Iaido

The Iai Tradition.

From mythological times lai has evolved as the great sword art of Japan. Its inception occurred with the refinements of sword making, and its trend has been at center of Japan's historical Martial Arts. 

The lai tradition, passed on from generation to generation, received its widest growth through the creative hand of Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu, about 400 years ago. Born in the old province of Oshu, Shigenobu prayed at the Hayashizaki Myôjin Shrine in Tateoka-Chô, Yamagata Prefecture. By revelation he awakened to an exquisite truth about the very nature of lai. He systematized Iai as an independent bujutsu (martial art), and named it Hayashizaki Ryu, or Shigenobu Ryu. Since his death he is revered as the founder and creative genius of lai. From that period hence the art has flourished within a multitude of traditional schools, of which some twenty-five remain today.

The application of Iai.

Kendo students face each other in standing position to determine victory or defeat1 wearing protective equipment (bogu) and holding a bamboo sword (shinai). Iaido is the art of cutting, thrusting and defending with the real sword (Katana) with great diversity of applications against an imaginary opponent. 

While sitting, standing, or walking, and being attacked from all sides, the swordsman must anticipate, defend and retaliate. lai is concerned with attack and defence in terms of ma-ai (distance), hasuji (the center of the sword stroke) and te-no-uchi (grasping the tsuka, the hilt of the sword). In unity with the same is the spirit of entering into the opponent's attack with harmonious sword and body action, to defeat the enemy through his psychological weakness. This is true self-defense.

The True Spirit of lai.

Yet greater than technique is spiritual training. lai does not necessarily mean top cut an enemy, but rather to cut the enemy within yourself. Victory in lai is the non-revengeful heart and the cessation or conflict through not drawing the sword. Thus, you may understand why the lai of old was called saya-no-uchi, invincibility without drawing the sword. 

In other words, lai is a training process toward human perfection, never of murderous intent, but peaceful-minded. The modern significance of lai is peace and tranquility for human life. In the largest sense lai means the Way of Dwelling in Harmony: through endless practice seeking harmony with the Universe.

Connexion with Kendo.

Nakayama Hakudo, a very important iaido promoter of our era, regarded kendo and iaido as inseparable, comparing them to the wings of a bird. To master the art of the sword, he was convinced that if one of the two was missing perfection could not be obtained.

Schools.

There are many different ryu-ha or schools. Among the most practiced are: the Muso Shinden Ryu, the Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, the Tamiya Ryu, the Hoki Ryu, etc. A lifetime of study would not permit mastering of all these styles. 

Therefore it may be beneficial for students of the sword arts to learn the essentials of each school in synthesized forms and thus understand the basic techniques1 especially the art of drawing the sword. In 1968 and 1977 two special commissions composed by eleven masters associated with the Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei (All Japan Kendo Federation) combined the basic techniques of the various Ryu-ha into seven, and later ten forms. 

Suitable for beginning students, these ten kata contain ninety percent of the fundamentals of lai are not confined to these forms alone. However the inmost meaning becomes clear only through intensive training within the old Ryu-ha, where the true spirit of the art is fully manifested.

Information.

The European Kendo Federation (EKF) unites 25 member countries and 4 candidates. All data enabling you to contact these members can be consulted on this website. There are hot links to the different sites of these countries. 

If you interested to get more practical information on international activities, you may consult the EKF Calendar for all details.