WHAT IS IAIDO?
Iaido is the art of drawing and cutting with the traditional Japanese Sword.
Hayashizaki (Jinsuke) Shigenobu is generally credited with establishing the influence and popularity of Iaido early in the sixteenth century. However, around a century before his birth, the dynamic art of iai-jutsu had been developed by Izasa Ianao, the founder of the Tensin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu.
The term "iaido" can include many styles of Japanese swordsmanship, "all of which subscribe to non-combative aims and purposes."
An Iaido Division was formed within The All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) in 1956. In 1969, the AJKF introduced the Setei Gata curriculum of seven kata (techniques or forms) for iaido. These seitei gata were drawn from several of the major traditional sword schools.
In 1980 three more kata were added and then two more in 2000, thus increasing
the seitei gata curriculum to the current twelve.
These twelve seitei gata are now standardised for the tuition, promotion
and propagation of iaido and as a result, seitei iaido has become
the most widely recognised form of iaido in Japan and the rest of the
world.
The twelve setei gata consist of:
- three kata commencing from a seated (seiza) position,
- one kata commencing from a kneeling position, with one knee on the ground and the other raised (iai-hiza) and
- eight kata commencing whilst standing (tachi-waza).
The martial arts of iaido and kendo have developed together and many people believe that they complement each other.
Like kendo, iaido can also provide a pathway to personal and spiritual development.
These pages were last updated or reviewed on Thursday, 07-Jan-2010 20:51:17 EST.
