Iaido: When Harmony and Action Becomes One
Iaido is a form of martial art wherein the Iaidoka (an Iaido practitioner) reacts to a surprise attack with a counter attack using a sword. It is a Japanese art that consists of the continuous and graceful movements starting from the drawing of the sword, cutting an adversary, removing the opponent’s blood from the sword and returning the sword inside the scabbard. Iaido came from the Japanese words “I” meaning “being”, “ii” meaning harmony and “do” meaning “way”. Iaido when translated means “The way of harmonizing oneself in action”.
Iaido is a contemporary and authentic Japanese martial art that has proven its importance during warfare which was preserved and later passed on from masters to students from generation to generation for about 450 years now. The Iaidoka uses the sword to actually control himself and not the opponent. He develops the mind to attain an active but harmonious and peaceful state in order for it to be able to react or deal with any type of situation. This is why Iaido is presently taught to students not only for them to learn sword-drawing techniques and forms but also to as a form of physical as well as mental discipline which emphasizes on meditation, right techniques and development of the student’s character.
Iaido, kenjutsu (literally means combative swordsmanship) and kendo are forms of martial arts that make use of swords. They are however different from each other. The kendo is actually the sport of fencing in Japan. There is no drawing or re-sheathing of a sword in kendo. The weapon used is a shinai or a bamboo sword that is very flexible. Kenjetsu on the other hand are performed with a partner with routines that involves the sword’s drawing and re-sheathing. Iaido is commonly performed alone as a series of “Waza” which beginnings and endings have the sword sheathed. The Iaidoka performs different techniques one or many opponents that are just imaginary. For the Iaidoka to do the waza gracefully and correctly, he should also be knowledgeable with the right grip, swing and posture. Iaidokas do not use Iaido in a sparring manner. The techniques in this martial art are quite simple and direct but very refined with no unnecessary movements. An iaidoka not only practices for waza performances but also to prepare themselves when there are surprise attacks. When this happens, the iaidoka has no choice but to employ aggression.
In an Iaido training, a practitioner will learn solo kata (meaning forms) and the kumadachi (meaning partner forms). These forms of training put emphasis on the correct etiquette on the way the sword should be handled. The former concentrates on how to correctly draw, cut and return the sword to the scabbard. The nukitsuke, also called the life of iai, is an important part of Iaido, which is a really fast draw done by drawing the sword from a “saya” when it was moved back in the “saya biki”. The sword could be brought out from the saya and used to make a slashing motion in a nukitsuke manner.
Many schools in America still teach the Iaido. Any interested individual may look online for the nearest school and begin learning the martial arts that is also termed the “moving Zen”.
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