Iaido Puns

Two different questions, I know. But I felt the two were somewhat related, but the first question is my main question.

The main issue is that whenever someone is either too far away from a teacher or too poor to afford one, they come here to ask if being self taught is ok. And everytime, people here will say no because you'll just embed bad habits. I think no one will argue that having an in-person teacher is best.

However, some people will learn the art anyway. Either because they won't/can't move to a city or don't want to wait an indeterminate amount of years to start learning. And I personally think we should expect that out of people. Especially if they want to do Iaido as a hobby/form of meditation/an enjoyable pastime.

Like, why would they care if their form isn't pedagogically correct? For the situation when they meet an Iaido master comes to see them, which would be never? Even finding another Iaidoka would be a slim chance, especially if they just want to do this at home, privately.

So for all those people that will learn by themselves anyway (no matter what people here will think), wouldn't it be better to just try to help those people? Instead of fuming how they wouldn't understand the true spirit of Iaido and how they won't get all the aspects of reiho and form, how about we help the best we can with the best online sources available (because, again, people will start self-learning regardless).

For example, I'm a classically trained musician. And I also believe that one needs a teacher, someone that has true expertise on the instrument you're learning, for one to achieve decent proficiency on an instrument, especially with classical music. However, if I found someone that wants to learn but lives in the middle of nowhere, or too poor to afford lessons, and they just want to play for fun/self-enjoyment, then I'll give them all the advice I can so they can learn and enjoy in the privacy of their home.

I've learned other marital arts that are very much "tradition" based as well. I know the feelings of many here. But honestly, I feel many on this sub can be too strict and stuck to help these people. I'm glad people here were fortunate enough to eventually find a teacher/dojo. But I want as many people as possible to learn this art, even if it isn't in ideal conditions.

So can be help these people more? Do you have any great online sources for these people that I know are lurking this sub?

I have shadowslayer and classy katana at the same level and I'm wondering which one should I upgrade and use as my regular weapon, I like both of them and I play comfortably with both

–Is the most precise weapon in the game. –Has the best hit area even though it's not a long ranged weapon. –Has one of the highest damage of critical hit. – is cool in looks – has the best special moves. Thorn and the OG kenjutsu –is the weapon of best set bonus – is wielded by one of the coolest character of the game. – is fun to play with

The only thing that it lacks is a cool shadow ability.

I know its a real thing(Iaido), I looked throughout a lot of things about it, I also know there is an actual international sport about it. The thing is, the sport is not designed for fighting at all, I don't mean they by the looks of it, guys literally are not fighting, it's just a show for judges to decide. I even talked to a fan of it. when I said this is not fast enough to actually be fatal or reliable, Guy said this never meant to be an actual optimal method for real encounters, it's more of sport designed to be healthy, beautiful, and precisive.

But this, it's in contrast with the fact this style is actually a traditional and old style, nobody cares about health and beauty in the middle of a battle.

So I ask it again, is there actually a proof to show this style, used somehow which is optimal in a real encounter? Or texts found on wikipedia is all the proof there is to find?

Does anyone know where I can source a blue gi top that isn't heavy like a kendo gi? Basically this but blue:

https://www.e-bogu.com/Iaido-Gi-White-p/hir-iai-iai-iaidogi-white-all.htm

Hi guys and gals,

Do you know what koryu is Makoto YAMAMOTO performing?

Why Nobuaki TANAKA won? What do you think were deciding points? It certainly was close 2-1.

Thanks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNltutALm7U&list=PLaKZ0PAEUfwX8tV09AWZ4se64tU8hHkWq&index=42

The dojo in my area is still not accepting new members just yet because of COVID. Are there any basics I can get down while I wait for them to open? I’ve purchased a bokken and know there’s not much to do without a sensei but are there any pointers that’ll help while I wait?

I’ve not purchased an iaido, gi, or obi just yet, still at the “dressing gown” phase.

