Iaidō

Infobox_martial_art
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name = Iaidō
居合道
いあいどう
aka =
focus = Weaponry (Katana)
hardness = Forms competitions, only.
country = flagicon|Japan Japan
creator = Nakayama Hakudo (c.1873–1958) is generally credited with first use of the term "iaidō".
parenthood = "Iaijutsu"
famous_pract =
olympic = No
website =Nihongo|Iaidō|居合道 is a Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard. While new students of iaidō may start learning with a wooden sword ("bokken") depending on the teaching style of a particular instructor, many of those who study iaidō use an unsharpened sword ("iaitō"). Advanced practitioners of iaidō use a sharpened metal sword ("shinken").

Because iaidō teaches the use of actual metal weaponry, it is almost entirely based on the teaching of forms, or kata. Multiple person kata do exist within some forms of iaido, but the iaidōka (practitioners of iaidō) will usually use bokken for such kata practice. Iaidō does not include direct competition or sparring of any kind. Because of this non-competitive aspect, and iaidō's emphasis on precise, controlled, fluid motion, it is sometimes referred to as "moving Zen."

Iaidō in North America is often taught in dojo that also teach Aikido or Kendo.

Origin

The word "iaidō" approximately translates into English as "the of and ."

In the book "Bugei Ryuha Daijiten" by Watatani Kiyoshi and Yamada Tadashi, Hayashizaki Jinsuke (Minamoto no) Shigenobu is credited with establishing the influence and popularity of the art early in the sixteenth century that is today widely practised as "iaidō". However, around a century before his birth, the dynamic art of "iaijutsu" had been developed by Iizasa Ienao, the founder of the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū.

"Iaidō" should not be confused with kendo or "kenjutsu":

* "Kendo" teaching does not include drawing and re-sheathing of a sword. The main weapon used in kendo, a flexible bamboo sword ("shinai"), uses no scabbard. Kendo is practiced with a partner in full contact training or in forms ("kata") practice.

* "Kenjutsu" is generally practiced with a partner, in the form of predetermined routines, and often does include drawing or resheathing of the sword.

"Iaidō" is often used interchangeably with "Battōjutsu", literally meaning "technique of drawing the sword". "Battōjutsu" is the historical (ca. 15th century) term encompassing both the practice of drawing the sword and cutting ("tameshigiri"). The term "iaijutsu" (居合術) became prevalent later (ca. 17th century), and the current term "iaidō" is due to the general trend (stemming from "gendai budō") to replace the suffix "-jutsu" with "-dō" in Japanese martial arts in order to emphasize a philosophical or spiritual component. In contemporary usage, "battōjutsu" focuses on the techniques of cutting, with individual practice that starts with the sword in the sheath.

"Iaidō" forms ("kata") are performed solitarily against one or more "imaginary" opponents. Some traditional "iaido" schools, however, include "kata" performed in pairs. Some styles and schools also do not practice "tameshigiri", cutting techniques.

The primary emphasis in "iaido" is on the psychological state of being present (居). The secondary emphasis is on drawing the sword and responding to the sudden attack as quickly as possible (合). Starting positions can be from combative postures or from everyday sitting or standing positions. The ability to react quickly from different starting positions was considered essential for a "samurai" (侍).

A very important part of "iaido", is "nukitsuke" or the life of "iai". This is a very quick draw accomplished by drawing the sword out of the "saya" by moving the "saya" back in "saya biki". The blade may be brought out of the "saya" and used in a quick "nukitsuke" slashing motion.

History of Iai

The Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (天真正伝香取神道流) included "iaijutsu" in its curriculum in the 15th century. The first schools dedicated exclusively to sword drawing appeared some time during the late 16th or early 17th century. Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu (林崎甚助重信) (1546–1621) is generally credited with as being the originator of the first dedicated school of sword drawing. Little is known of his life, leading some scholars to doubt his historical existence as a real person. The two largest schools of sword drawing that are practised today are the Musō Shinden-ryū (夢想神伝流) and Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū (無雙直傳英信流). Both schools trace their lineage to Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu.

