The Arts

A chinese lion statue

Iaido


Simply, Iaido is the name for the practice of  a 'traditional' Japanese Sword art. Iaido can be defined by its 'kanji' or characters as meaning 'the way of harmonizing one's self in action at all times and in all conditions.'

Iaido is not practiced as a two-person combative martial art. One imagines opponents while moving through combat sequences, known in Japanese as 'kata' or generally (and not sufficiently in English) as 'forms'. Almost all Iaido practice would be considered individual or solo practice.

Iaido is patterned: a student draws the sword and cuts in the same motion, followed by at least one more 'finishing' cut, a signature motion to 'clean' the sword, and a final sheathing of the sword to finish where one began.

Iaido is part of a family, related closely in philosophy and combat application. Iaido is a sibling to Kendo and Jodo. This family of arts reside under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Kendo Federation which in turn is under the jurisdiction of the All Japan Kendo Federation.

  

Jodo

Simply, Jodo is the name for the practice of a 'traditional' Japanese Staff art. Jodo can be defined by its 'kanji' or characters as meaning 'the way of the staff.'

Jodo is practiced mainly as a two person combative art. Jodo is focussed on defense against the Japanese sword.  Most of the time, there is no contact between participants. All contact in Jodo is extremely light. Participants engage in two person 'kata' or 'forms' therefore creating a safe training environment for the exploration of Staff techniques in relation to the Japanese Sword. In Jodo training all weapons are wooden and edgeless.

Jodo is patterned: The staff always defends against an incoming sword attack. The staff always wins.

Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu

 

Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu is the sword school of the well known Japanese Swordsman Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645). Niten Ichi Ryu means "two heavens under one school," which closely relates to the forms using both a long and short sword; for which the school is famous.  Niten is koryu (old school), and its deeply rooted in the Go Rin No Sho (the Book of Five Rings, written by Musashi), and in Buddhism.

Practice is waza (form) based with two partners.  The partners first bow to each other to show their respect, and then they engage each other.  Niten waza involve one student taking the place of shidachi (Musashi) and the other student taking the place of uchidachi (an attacker).  Uchidachi would approach shidachi and attack.  Niten is a combative art and students will strike each other with bokuto.  Shidachi will perform the technique thus defeating uchidachi.

As is mentioned in the Go Rin No Sho, it is best not to get overly familiar with one weapon.  Students of Niten Ichi Ryu train first with a long sword, then with both a long and short sword, and finally with a short sword alone.  In all of these techniques they will be attacked by an opponent using a long sword.  All swords used in Niten are wooden.  Some feel that this takes away from the reality of the art, but Miyamoto Musashi himself gave up the use of a live blade for a bokuto, and since Niten is a combative art wooden swords reduce the chance of serious injury.


Ka Muso Kai is:

Random foliage

The name Yamamoto sensei offered to our club.

Links: