What is iaido?
Iaido is a martial art evolved from traditional Japanese swordsmanship. The art began to be taught publicly in the 1800’s but dates far back in Japanese history. It focuses on techniques of drawing, cutting, and re-sheathing the sword, in a multitude of situations. Iaido is a separate yet complementary martial art to Aikido. While Aikido practice includes weapons training, especially the use of the bokken (wooden sword) and jo (wooden staff), learning how to handle a sword can provide additional insight into Aikido. Some fundamental similarities are the emphasis on being “present” (or focused) in a relaxed state, using proper body mechanics and breath control.
