Iaido

Historically, the role of the predecessor of Iaido (Iaijutsu) in training a samurai boiled down to two main ideas: first, to give him the opportunity to practice with a real sword ( shinken ) without fear of causing irreparable injuries to his partner or, worse, to a teacher, and secondly , instill in him the skills of action in those situations when it is necessary to unexpectedly attack or defend, not having the opportunity to remove the sword from its sheath in advance. Thus, Iaijutsu was an auxiliary discipline in relation to kenjutsu - the art of swordsmanship.

Modern Iaido

In modern conditions, the possession of the sword has lost its applied value and has become the lot of a relatively small group of fans of this skill. Among them, there are those who focus on the study of practical ways to efficiently remove the sword from the sheath (they usually prefer to call what they do, Iaijutsu or Battojutsu ), while others prefer to see in it the path to self-improvement through studying the capabilities of their body, and the sword for they plays only the role of an instrument on this path. Iaido itself provides an opportunity for both, and for another, and each practitioner can decide for himself what is most important to him.

Translated from Japanese iaido - iai way; in turn, iai - instant sword blow from the scabbard , quick neutralization of the enemy (usually killing) and putting the sword back into the sheath . An idol practiced with katana, seeks to control first of all himself, and not his opponent. Iaido art is the study and execution of imaginary battles (waza) without the actual presence of a partner. There are various combat directions, including waza with one or more imaginary opponents, as well as variations of contact fights using a training sword: bokken , aito . Each battle is characterized by the presence of a katana, originally hidden in its sheath. Increased concentration and rich imagination are integral characteristics of everyone who seeks to understand the science of iaido. For effective combat, it is necessary to observe the correct position of the body, perform the correct movements, be able to apply the secrets of capturing the grip of the katana and accurately apply cutting blows.

Iydoka is studying variations of the battle, starting with a sudden attack, where the reflection of aggression occurs faster than any movement of the attacker. There are no unnecessary movements in iaido. Each action has its own meaning. Fighting techniques are usually simple and natural. Training requires not only physical, but also mental and intellectual returns. For hundreds of years of development, iaido has been passed down from generation to generation and over 450 years has remained virtually unchanged in its foundations. Those who possess the fundamentals of iaido are able to deflect the attack and suddenly attack first.

Musho Jikiden Eishin Style

One of the common iaido styles practiced in Japan is the Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu style ( 無雙 直傳 英 信 流 muso: jikiden eishin ryu:) . Eishin Ryu was founded in the 16th century and is the second oldest form of Japanese martial arts . Hayazidzaki Dzinsuke Minamoto-no Shigenobu ( 1546 - 1621 ), who lived in Kanagawa County (current name), is known as the founder of Eishin Ryu and Iaido in general. Despite the mass of legends and traditions associated with the life of Hayazizaki, it is well established ^{[by whom? ]} that he grew up in an atmosphere of feudal times of feudal clans. In early childhood, he moved to Yamagata County, where he began to study all kinds of martial arts. There is evidence that, while developing physically, Hayazidzaki simultaneously developed spiritually, trying by meditation and prayer to discover the most effective method of using katana in battle . Over the course of his life, he managed to develop a fighting style of using the Japanese sword, which was called "simmei muso ryu" ("divinely inspired, having no such people"). The iaido direction developed by Hiyazizaki is known by many names. His style became the basis for the two most common styles, now known as Eishin Ryu and Muso Shinden Ryu . Since then, over the centuries, Iaido has been changing and branching due to the innovations of teachers who train their students. Despite various techniques and tactics, Eishin Ryu is an invariable foundation, thanks to which iaido has developed until today. Currently, more than a dozen recognized in Japan and in many countries of the world mentors continue to develop their direction ( ha ) both in the style of Eishin Ryu - Iaijutsu and Iaido, and in Muso Shinden-ryu Iaido . It should be noted that even within one ha (direction) there is a lot of controversy regarding the place of the chapter. Nevertheless, adherents of this art form have the opportunity to improve under the guidance of recognized Japanese mentors.

Today, in various regions of Russia there are a sufficient number of qualified masters and mentors who have stable contacts with famous Japanese masters of various styles and schools of Iaijutsu, Iaido, Battojutsu. Many of the masters teaching the ancient art of wielding a sword have personal authority to represent various schools and styles of their mentors from various prefectures of Japan. A lot of ascetics of this ancient art regularly undergo internships and pass qualification exams directly with leaders and leading mentors in Japan, invite their teachers to conduct events in the regions of the Russian Federation, which contributes to the further development of Iaijutsu (Iaido) and increases interest in this unique cultural phenomenon.

As part of the international trend towards holding iaijutsu (iaido) championships, a number of representatives of the Russian federations participate in international iaido championships at the European, world championships, open championships of Japan and similar events, representing Russian schools of aijutsu (iaido), along with kendo and other types of martial arts. In a number of clubs, associations and federations, Iaijutsu (Iaido) is developing not only as an independent and self-sufficient form of traditional martial art, but also practiced in conjunction with the techniques of Kobudo, Ju-Jitsu (Ju-Jutsu), Aikido, Judo, Karate, which is also not It is rare in many schools of traditional Japanese martial arts and is welcomed by a number of Japanese tutors. Nevertheless, Iaijutsu (Iaido) is a form of independent traditional martial martial art of Japan and includes a huge cultural, aesthetic, philosophical, psychological, physical, pedagogical and many other layers created and developed by tens and hundreds of generations of true masters and mentors.

Most historians agree that the name Eishin Ryu comes from the name of the head of the seventh generation - Hasegawa Tikaranosuke Eishin. Only after the twelfth generation did Iaido branch into two different directions: the direction leading to Saito Iyamau (the head of the eighteenth generation of the Muso Shinden style), and the direction leading to the aforementioned Ikeda Takashi Seiko. There are a number of other, less well-known and less commonly practiced forms of Iaido, originating from Hayazizaki Dzinsuke. In 2011, about three thousand students practice Eishin Ryu in Japan . Eishin-ryu Traditions Association and Japan's Iaido Federation develop and finance the Eishin style by organizing competitions and shows around the world.

Iaido and Iaijutsu should be distinguished. Iaijutsu is the art of instant exposure of the sword, which has a purely practical focus, while iaido (especially after the Second World War) is largely a discipline designed to educate the spirit. Initially, it is Iaijutsu (for example, a section of Iaijutsu is contained in the school of Bujutsu Tensin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu , founded in 1447). Iaido, on the other hand, is a way of self-improvement through the implementation of aiai techniques.

• Russian Federation Kendo, Iaido, Jodo
• International Martial Arts Club
• Branch of the European Iaido Federation in Russia. Shinkai dojo. St. Petersburg
• The plot about iaido on the channel "Battle nerds" (interview with Matsuo-sensei and Stanislav Kulakov)
• Kata Iaido (S.Kulakov)