iaito; katachi, partnered exercises using a bokken (wooden sword) and tamishigari (cutting exercises) using a shinken (sharp sword) as part of their training.

Iaido students learn mental discipline, balance, physical conditioning, an awareness of their surroundings and a determination to never lose in a confrontation.

In iaido there is a saying – “Victory comes while the sword is still in the scabbard.”