Iaidō — The Way of Drawing the Sword
Iaidō (居合道) is a Japanese martial art centred on the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword (katana) from its scabbard, striking or cutting an imaginary opponent, removing blood from the blade, and replacing the sword in the scabbard. Unlike kendō, which is practised with a partner, iaidō is predominantly a solo practice — a moving meditation on readiness, precision, and the quality of attention in each moment.
The most widely practised lineages include Musō Shinden-ryū and Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū, both tracing their origins to Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu (c. 1546–1621), regarded as the founder of iaijutsu. The Zen-Nihon Kendō Renmei (All Japan Kendo Federation) maintains a standardised set of 12 forms (seitei iai) for grading purposes, while koryū (classical) forms preserve the original techniques and philosophy of each lineage.
Content expanding. Musō Shinden-ryū kata structure, the philosophy of zanshin (lingering awareness), and connections to Zen practice will follow.