Some include empty hand techniques or other weaponry. Usually they consists of many different aspects, including formal techniques, practical techniques, and conditioning drills. Many are niche arts practiced by a few teachers and students, closely guarded for centuries. Kenjutsu refers to many older sword styles. Kendo is very physical, but also contains deep philosophical roots. The players wear padded armor, and can score with an unopposed strike to the other's head, wrist, abdomen, or throat. Kendo refers to the relatively modern Japanese sport in which participants try to score points by striking one another with shinai (bamboo practice swords). Generally, iaido and iaijutsu refer to arts that focus more on the instant of drawing than on wielding the sword after the draw. There are many styles of iaijutsu, including Hoki-Ryu, Tamiya-Ryu, and Mugai-Ryu. Like iaido, iaijutsu is taught primarily through the practice of forms, but in general the movements are closer to the historical movements of older sword styles, and not as close to the modern iaido standard motions.
Iaijutsu refers to an older form of iaido that focuses more on the military or fighting aspect of swordplay. The two most widely practiced iaido styles are Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu and Muso Shinden Ryu. The major motions in iaido are the draw, cut, whipping the blood off the blade, and resheathing, but the hallmark of legitimate iaido is the fast, effective draw that not only gets the sword out of the scabbard, but also cuts the attacker. Iaido is a word composed of three parts: ee, meaning "to exist" ai, meaning "harmony" or "unification" and do, meaning "path" or "way." It refers to the most widely practiced formal sword styles, usually made up primarily of solo forms, or "waza." Each form is a prearranged sequence of motions designed to simulate defense against an attack by a swordsperson. Included among the sword arts are iaido, iaijutsu, kendo, kenjutsu, battojutsu, and battodo. All have valuable aspects that help practitioners develop strength, coordination, mental acuity, and a strong character. Some emphasize formal techniques, some emphasize sparring. Iaido and Kendo are just like two wheels of a cart, being so closely related and have been practiced together through the long history of Japan’s martial arts.The Japanese martial arts that employ the sword take many forms. The sword plays a prominent part in Japanese mythology, folklore and history”.
Training in Iaido requires discipline and dedication to ultimately defeat the enemy without the need to draw the sword, it is sometimes referred to as “moving Zen”.Įxtract from the book “The Martial Arts” first published 1977: “We must remember that the three sacred treasures of Japan are the Sword, the jewel (to tama) and the mirror. There is no sparring as you are doing the Katas on your own with the spiritual enemy.Īfter iaijutsu lost its offensive nature Iaido evolved as a technique used by all the samurai implying serenity of spirit, control of respiration and above all, the sign of perfect and elegant self-control in the art of drawing the sword. Practitioners of Iaido are required to learn 12 kata techniques such as drawing of the sword to defend while standing, sitting or kneeling.
Iaido is the art of drawing the sword and developed around the 15 th century as Iaijutsu.