Iaido

Iai-Tate Do is a blend of traditional Iaido (a martial art which utilizes the Japanese sword) and the more combative sword art known as Tate Do. The Japan Iai-Tate Do Federation was founded by Yamazaki Kiyoshi Sensei, located in Anaheim, California. The style of Iaido practiced by the Federation is based on Kashima Shinto Ryu, which originated in Japan in the middle of the 15th century.

The History of Iai-Do

  • Founded in mid 15th century Japan by Choisai Ienao at the Katori Shinto Shrine.
  • This style was the first of the formalized Iai schools.
  • Students from the Katori school went on to start their own schools, one of which was the Kashima Shinto Ryu.
  • The most famous of these schools was Batto-Jutsu.

About 1450 A.D., Choisai Ienao founded the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. This individual, an excellent swordsman to begin with, buried himself within the confines of the Katori Shinto Shrine, a very large monastery-like establishment about 40 miles northwest of modern Tokyo. He emerged 1,000 days later with a series of kata for many of the weapons available during that era, but in particular, the katana or Japanese sword. Few will argue that the Katori Shinto Ryu was the first of the formalized Iai schools.

It was not long after the establishment of this ryu that other schools began to make their appearance. Some of these schools were begun in other parts of Japan by students of the Katori school, some of whom incorporated some of the regional sword styles, while others developed by Tsukahara Bukoden when he incorporated some of the elements of the Kage style. Perhaps the most famous of these later schools is Batto-Jutsu, developed by Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (1546-1621).

Saturday

  • Iaido

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