Iaidō
居合道

A Brief History
略史

Iaidō, commonly abbreviated to simply iai, is the traditional Japanese martial art of drawing and cutting with the sword in response to an attack. The underlying principle of iai is best illustrated by the saying on which the term “iaidō” is based:

「常に居て、急に合わす」

“tsune ni ite, kyū ni awasu"

Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu

“existing naturally, be ready to meet (adapt to) the situation”

The essence of iai is in reacting appropriately and quickly to an existing threat using the sword and can be applied to to any situation, not only those involving an attack or a sword. In many ways, this is one of the main differences from kenjutsu, more of a duelling art where both sides face each other with swords drawn.

The art of iai is practiced in solo kata ("forms") form wherein the sword is drawn, one or more imaginary opponents (kasō-teki) are struck and/or cut, the resulting blood is removed from the blade, and the sword is returned to the scabbard. The size and weight of the sword used typically depends on the practitioner’s style, height, and preference, with beginners using blunt, usually aluminium-zinc alloy swords called “iaitō” while more advanced practitioners use sharp, traditionally-forged steel swords known as “shinken” (lit. “true sword”). While there are a number of different schools (“koryū”, lit. “old style”), the two most widely practiced are Musō Shinden Ryū (MSR) and Musō Jikiden Eishin Ryū (MJER), with most iaidōka ("iaidō practitioners") training either directly or indirectly under the auspices of the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF).

Historically, although sword-drawing arts have been around in Japan since the Heian period (794-1185) under a variety of names such as iaijutsu, battōjutsu, saya-no-uchi, and battō heihō, the “creation” of iaidō is usually credited to a mid-16th century warrior known as Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu who, after his father was murdered, studied the Kyō Ryū style of swordsmanship with a view to avenging his father. During a period of intense training and prayer at the Hayashizaki Daimyōjin Shrine, the shrine's deity appeared to him and revealed the secrets of swordsmanship and, a few years later, he set out on a musha-shugyō (warrior's pilgrimage). During his travels, he studied a number of other schools of swordmanship, successfully avenged his father, and established his own school. It is from this school that the vast majority of currently extant schools of sword-drawing descend in one way or another.

As for the AJKF, it was founded in 1952 and, a few years laters, started recommending that kendōka ("kendō pracitioners") also study iai, creating the iaidō section in 1956 headed by many of the most senior iai practitioners of the time. In order to make iai more appealing and easier to pick up for kendō people as well as to provide a fair way of assessing practitioners’ levels in taikai ("tournaments") and gradings, a committee was set up to create a set of standard forms independent of ryūha ("school" or "style"). This committee created the first seven of what would be known as either Seitei Iai ("established iai") or ZNKR/AJKF Iai in 1969, with three being added in 1980 and two more in 2000.

Although many schools also include paired kata with a partner, iai kata are generally practiced solo and can be broadly separated into two main categories:

AJKF/ZNKR Iai: 12 kata
Koryū: 73 kata

All Japan Kendo Federation Iai / Seitei Iai
全日本剣道連盟居合・制定居合

The first set of techniques we practice were created by a committee of senior iai practitioners from a number of different schools from 1969 to 2000 under the AJKF based on techniques from a variety of older schools. Numbering 12 in total, these kata, known as All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF or ZNKR) Iai or Seitei Iai, were created to encourage kendo practitioners to study iai, allow iai practitioners to practice together regardless of style, and provide a fair standard for gradings and competition.

Mae
Ushiro
Ukenagashi
Tsukaate
Kesagiri
Morotezuki
Sanpōgiri
Ganmenate
Soetezuki
Shihōgiri
Sōgiri
Nukiuchi

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Musō Shinden Ryū
夢想神伝流

Nakayama Yūshin Hakudō (1872-1958)

In addition to the aforementioned ZNKR Iai, we also study the classical school of Musō Shinden Ryū, founded by Nakayama Hakudō based on two branches of Hayashizaki's school: the Shimomura-ha and Tanimura-ha, the latter of which Ōe Masaji Shikei (1852-1927) reorganised and renamed as Musō Jikiden Eishin Ryū). Our lineage of the school includes four levels of solo iai kata and two sets of paired kata (kumitachi).