Before Nakayama Hakudo (1873?-1958) coined the word "iaido" early in the 20th century, various other names such as "battō", "battōjutsu", or "saya no uchi" were used. "Iaido" is the usual term to refer to the modern self-improvement oriented-form taught by the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF), while "Iaijutsu" is used for some amongst the older "koryū" combative techniques.

eitei Iaido

Seitei Iaido (制定) or Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido is the iaido style of the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF, "Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei" or ZNKR). The twelve Seitei iaido forms ("seitei-gata") are now standardised for the tuition, promotion and propagation of "iaido" within the "kendo" federations. Although not all "dojo" teach "seitei iaido", the AJKF uses them as a standard for their exams and "shiai". As a result, "seitei iaido" has become the most widely recognised form of "iaido" in Japan and the rest of the world.

Tōhō Iaido

The All Japan Iaidō Federation (ZNIR, "Zen Nihon Iaidō Renmei", founded 1948) has a set of five iaidō forms, Tōhō Iaidō. This is essentially the ZNIR equivalent of the Seitei Iaidō set. These five forms are from the five different major iaidō schools.

*Maegiri Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū
*Zengogiri Mugai-ryū
*Kiriage Shindō Munen-ryū
*Shihôgiri Suiō-ryū
*Kissakigaeshi Hoki-ryū

Classical period Iai

Although there are a wide range of "koryū" or classical iaido (or iaijutsu) styles practiced in Japan, the two most popular classical styles of "iaido" practiced worldwide are Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū and Musō Shinden-ryū. They resemble each other quite strongly because they branched off from one style sometime in the 18th century, under Ōguro Motoemon Kiyokatsu sensei. After Ōguro, there came into being two branches that were formed on philosophical differences between two students of Ōguro: The Shimomura-ha and Tanimura-ha (branches), the former being headed by Matsuyoshi Teisuke Hisanari and the latter by Hayashi Masu no Jō Masanari, who became the 12th "sōke".

These two branches would co-exist for many years until Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū officially came into being in the early 20th century through the initiative of Ōe Masamichi Shikei, the 17th headmaster of Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū. Prior to his death in 1927, Ōe would bring together the Tanimura-ha, Hasegawa Eishin-ryū and the Ōmori-ryū to form what is today's Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū.

The Shimomura-ha held its own headmasters and philosophy for many years but would eventually fade away. The last Shimomura-ha (claimed) headmaster, Nakayama Hakudō who is considered the 16th, created a new "iai"-art called Musō Shinden Battōjutsu that was heavily influenced by his Shimomura-ha training, but also took elements from other "iai"-arts. Nakayama Hakudō is not known to have taught the "pure" Shimomura-ha teachings in its complete form to any of his students and thus it can be argued that Shimomura-ha no longer exists as a separate entity, even though elements of it remain in what would later become the modern Musō Shinden-ryū.

One of the differences between the two schools can be seen in the "nōtō" (sheathing the katana back into the "saya"). In Shinden, the entire "nōtō" is done on the horizontal plane, i.e. the flat of the blade parallel to the floor. In Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū, the flat of the blade is rotated from 45 degrees to perpendicular to the floor by the end of "nōtō".

Another style of iaido is Mugai-ryū. Mugai-ryū was once one of the more famous styles in Japan in the Edo-jidai and was developed from a strong influence of Zen and is characterized by short, direct movements. "Chiburi", for example, is performed with a much smaller movement than in other styles, and is not used at all in "suwari waza" [Goyo and Goka kata sets] . As it was developed in 1697 by Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi [or Sukeshige] , a Zen practitioner, it has deep links with Zen Buddhism. The original style created by Gettan was a kenjutsu school rather than iai. Today's Mugai-ryu Iaido was established by Takahashi Hachisuke Mitsusuke and his younger brother Hidezu in mid Edo-period. They studied a style called Jikyo-ryu under the fifth and last generation headmasters Yamamura Masashige. In advanced waza, called Naiden and attributed to Gettan himself, the focus is on techniques that neutralize the sakki (killing mood) of the opponent. There are several distinct lineages of Mugai-ryū throughout Japan today. The last "sōke" of the main line was Nakagawa Shiryo Shinichi who did not appoint a successor upon his death in 1984. There have been several popular movies made featuring Mugai-ryū, including Kurosawa's last film project, "Ame Agaru."

