But if the mind is not upright, the sword can never be wielded properly.Įven though you may devote yourself to it with all your heart and soul, it is very difficult to master iaido completely.
![iaido style iaido style](https://weblog.tozando.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/SnapShot70.jpg)
It is said that the sword is like the mind, and if the sword is upright, the mind is upright. A serene spirit must be cultivated at all times. With a tranquil heart you put your hand on the hilt of your sword - in a split second your hand moves to cut down the opponent and resheath the sword - then return to your composed mind. Every motion, such as the movements of the arms or legs and body, must correspond to the offensive motions of the opponent, and it is of utmost importance that a person follow the rules of discipline that have been carefully and thoroughly applied. The practice of this martial art requires a solemn spirit, extreme concentration, and skill. from BUDO MIND AND BODY, by Nicklaus Suino. Without these essential component, iaido has little to offer in the way of mental discipline, and would be an unrewarding art for most people. Also, watch out for poorly trained instructors, who teach the general pattern of the forms, but who do not understand the precise details or the reasons for them.
![iaido style iaido style](http://shingen.com.au/sites/default/files/pictures/iaido-k02.jpg)
Some younger people find the practice style a bit slow, and there is no form of direct competition in iaido. It is not an art for those who are impatient or who desire great activity. As stated above, it helps in the development of a calm, stable demeanor and, through attention to detail and continual refinement of the motions, orderly, precise thought patterns. Iaido training builds arm and leg strength and provides a gentle cardiovascular workout. Some of the major schools of iaido are: Muso Shinden Ryu, Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, and Shinkage Ryu. Iaido, perhaps more than any other martial art except kyudo (archery), develops a calm, clear mind in its practitioners. The unique drawing motion in most iaido kata is designed to draw the sword, to parry an oncoming cut, and to cut the opponent, all in one motion. He brought together many older styles of swordsmanship to create a system that was ideal for castle guards and sentries to use in defending against surprise attacks. The person most responsible for the creation of modern iaido was a man named Hayashizaki Jinsuke.
![iaido style iaido style](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ba/6a/8b/ba6a8bc14240f13928ca8284360bde37.jpg)
This is another art that is popular with older people and non-athletes, since the relatively slow movements are not as taxing to the cardiovascular system as are the more active arts (though it is still extremely challenging). Practice is calm and quiet, since the most important feature of iaido is the development of zanshin (a calm, reflective mind), and the major difficulty to overcome is the extraordinary attention to detail required. A kata typically consists of a draw, a parry, a major cut, a blade-cleaning motion, and a resheathing. Practice is made up almost entirely of kata, or pre-arranged sets of motion designed to respond to a particular attack by another swordsman. Iaido is a type of Japanese swordsmanship.