Preston Iaido Club

• About Iaido
  • For Beginners
  • For Martial Artists
  • For Experts
• Resources and Links
  • Contacts
  • Films
  • Books
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Iaido is a martial art concerned with the handling of japanese samurai swords. That sounds like quite a narrow and specialised subject. In fact, if you decide to give it a try you will find it quit broad.

The physical side consists of the various methods of drawing, cutting and defending. But you will also learn everything from wearing the sword to caring for it.

This then leads on to so much more. To understand the samurai sword, you must learn to appreciate it as a cultural artefact. The etiquette which surrounds it is a window onto a whole society. Similarly, by understanding the tactics behind the various moves, you gain an understanding of the psychology of the people who devised them.

Iaido is very old. The various moves and teqhniques were preserved centuries ago in drills called kata. These have been passed down from teacher to pupil by a constant process of demonstration and repitition. This is still the way it is done today.

This is quite different from kendo which is a competitave sport like fencing.

Iaido is :-

• Safe.
  There is no combative element. We do not hit each other.
• Healthy.
  The exercise is a steady aerobic workout. Supleness and posture are particularly emphasised.
• Cheap.
  All you need to start training is a wooden sword which are less than £10.
• Friendly.
  Everybody trains at their own rate and to their own ability. Our aim is to keep our art alive so we help each other as much as possible.

Beginners are welcome to come and try or just watch at any time.

Iaido is a kata based martial art dealing mainly with the katana. Practice is mainly done with bokken or blunt metal swords called iaito. Proper sharp swords are also used for cutting practice.

On thing which may surprise martial artists is that there is very little partner work. Most of the kata are performed alone and you are only in competition with yourself. This means that you can practice alone in a relativley small space.

The basic kata are done from seiza and involve a single attacker. More complicated ones begin at other positions and deal with multiple attackers and "obsticles" such as walls and non-combatants.

The kata are made up of four classes of movement:-

Drawing - Nukitsuke

Cutting - Kirititsuke

Removing Blood - Chiburi

Resheathing - Noto

Cutting practice (tamashigiri) is also necessary. Straw mats are rolled into tight bolts and then soaked overnight. Then they put onto stands at various heights so that that they can be carefully sliced with a sharp weapon.

The Preston Club practices Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. We are members of the Eikoku Roshukai the British brach of Roshukai.

Roshukai is a Japanese school headed by Iwata Norikazu sensei. It is dedicated to the teachings of Oe Masamichi (1852 - 1927). Oe sensei was the 17^th headmaster of the MJER.

We do not practice seitiai, the modern forms used by kendo clubs.

Eikoku Roshukai uses three types of training session-

• Club Sessions.
  Regular lessons in each club.
• Seminars.
  Held every few months or so for all the clubs in an area. Devoted to one particular topic.
• Summer Schools.
  Every two years or so, a group of teachers come over from Japan to teach everybody. This provides up to five days of intense training.

For more information on iaido training in Britain, please contact jikiden@ntlworld.com

Eikoku Roshukai,
Brian Morrison,
3 Cliff Road,
Radcliffe on Trent,
Nottingham,
NG12 2AS,
Great Britain

• Yojimbo Kurusowa, Akira.
• Sanjuro Kurosowa, Akira.

• Roshukai
  • Roshukai in Great Britain.
  • Interview with Iwata sensei.
  • Darlington Iaido Club.
  • Lancaster Iaido Club.
  • Roshukai in Ireland.
  • Leeds Iaido Club.
• Information
  • Sword work for Jitsuka.
  • The British Kendo Association.
  • The Japanese Sword Index.
  • Japanese Martial Arts Glossary.
• Suppliers
  • Barringtons Swords. (UK)
  • The Sword Smith. (UK)
  • Nine Circles Equiptment Supplies. (UK)
  • Tozando. (Japan)
  • Sword Store. (US)
  • Fylde Oriental Arts. (UK)
• Miscellaneous
  • Usagi Yojimbo.
  • Preston Jitsu Club.
  • Preston Kendo Club.