I’ve purchased my first sword (the katana in this post) 3 weeks ago. It came perfect, and i’ve been practicing with it pretty often. I noticed that there were stains on the blade. The stains aren’t brown like rust, but dark on the sword. I have not been cutting objects with it. I’ve been oiling the sword appropriately but that wouldn’t get rid of them. The blade is made out of 1045 High Carbon steel. Please excuse the bad camera quality, ipad camera is not great. Is it rust, or something else? https://imgur.com/a/NiFN00l

Anything like it? Or even offense from the seathe? "Unseathing" defense moves? Not an expert of WMA.

I'm new to both art (And martial art in general), and I often read on forums that these two can go side by side. But I'm having some trouble understanding how one can improve the other. Should I simply treat the two as totally different arts or should I think of them as the same while I'm still a beginner?

Based on what I'm learning at the moment, beside the general concept (Ki Ken Tai Ichi), and some footwork, I felt that it's totally different. From the way I hold the Iaito/Shinai to how each strike is supposed to land (Big/Huge strike in Iai vs Single point of contact in Kendo). Am I just over thinking since I'm a beginner?

I found an article in Japanese that discusses historical and practical reasons why Iai is often done in a sitting position and with one large sword in the obi (ipponzashi) instead of having two swords in the obi (nihonzashi). There have been speculations why this is done because some say during the Edo period if you went indoors and sit, you'd have to take off your katana (large sword) and only keep your wakizashi (short sword), so training indoors sitting with a katana didn't make sense historically nor practically. I thought some others might be interested so I roughly translated and summarized it as follows:

1. Before the Edo period, Iai used to be done standing (like with tatsumi ryu). But Seiza became popular in the Edo period, so sitting techniques were developed so people could practice indoors.
2. Nihonzashi was done during training in the Edo period, but it was reduced to ipponzashi after the Meiji restoration. The author thinks this is false because there isn't really any historical evidence of nihonzashi during training in the Edo period, unless it was a kata that used both swords.
3. People used to just wear an O-wakizashi (a 55-60cm large wakizashi) indoors, so ipponzashi with a larger sword (~70cm) for training made sense.
4. Waza that is done sitting can also be done standing. Training in sitting is convenient in terms of space-saving and also trains the lower body well.
5. Body guards used to sit while having the large sword in the obi. This is the case for a kata from Hoki Ryu (Hoshino Ha).
6. Training in Seiza helps learn body movements by limiting unnecessary movements that happen when standing. This reason is mentioned in the Edo period and in the present by different ryuhas.
7. Sitting itself is an advantage, so kata were made with that situation in mind. For the same reason, Otake Shihan of Katori Shinto Ryu mentioned* if he were to be attacked in his house, he would quickly grab his sword and put it into his obi, and squat to be ready. At night indoors, a lower position makes it easier to see your surroundings and harder for your enemies to see you. Kuroda Tetsuzan Shihan also mentions that at a lower position, before your enemy's sword can reach your head, your sword would have reached his body easily.
8. There is a certain class of people who use iai with ipponzashi. Machii Isao Shihan of Shuushinryuu says that Wakatou (young samurai/servants, kind o

I saw ebogu has iaido practice sets with plastic saya and a bokken, so I was wondering if these were actually good for iaido practice, and if so where would be the best place to buy one online.

If not, what would be better? (besides and actual iaito)

An odd question, but what does one have to do to participate in All Japan Iaido Championships? I presume be part of the regional organisation and get qualified.

Do you know how does the qualification process look like?

Thanks.

Good time of day, for long time I've been heavily into Japanese related stuff and more over: History/Samurai and a bit of martial arts and suddenly I got inspired to practice some martial arts, I'm looking for something that is as close as it would be to samurai training/combat situations back into Edo or even Sengoku Jidai When the main weapon were - Yari, Naginata, Nagamaki or Nodachi rather then Katana which was a backup, yet still quite important.

I've watched quite a lot of videos and specifically Metatron's in a video regarding Kendo, basically telling that in Kendo a lot of techniques and styles that Samurai were using are banned since Kendo is sport, and advices to go after Kenjutsu or Iaido.

But after looking up Dojos in my area I've got slightly upset and backed into the wall: there are Kendo (which I don't really want to go after due to aforementioned point, unless I have absolutely no other choice), Iaido, Aikido and Jodo, there is absolutely no Kenjutsu or Naginatajutsu.

