What is Iaidô?

The foremost weapon of the Samurai was the Japanese sword or nippontô. Iaidô is basically the drawing of the sword to deliver a counterattack, following up and returning the sword to its scabbard. These techniques are taught by means of prearranged solo exercises of great precision called kata. Iaidô is a pure martial art in that there is little sport or competitive aspect to it.

The Nichibukan teaches various Japanese sword arts but its primary focus is upon iaidô. The styles of iaidô practiced at our dôjô are the Seitei-gata Iaidô of the Iaidô section of the All Japan Kendô Federation (Iaidô-bu Zen Nihon Kendô Renmei no Seitei-gata) and the Musô Shinden Ryû. Musô Shinden Ryu is a Ko-Ryû or old style of Iaidô. Several of the kata of the Seitei-gata iaidô were taken from Musô Shinden Ryû.