The art of Iaido would appear to be a simple one. The student sits or stands quietly, draws out a blade and cuts through the air all in one stroke, then puts the sword away again. To the casual observer, there is not a lot to see. Iaido is an exacting art which demands a high level of focus and mental concentration. It is an art of precise motions with only centimetres of tolerance and split second timing. It is also an individual art that involves the student and the sword struggling to achieve perfection of form.

Beyond this physical aspect, Iaido is also a philosophically oriented Japanese budo art. The name "Iaido" itself is composed of three ideograms: "I", "AI" and "DO". "I" means to "reside" or "be" in a certain place; "AI" means "harmony"; and "DO" means "road" or "path". Hence, "Iaido" means the path to finding harmony in any situation in which one finds oneself – to be prepared for any eventuality.

Iaido is a very old traditional martial art. Etiquette, Japanese culture and history are all important aspects of Iaido taught at Rai Un Kai.

Click here to see an example of Iaido

ZEN KEN REN IAI TACHI UCHI NO KURAI (bokuto partner forms)

1. Mae Front 1. De Ai Coming close

2. Ushiro Back 2. Tsuke Komi Follow together

3. Uke Nagashi Block & deflect 3. Uke Nagashi Block/deflect

4. Tsuka Ate Handle strike 4. Uke Komi Defend/bring close

5. Kesa Giri Diagonal cut 5. Tsuki Kage Moon shadow

6. Morote Zuki 2 handed thrust 6. Suigetsu To Solar plexus sword

7. Sanpo Giri 3 directions cut 7. Zetsu Myo Ken

8. Gammen Ate Face strike 8. Doku Myo Ken

9. Soete Zuki Hands together thrust 9. Shin Myo Ken

10. Shiho Giri 4 directions cut 10. Uchi Komi Striking

11. So Giri Many cuts

12. Nuki Uchi Draw/strike

(OMORI RYU) (EISHIN RYU)

1. Mae Front 1. Yoko Gumo Horizontal clouds

2. Migi Right 2. Tora No Issoku Tiger’s step

3. Hidari Left 3. Ina Zuma Thunderbolt

4. Ushiro Back 4. Uki Gumo Floating clouds

5. Yae Gaki Many hedgerows 5. Oroshi Wind off mountain

6. Uke Nagashi Block/deflect 6. Iwa Nami Rolling waves

7. Kaishaku Second for seppuku 7. Uroko Gaeshi Turning over fishscales

8. Tsuke Komi Follow together 8. Nami Gaeshi Waves turning

9. Tsuki Kage Moon shadow 9. Taki Otoshi Waterfall

10. Oi Kaze Chasing the wind 10. Makko Direct strike

11. Nuki Uchi Draw/strike Haya Nuki All together quickly

OKU IAI – IWAZA NO BU OKU IAI – TACHI WAZA NO BU

1. Kasumi Mist 1. Yuki Zure Walking together

2. Sune Gakoi Guarding shin 2. Tsure Dachi Walking side by side

3. To Zume Door/closeby 3. So Makuri Many cuts

4. To Waki Door/beside 4. So Dome Many steps/stops

5. Shiho Giri 4 directions cut 5. Shin no Bu (Yo Dachi) Night Sword

6. Tana Shita Veranda/underneath 6. Yuki Chigai Passing by

7. Ryo Zume Both sides closeby 7. Sode Suri Gaeshi Sleeve touching strike

8. Tora Bashira Tiger’s run 8. Mon Iri Gate entering

9. Kabe Zoe Wall, closeby

OKU IAI – ITOMAGOI NO BU 10. Uke Nagashi Block/deflect

BANGAI NO BU

1. Ichi
2. Ni 1. Haya Nami Quick Wave
3. San 2. Raiden Thunder

3. Jinrai Thunderclap

Shiho Barai 4 sides sweeping (purification)

Yurumi Uchi Natural cut