Iaido is a martial art that trains the mind and body by facing oneself and slaying invisible enemies.
Iaido is a martial art for training the body and mind. In iaido, you learn a kata, a technique in which you draw your sword instantly and control your opponent on the assumption that he is about to cut you down," explains Matsuzaki, the former president of the club. There are various schools of iai, but we study under a teacher of the Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu style, which is an ancient style of iai. We practice not only on campus, but also together with our fellow students from other universities and adults.
Many of the 14 current club members are beginners who began practicing iai at university, but have experience in kendo, kyudo, and other martial arts, and have come to the club because they want to experience a new martial art. One of them, Mr. Nishida, says, "It is said that iaido and kendo are two sides of the same coin, and it is recommended to experience both. Kendo is an interpersonal game in which two people strike against each other, while iai is practiced alone against a virtual enemy. In the solemn atmosphere, you can concentrate on mastering the techniques while facing yourself," he says, explaining the appeal of iai.
Mr. Kayanne, who switched from Kyudo to Iai, said, "I had longed to try Iai myself since I saw the 'blood swing*' in a demonstration. When I finally learned it, I felt the unique flavor of iai," he said. "I still need more practice, but my goal is to be promoted to Shodan," he said enthusiastically.
In iai matches, participants perform a combination of techniques common to all schools as defined by the All Japan Kendo Federation (ZENKENREN) and techniques based on the teachings of each school, and three judges make a comprehensive judgment to determine the winner. In June 2019, Sakai participated in the 14th All Japan Koryu Iaido Sakuranbo Tournament held in Yamagata Prefecture, the birthplace of Iaido, and won first place in the Shodan division. Mr. Sakai won the first place in the Shodan division. Sakai said with joy, "I had never won a prize in a kendo tournament before, so it was a great feeling to win. I was taught that it is more important to aim for one's own goals than to win or lose, so I will not forget to keep that in mind," she said, disciplining herself not to be complacent.
Mr. Kajiwara, who took over the baton from Mr. Matsuzaki and became the new representative, said, "The Iaido Club is only in its fifth year of existence, but we have seniors who have paved the way for us, and we also have friends outside the school who train with us. I would like to continue to support each other, sticking to the basics, and moving forward toward my goal of self-improvement," he said enthusiastically, bracing himself for the responsibility of leading the club from here on out.
Blood-shedding: A gesture in which the blood is drained off the sword before it is placed in the scabbard.
(First published in the March 2020 issue of Hosei, a public relations magazine)
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From left in the front row: Chiharu Matsuzaki (3rd year, Faculty of Law, 3rd year, Department of Law), Ei Nishida (3rd year, Faculty of Law, Department of Philosophy); from left in the back row: Daisuke Sakai (2nd year, Faculty of Law, Department of Law), Yuki Kajihara (2nd year, Faculty of Law, Department of Law, representative), Tadahisa Kayane (1st year, Faculty of Letters, Department of Japanese Literature)
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The training camp, where students of the dojo gather together, is held twice a year, once in spring and once in summer. The photo shows "Tachiuchi," in which students grasp a sense of timing while fighting with wooden swords in each other's hands.
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Every year, all students participate in a demonstration at the university festival.
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In January 2020, volunteers participated in the Osaka Iaido Tournament. This was a valuable opportunity to experience demonstrations in the Kansai region.