Kaigan Dojo Iaido and Iaijutsu – Home of the Kent Iaido Club

Iaido Kent

Iaidō (居合道?) is a Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard. While new students of iaidō may start learning with a wooden sword (bokken) depending on the teaching style of a particular instructor, many of those who study iaidō use an unsharpened sword (iaitō). Advanced practitioners of iaidō use a sharpened metal sword (shinken).

Because iaidō teaches the use of actual metal weaponry, it is almost entirely based on the teaching of forms, or kata. Multiple person kata do exist within some forms of iaido, but the iaidōka (practitioners of iaidō) will usually use bokken for such kata practice. Iaidō does not include direct competition or sparring of any kind. Because of this non-competitive aspect, and iaidō’s emphasis on precise, controlled, fluid motion, it is sometimes referred to as “moving Zen.”

Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū

Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū (無双直伝英信流 or 無雙直傳英信流?), is a koryū sword art, and one of the most widely practiced schools of iaijutsu in the world[citation needed]. Often referred to simply as “Eishin-ryū,” it claims an unbroken lineage dating back to the sixteenth century.

The school takes its name from its seventh headmaster, Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Hidenobu (長谷川主税助英信), who had a profound influence on the style. ‘Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū’ means ‘peerless, directly transmitted school of Eishin.’ ‘Eishin’ is an alternative pronunciation of ‘Hidenobu.’

Iaijutsu

Iaijutsu (居合術?), often translated roughly as the “art of mental presence and immediate response”, is the Japanese martial art of drawing the sword. At least one author makes the distinction that, strictly speaking, iaijutsu consists exclusively of the portion of combat where the sword is drawn, and that any further techniques are technically classified as kenjutsu.

It is unclear exactly when the term “iaijutsu” first came into use, or when exactly drawing the katana from its scabbard first became practiced as a discrete martial art. Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (c.1546–c.1621), the founder of the Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū and Musō Shinden-ryū schools, is generally credited with the invention of iaijutsu, but this is contrary to the account of Iizasa Chōisai Ienao (c.1387–c.1488), who devised a system of drawing the sword and founded the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū 100 years earlier.

Nevertheless, Hayashizaki is still given enormous credit as an exponent of iaijutsu, as his teaching influenced the founding of over 200 schools of swordsmanship.

Iaido Kent

The Kaigan Iaido club meets every Thursday night from 7.30pm to 9.30pm in the Methodist Church Hall, Broadstairs.

DNBK (dai nippon butokai kai)

Originally established in Kyoto Japan 1895 under the authority of the Ministry of Education and endorsement of His Royal Highness, Meiji Emperor to solidify, promote, and standardize Martial Disciplines and systems throughout Japan.

DNBK was the first Official and premier Martial Arts Institution to be sanctioned by the Government of Japan it became the subsequent centre for the proud heritage and elitism of Japanese Budo, stressing the martial virtues of Samurai warrior and incomparable historical excellence in Martial disciplines.

Subsequent centre for the proud heritage and elitism of Japanese Budo. It stressed the martial virtues of Samurai warrior and incomparable historical excellence in Martial disciplines.