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Lessons are usually in smaller groups to be sure you are getting quality instruction, just as these arts were passed down from teacher to student for generations. As a member here, you will get proper conceptual and technical teachings. We do not teach watered down martial arts.
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The belts or “obi” practitioners wear are a means to secure the sword only. The reason to train classical arts is for personal satisfaction and development, not for external validation of your accomplishments. Exceptional students may eventually be eligible for traditional certificates from the organization, but there is never a guarantee of promotion.
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Strict attention to detail is required, as is consistent repetitive training. Training is tedious, both mentally and physically with emphasis on basic movements. Although the practice of Iaido or Kenjutsu may look easy when watching an experienced practitioner, it is usually the result of many hours of sweat and hard work. In the physical sense, training in the sword arts can be a great way to strengthen the body and the mind. This requires the practitioner to cultivate an intense sense of focus and concentration which cultivates an awareness that is needed in this ever increasingly dangerous society. Often beginners get confused as these classic Koryu arts are meant to teach combative principals, not the skills. Both individuals benefit from this training. Training is done through Kata or pre-arranged movements. It is not “free fighting” and there is no competition involved as it would be too dangerous. Iaido is a blend of the ethics of Confucianism, methods of Zen, the philosophical Taoism, the purificatory rites of Shintoism and aspects from bushido.The curriculum also contains Kenjutsu partner practice in which we use traditional wooden swords called Bokken. The metaphysical aspects in iaido have been influenced by several philosophical and religious directions. Dissimilar to kendo, iaido is never honed in a free-competing way. At times iaidoka will practice accomplice kata like kendo or kenjutsu kata. To appropriately perform the kata, iaidoka likewise learn carriage and development , hold and swing. Iaidoka are regularly prescribed to practice kendo to safeguard that battling feel it is normal for high positioning kendoka to hold high rank in iaido and the other way around. Notwithstanding sword method, it obliges creative ability and fixation to keep up the inclination of a genuine battle and to keep the kata new. Every kata starts and finishes with the sword sheathed. Iaido is for the most part performed solo as an issue of kata, executing changed strategies against single or various fanciful rivals. Iaido is a reflection of the morals of the classical warrior and to build a spiritually harmonious person possessed of high intellect, sensitivity, and resolute will. Iaido is an intrinsic form of Japanese modern budo. Iaido encompasses hundreds of styles of swordsmanship, all of which subscribe to non-combative aims and purposes. The term emerged from the general trend to replace the suffix -jutsu (術) ("the art of") with -dō (道) in Japanese martial arts in order to emphasize the philosophical or spiritual aspects of the practice. The term 'iaido' approximately translates into English as "the way of mental presence and immediate reaction", and was popularized by Nakayama Hakudo. The last character, 道, is generally translated into English as the way. The secondary emphasis is on drawing the sword and responding to the sudden attack as quickly as possible (合). Thus the primary emphasis in 'iai' is on the psychological state of being present (居). The term 'iaido' appear in 1932 and consists of the kanji characters 居 (i), 合 (ai), and 道 (dō). The origin of the first two characters, iai (居合), is believed to come from saying Tsune ni ite, kyū ni awasu (常に居て、急に合わす), that can be roughly translated as "being constantly (prepared), match/meet (the opposition) immediately". Haruna Matsuo sensei (1925–2002) demonstrating Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu kata Ukenagashi Practitioners of iaido are often referred to as iaidoka. Iaido is associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard (or saya), striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard. While beginning practitioners of iaido may start learning with a wooden sword ( bokken) depending on the teaching style of a particular instructor, most of the practitioners use the blunt edged sword, called iaitō. Few, more experienced, iaido practitioners use a sharp edged sword ( shinken). Iaidō (居合道), abbreviated with iai (居合), is a Japanese martial art that emphasizes being aware and capable of quickly drawing the sword and responding to a sudden attack.