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Seishin Iaido instructors are fully qualified and insured
and offer traditional iaido training from their dojo situated
in East Grinstead, Sussex.
For further details contact:
Bruce Scrivens on 07845 756830 or 01444 246664
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What is Iaido?
Iaido is a non-combative martial art that involves no direct
physical contact or combat with other individuals. Practitioners
perform kata (set forms) that represent confrontational situations
against an imaginary opponent. The kata involve drawing the
sword, making one or more cuts, cleaning the blade, and returning
the sword to the saya (scabbard) with concentration and focus.
There are some two-person kata, but these are choreographed,
with one person defending against a pre-defined series of
attacks.
There are many styles of Iaido, most of which date back hundreds
of years. The style taught at Seishin is known as Muso Shinden
Ryu .
Like most Iaido, Muso Shinden Ryu can trace its roots back
to Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (1546-1621). As a young man
he went to a Shinto shrine where he spent quite some time.
According to a vision he got in a dream he developed the batto-techniques
(techniques where one draws the sword and strikes with one
motion). He called his style Shinmei Muso ryu. Later known
as Shin Muso Hayashizaki ryu.
Over the centuries, these techniques have been refined and
adjusted to those we have today. The older styles of Iaido,
of which there are many, are referred to as Koryu and are
practiced all over the world. Muso Shinden Ryu as we know
it today was born in early 1900s. by Nakayama Hakudo-sensei,
a man who had dedicated his life to the study of kendo and
Iaido.
A strict traditional etiquette is followed at all times.
Iaido is normally practised wearing hakama (baggy pleated
trousers) and keiko gi (training jacket). An iai obi (sword
belt) is worn under the hakama to hold the sword in place.
The hakama is usually black or dark blue, and the keikogi,
often a matching colour. Unlike in most other Japanese martial
arts, there is no outward indication of rank by the clothing
worn. The swords used range from bokuto or bokken (wooden
sword) for beginners, to Iaito (blunt practice swords) for
the more experienced. In fact both weapons are used.
Click here for further details
on Iaido training at Seishin
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