Iaido

Iaido is the art of drawing the sword — inherently a solo art. Each kata cycles nukitsuke, kirioroshi, chiburi and noto. The 12 Seitei kata are the standard.

Starter program (from zero)

Weeks 1-8: only Mae — 10 reps per session, drill the four phases separately
Weeks 9-16: add Ushiro and Uke Nagashi; Mae still opens every session
Later: 3 kata × 5 reps per session; run all 12 monthly

Kata / Forms

1. Mae 前

Beginner

From seiza: horizontal draw, vertical cut — iaido's alphabet.

2. Ushiro 後ろ

Beginner

Mae turned 180° to a rear opponent.

3. Uke Nagashi 受け流し

Intermediate

Flowing parry merging into a counter-cut.

4. Tsuka Ate 柄当て

Intermediate

Pommel strike forward, thrust to the rear.

5. Kesa Giri 袈裟切り

Intermediate

Rising draw-cut then descending kesa cut.

6. Morote Tsuki 諸手突き

Intermediate

Two-handed thrust; three opponents.

7. Sanpo Giri 三方切り

Intermediate

Cutting to three directions without pause.

8. Ganmen Ate 顔面当て

Intermediate

Pommel to the face, rear thrust, forward cut.

9. Soete Tsuki 添え手突き

Advanced

Supported thrust with the left hand on the blade's back.

10. Shiho Giri 四方切り

Advanced

Cuts to four directions.

11. Sou Giri 総切り

Advanced

Advancing with five successive cuts.

12. Nuki Uchi 抜き打ち

Advanced

Draw and cut in one beat while stepping back — shortest and hardest.

Techniques & Strikes

The four phases

Nukitsuke: The draw that cuts; half the speed is the scabbard pulling back.
Kirioroshi: The main descending cut.
Chiburi: Shaking the blood off — a zanshin phase, never rushed.
Noto: Re-sheathing without looking; slow noto is the hard one.

Supporting drills

Seiza / tate hiza kalkışları: Rising from seiza in one motion, 10 reps daily.
Suburi (bokken): Cut mechanics with a bokken when no iaito is available.

Tips

An iaito (unsharpened alloy blade) has different balance than a bokken — training with one for months before a live blade is normal and necessary.
Never look at the blade during noto; eyes stay on the imagined opponent — the most commonly skipped detail in the kata.
Rushing chiburi is a common mistake; this phase is part of zanshin and should never be hurried.

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