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Showing posts from March, 2014

What is Iaido?

I practice a martial art form called Iaido (pronounced Eee-Eye-Doe). So, what is Iaido? According to Wikipedia, "Iaido is a modern Japanese martial art, associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard or saya, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard." That's a very literal and mechanical interpretation. How one achieves smooth, controlled movements and strikes the opponent with full effect, is not so literal or mechanical and that is why it is an art form. To do art well, one must feel. According to iaido.org , Iaido is "The way of harmonizing oneself in action". This is explained through the meaning behind the word. I means being, AI means harmony, and DO means way. There isn't a word in there that means action, but Iaido is a martial art that uses a sword and if you aren't going to do something with the sword, then why would you have it? Y