Iaido
The Cleveland Kendo Association is a member of the Greater North Eastern United States Kendo Federation (GNEUSKF) and the All United States Kendo Federation (AUSKF), and practices a form of Iaido known as Kendo Seitei IAI, which was established by the All Japan Kendo Federation (Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei or ZNKR).
The Cleveland Kendo Association Iaido is officially under the
guidance of Shozo Kato Sensei, 7th Dan Kyoshi Iaido (8th Dan
Kyoshi Kendo), of the GNEUSKF.
Practices are lead by Dr. Shigemi Matsuyama, 2nd Dan Iaido (4th Dan Kendo). Dr. Matsuyama is also a student of Shimizu Sensei, 8th Dan, 22nd Headmaster Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido Renmei, in Fukuoka, Kyushu Japan.
What is Iaido?
Iaido is one of the Japanese traditional Budo concerned with
drawing the blade and cutting in the same motion. (Budo means
martial arts or military arts in Japan). A typical form consists
of the draw and cut, a finishing cut, cleaning the blade and
returning it to the scabbard, all without looking away from the
imaginary opponent.
Most practice is solo, eventually with shin-ken (a real blade).
In contrast with Kendo, Iaido is performed without protective
coverings of any kind. Students must strive to achieve power,
precision and perfection in their form. Along the way they learn
balance, grace, and control both of the body and the mind.
Iaido dealt more with everyday situation rather than those on
the battlefield. The term "Iai" is taken from the Japanese
phrase: "Tsune ni ite, kyu ni awasu". The meaning of this is,
whatever we may be doing or wherever we may be, we must always
be prepared from any eventually.
The techniques themselves dealt with many situations such as a
sudden attack by several opponents, a surprise attack while
bowing to someone, an enemy lying in wait behind a sliding door
or an attack in a darkened room. The permutations (suppositions)
were countless.
The twelve Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei Seitei Iaido Forms
Hajime tou no rei (Opening Ceremony)
Ipponme: mae (front)
Nihonme: ushiro (rear)
Sanbonme: ukenagashi (turning aside)
Yonhonme: tsuka ate (pommel strike)
Gohonme: kesa giri (diagonal cut)
Ropponme: morote tsuki (two-handed thrust)
Nanahonme: sanpou giri (cut in 3 directions)
Happonme: ganmen ate (face strike)
Kyuhonme: soete tsuki (thrust with accomanying hand)
Juuhonme: shihou giri (cut in 4 directions)
Juu ipponme: sou giri (complete cuts)
Juu nihonme: nuki uchi (drawing strike)
Owari tou no rei (Ending Ceremony)
