Iaido Sword-Kamimoto-Ha Techniques of Muso Shinden Ryu

Iaido is the classical Japanese discipline of drawing and cutting with the long sword in defense of an unanticipated attack, throwing off the blood, and returning the sword to its sheath. It is the direct inheritor of techniques perfected by centuries of samurais whose life and honor depended on

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their spirit and prowess. Iaido, however, has stripped these techniques down to their most basic elements in order for the modern warrior to use them to overcome the enemy within as well as without.

Iaido represents the dichotomy inherent in Taoist philosophy and the Asian martial arts: outer form and inner meaning, defense and offense, stilness and action, life and death. Because it is not saddled with the need to be practical or realistic in this age, it is ideally suited to teach the basics of conflict inherent in all martial disciplines and indeed in life. Balance, timing, distance, and percepton are all critical elements to warriors-in the workplace as well as on the battlefield.

Author Richard W. Babin, BS, M.D., brings together all the practical and theoretical information needed to pursue a formal study of the classical Japanese martial art of iaido. You will learn how to choose a sword, cut with it, take care of it, assume the clothing, and enter a dojo. Babin covers not only the basic moves and positions, but the entire curriculum of forms of the muso shinden ryu of iaido. Equally important, the author puts the art in its historic and social perspective, helping clarify for the reader the spirital pathway that the way of the sword offers.

If you want to learn iaido, this is our textbook.

Contents

Acknowledgements
Foreword
Section One: History
Introduction
History of Japan
Outline of Japanese History
History of Iaido
History of Muso Shinden Ryu
Section Two: Preparation
Etiquette
Clothing
Rank
Sword
Parts of the blade
Sword furniture and tsuka
Parts of the saya
Choosing our sword
Handling your sword
Wearing your sword
Examining and cleaning your sword
Care of our sword
Minor repairs
Section Three: Bringng life to your sword
Grasping your sword
Cutting-Kiri
Starting positions-Kamae
Balance, posture, and movement
Timing, rhythm, and vision
Breathing-Kokyu
Zen and the art of iai
Section Four: Basic movements
Safety
Warmup
Nukitsuke
Furikaburi
Kirioroshi
Kaeshi
Ukenagashi
Yokogumogiri
Tsuki
Ate
Yoko chiburi
Omori Chiburi
Noto
Reverse Chiburi and Noto
Vertical Chiburi and Noto
Section Five: Muso Shnden Kaido Kata
(Numbers preceding kata forms are referenced in Appendix C)
Introduction to kata forms
Bowing in and out
Seitei
1 Ippon me-mae
2 Nihon me-Ushiro
3 Sanbon me-Ukenagashi
4 Yonhon me-Tsuka ate
5 Gohon me-kasagiri
6 Roppon me-Morotezuki
7 Nanahon me-Sanpogiri
8 Hachihon me-Ganmen ate
9 Kyuhon me-Soetezuki
10 Jippon me-shihogiri
11 Juippon me-Sougiri
12 Junihon me-Nukiuchi
Omori Ryu
13 Ippon me-Shohato
14 Ninon me-sato
15 Sanbon me-Uto
16 Yonhon me-Atarito
17 Gohon me-Inyoshintai
18 Roppon me-Ryuto
19 Nanahon me-Junto
20 Hachihon me-Gyakuto
21 Kyuhon me-Seityuto
22 Jippon me-Koranto
23 Juippon me-Inyoushintai kaewaza
24 Junihon me-Nukuchi
Eishin Ryu
25 Ippon me-Yokogumo
26 Nihon me-Toraisoku
27 Sanbon me-Inazuma
28 Yonhon me-Ukigumo
29 Gohon me-Yamashita oroshi
30 Roppon me-Iwanami
31 Nanahon me-Uroko gaeshi
32 Hachihon me-Nami gaeshi
33 Kyuhon me-Taikotoshi
34 Jippon me-Nukiuchi
Okuden Suwari
35 Ippon me-Kasumi
36 Nihon me-Sunegako
37 Sanbon me-Shihogiri
38 Yonhon me-Tozumi
39 Gohon me-Towaki
40 Roppon me-Tanashita
41 Nanahon me-Ryozume
42 Hachihon me-Torabashiri
Okuden Tachi
43 Ippon me-Yukizuri
44 Nihon me-Tsuredachi
45 Sanbon me-Somakuri
46 Yonhon me-Sodome
47 Gohon me-Shinobu
48 Roppon me-Yukichigai
49 Nanahon me-Sode sunigaeshi
50 Hachihon me-Mon iri
51 Kyuhon me-Kubezoe
52 Jippon me-Ukenagashi
53 Juippon me-Itomagoi
Tactics
Appendix A: All-Japan Kendo Federation Judging Guide
Appendix B: Training strategies
Appendix C: Peculiarities of individual kata
Appendix D: Swords, parts, and repair resources
Glossary
Select bibliography
Japanes sources

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