Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido

[Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iai, English Version Manual 3rd edition, published October 2006, by All Japan Kendo Federation, Tokyo, Japan.] "Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido" is the Nihongo|"iaidō"|居合道 style of the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF, "Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei" or ZNKR). This style of "iaido" is also often known as "Seitei Iaido" (制定 居合道) and "Zenkenren Iaido".

There are many schools of "iaido" and many forms of "iaido kata". To popopularise "iaido" and to make it easier for "kendo" practitioners to learn "iaido", an expert committee was established by the AJKF to review the situation. The committee subsequently selected the basic techniques from major "iaido" schools to form the curriculum of "Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido".

The AJKF was founded in 1952, immediately following the restoration of Japanese independence and the subsequent lift of the ban on martial arts in Japan. In 1969, the AJKF introduced its "seitei" curriculum of seven "iaido kata". These were drawn from or based on several of the major traditional sword schools, including Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū, Musō Shinden-ryū and Hoki-ryū. Three more "kata" were added in 1981 and two more in 2000, increasing the number of seitei "iaido kata" to the current twelve. These "kata" are officially known as the Nihongo|"All Japan Kendo Federation "Iai"|全日本剣道連盟居合|Zen Nippon Kendō Renmei Iai, or "Zen Ken Ren Iai" (全剣連居合) and commonly referred to as "seitei" or "seitei-gata."

The twelve "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.

AJKF official forms

Dojo that are affiliated with the All Japan Kendo Federation, generally begin practice with these twelve forms or "seitei-gata" before going on to teach any classical forms of "iaidō" that may also be included in their curriculum. [Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iai, English Version Manual 3rd edition, published October 2006, by All Japan Kendo Federation, Tokyo, Japan.]

#Nihongo|"Mae"|前|. Front. Commencing from a kneeling position, forestalling a frontal attack.
#Nihongo|"Ushiro"|後ろ|. Rear. Commencing from a kneeling position, forestalling an attack from the rear.
#Nihongo|"Ukenagashi"|受け流し| Receive, Parry and Cut. Commencing from a kneeling position, parrying an attack from the left.
#Nihongo|"Tsuka-ate"|柄当て|. Striking with the Hilt. Commencing from a raised knee, seated position, forestalling two attackers, front and rear.
#Nihongo|"Kesagiri"|袈裟切り|. Diagonal Cut. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling an approaching attacker.
#Nihongo|"Morote-zuki"|諸手突き|. Two-Hand Thrust. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling three approaching attackers, two in front and one behind.
#Nihongo|"Sanpōgiri"|三方切り|. Three Direction Cut. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling three approaching attackers, one each to the right, left and front.
#Nihongo|"Ganmen-ate"|顔面当て|. Hit to the Face. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling two approaching attackers, front and rear.
#Nihongo|"Soete-zuki"|添え手突き|. Joined Hand Thrust. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling an attack from the left.
#Nihongo|"Shihōgiri"|四方切り|. Four Direction Cutting. Commencing from a standing position, forestalling four approaching attackers.
#Nihongo|"Sōgiri"|総切り|. Complete Cuts. Five different and complete cuts. Commencing from a standing position.
#Nihongo|"Nukiuchi"|抜き打ち|. Sudden Draw. Avoid, then respond to an attack from the front. Commencing from a standing position.

ee also

*Battōjutsu
*Kenjutsu
*Kendō

Notes and references

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.

External links

* [http://www.kendo.or.jp/ All Japan Kendo Federation] (AJKF/ZNKR).
* [http://www.kendo-fik.org/ International Kendo Federation] (FIK).
Martial arts