What should I choose to learn how to use iconic katana, naginata and/or yari and being somewhat effective as samurai did back in medieval Japan?

Hello everyone!

I am looking to start Iaido, there are two schools near me but I am unsure which one to choose.

The first is an Aikido dojo that doesn't appear to be affiliated with any governing body for Iaido, but they claim to was taught to them by 'Kazuo Chiba Sensei' when he taught at the dojo for 11 years by their account. According to Wikipedia, he 'got permission to adapt forms of Muso Shiden Ryu Iaido which he studied whilst in japan and taught these forms to his Aikido students as the Ia-Batto-Ho system '. They are a well respected Aikido dojo with a legit lineage from what I have researched if that makes a difference.

The next is an dojo that is a member of the British Kendo Association, I am unsure as to what style they teach, but they also teach the naginata.

Both are on days I am free so that isn't an issue and cost isn't an issue either.

I am not very well informed on the different styles of Iaido and want to make sure where I invest my time is a legit.

Thank you for the help.

EDIT:

Just want to thank you all for the advice.

Hello fellow Iaidokas I have questions Did Samurai's use Iaido I really that they actually used kendo as there martial art but also heard that Iaido was is use too

normal: 0.03+0.04+0.05=0.12

back:0.08+0.04+0.05=0.17

up:-0.05

down:-0.04+0.08

heavy=0.09

kenjutsu:-0.04+0.06+0.05+0.1=0.25

thorn:-0.04+0.07+0.08=0.19

windmill:-0.05+0.05+0.05+0.05=0.2

I've been wanting to try my hand at Kenjetsu, Kendo and Iaido, but I'm not sure which one to do first. There are places to practice all three around me and I indeed to atleast try all three at some point. Do you recommend one to start with over the others?

Edit: Thank you all for your answers, I will definitely visit each dojo and consider which one to join afterwards.

Anybody on here attend?

First of all, i am not trying to come off as assertive, im simply legit curious: I keep seeing posts from last year about weapon tiers and such, all pointing out how this weapon is hard to master and bla bla bla, why tho? is one of the safest weapons you can use, high damage, fast, hybird between offensive and defensive on top of that it has one of the best set bonus in the game which allows you to hard lock opponents easily, you have to be very very bad to not win every fight with it, what is so hard about it?

My fencing club recently started hosting an iaido group and I've started taking classes. The instructors are incredibly patient and good natured and "can tell I've had some training".

Even though there is some overlap, (we joke a lot about "solving the same problems"), my foil and epee training have ingrained things that are great form for sport fencing, but bad for iaido. For instance: having to keep the feet inline and my hips perpendicular to that line is a STRUGGLE. In modern sport fencing, our back foot is perpendicular to our front and our hips are angled. It's very hard for me to self-correct in this new stance because all of my visual and kinesthetic cues are different.

Has anyone else here struggled with this? Can one discipline help and complement the other, or do I need to "pick one" if I want to improve?

Hi guys,

 about two weeks ago, ZNKR posted footage of 56th All Japan Iaido Taikai. Here's link to it. (If anyone missed it). Enjoy!

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaKZ0PAEUfwX8tV09AWZ4se64tU8hHkWq

I've been wanting to start Iaido for some time now, but I'm uncertain about what exactly I'll learn. Can someone tell me what you usually start with when you start learning Iaido? And also if I need to know something beforehand.

Thanks in advance!

So I am just looking in to JSA after many years of judo. I have recently been informed that the school that practices in my current dojo studies Toyama Ryu Battodo. I had always thought they were doing Iaido as they were drawing and cutting. Is there overlap? I'm assuming its not the koryu form as it has the do suffix. Thanks for the information!

I live in Alabama and I’m having trouble finding an instructor. The only dojo I can only seem to find is for Shinkendo

Hey everyone, so I'm a big tech buff (self proclaimed) but I'm wondering does anyone use technology (any sort) in their Iai? If so what do you do and what do you use?

Hi people I have a question Did samurai's use Iaido or did they use Kendo as their martial art I heard that Takasugi Shinsaku was a samurai who used Kendo and kendo is more related to samurai's but I also heard that they used Iaido too