Chris K. Taylor

Iaido, or why I am going to Japan. Part 1

Whenever a potential Iaido student visits the Dojo where I study, I always wonder just how much they have looked into the art. Despite their enthusiasm once they have seen what we do, I always feel that they are expecting us to be hurling ourselves at each other with swords clashing left right and centre. The same can be said when people have asked me what Iaido is, especially when you take the easy option of saying ‘it’s a Japanese sword art’. As we’ll be studying and demonstrating Iaido in Kyoto I thought it might be a good idea to try to explain what we do.

First of all, I personally study the solo kata: that means no (visible) opponent, no partner, no need for armor. There are kata that require a partner, but I would like to walk before I attempt running. Each kata can be divided into roughly four parts.

• 1. Drawing the sword from the saya (scabbard), in many cases this involves an initial cut.
• 2. One or more cuts to ‘finish’ your opponent (remember, I said no visible opponent).
• 3. Cleaning the blade. This is symbolic there is no blood to remove.
• 4. Returning the blade to the saya.

Upon first seeing an Iaido kata, it does not look difficult, with the possible exception of returning the blade to the saya. Further investigation reveals that Iaido can provide a lifetime of study for anyone willing to learn. The position of the hands, footwork, mental attitude, pace and cutting technique among other things need to be perfected and that isn’t easy when this needs to happen all at the same time. I can honestly say it is something I have not and may never truly achieve, the important part is that I am willing to study to that end.

Before I finish for today, a little about the swords that are used in Iaido. We begin training with bokken (wooden practice swords) to prevent injury, although a wooden sword can do a lot of damage it is preferable to the other options, but in my opinion also due to the cost of an iaito. As the student becomes more comfortable they can begin to study with an iaito (an unsharpened metal sword). This transition takes time, the weight and balance of an iaito are completely different to those of a bokken. Eventually, after years of study, the practitioner can begin training with a shinken (a sharpened metal blade). Without actually training with a shinken I’m out of my depth, I would say that I’m a fair few years away from owning one let alone training with one. At the moment I own an iaito, which means serious injury is unlikely given care and attention to what you are doing.

I couldn’t close without saying that as with any martial art; discipline, respect and patience are essential.