In a similar vein, some may be familiar with Suiō-ryū from our friend Ogami Ittō who purportedly uses Siuō-ryū in the "Lone Wolf and Cub" series.

There are several branches of Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū (MJER) that are practised today. Different Iaido organisations generally recognise different people as their "sōke". One person who is considered to be a "sōke" for (MJER Iai"jutsu") is Miura Takeyuki Hidefusa, who holds a 9th Dan in MJER. The Great Japan Iaido Federation (Dai Nippon Iaido Renmei) recognises Ajisai Hirai (9th Dan Hanshi) as the 22nd "sōke" of MJER.

There are several lines of transmission extant for Musō Shinden-ryū also. One of them claims Mitsuzuka Takeshi as the "sōke", second one (those who are affiliated with Nippon Iaido Kyokai) regard Takada Gakudō as their head teacher.

In the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF) or Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei (ZNKR), there are two lines representing the Musō school. In the All Japan Iaidō Federation (ZNIR) or Zen Niippon Iaidō Renmei, the 21st sōke (21st Grandmaster recognised by the ZNIR ) for Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū was Fukui Torao, (deceased 2001). The ZNIR 22nd sōke is Ikeda Takashi Seikō, (10th Dan Hanshi). The last "sōke" for Musō Shinden-ryū was Nakayama Hakudō with no official successor.

Even older is the "koryū" of Shindo Munen Ryu. Despite the similarity in name, Muso Shinden ryu and Shindo Munen ryu could not be more different. Shindo Munen ryu is much older, as well as more obscure, and was developed on the battlefield, as opposed to Muso Shinden Ryu which was developed much later in Japan's history. In addition, the "nōtō" of Shindo Munen are done straight forward and back, as opposed to Muso Shinden's horizontal "nōtō".

Modern Iai/battō

A newer style of "iaijutsu" is Toyama-ryū battōjutsu. This is a style originating in the late 19th century, and taught primarily to officers in the Second World War. It is different from the Edo period styles primarily in that all techniques are performed from a standing position. Toyama-ryū was in turn the basis of Nakamura-ryū, created by Nakamura Taizaburo; incorporating "nōtō" and "kamae" from older Koryū, notably Ōmori-ryū. It has been a long time since any differing schools have competed using "shinken" (sharp blades); hence it cannot be said that the traditional schools are superior to the modern schools, or vice versa, in the ultimate test.

ee also

*Iaijutsu
*Battojutsu
*Kenjutsu
*Kendo
*Japanese Martial Arts

Further reading

*"Art of Japanese Swordsmanship : A Manual of Eishin-Ryu Iaido". Publisher: Weatherhill; 1 edition (Jun 1 1994).
*"Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iai", English Version Manual, 3rd edition, published October 2006, by All Japan Kendo Federation, Tokyo, Japan.
*"Japanese Swordsmanship : Technique and practice". By Gordon Warner & Donn F. Draeger. Publisher: Weatherhill; 1982.
*“Flashing Steel, 2nd Edition : Mastering Eishin-Ryū-Swordsmanship”. By Masayuki Shimabukurō & Leonard J. Pellman. Publisher: Blue Snake Books; 2008
*

External links

* [http://www.kendo.or.jp/ All Japan Kendo Federation] (AJKF/ZNKR).
* [http://www.kendo-fik.org/ International Kendo Federation] (FIK).
* [http://www4.synapse.ne.jp/toyama/iai/renmei.html Japan Iaido Federation] (Nippon Iaido Renmei/NIR).