Iaido is a strange martial art. Generally speaking, sword schools don’t recruit like a Karate or Tae Kwan Do dojo. You have to find them. You have to want to join. Wanna be ninja’s and fighters are discouraged from joining (in a very polite Japanese way, told to bugger off). No kids under 16, even then the lack the maturity to keep up the training. There are schools who practice cutting straw mats, fruit and the like. My particular sect doesn’t do anything sexy like that. We cut air and imaginary opponents.
Watching Iaido is much like watching paint dry. The practice isn’t much better for the first year or so. Prospective students must watch a class to see what they are getting themselves into. Most talk a good game but never come back. Those that do, 75% get bored in less than 6 months and quit. I would estimate, 90% of those who practice Iaido long are ranked in other martial arts.
The connection going back 475 or so years is still there. The way it is taught has remained unchanged for centuries. It is up to the student to watch and learn. There is very little (as in no) conversation during a class. The teachers demonstrate corrections. There is no coddling or encouragement. Compliments are not given lest the ego start to take over.
It is a strange art where one practices practicing the ritual beheading of a Samurai and 1,001 ways of killing a person with a sword in a world where this knowledge is completely obsolete. I mention this only because for the past few weeks we have been practicing the oldest and most advanced forms; stuff that is way over my head and ability. We got into some especially weird shit last night where at the end of class the teacher said it was fringe for our style. This is the type of movements you would only see in a Kurosawa film. When practiced over a lifetime, you too can kill 4 opponents from a seated position sliding across the floor on your knees. Not this white boy. The last observation made last night was I need to significantly tighten up the midsection to keep up with the freaky shit we were doing.
That sounds a little weird.
ReplyDeleteIt's like training for military operations by dreaming of a battle.
or learning cooking by staring at a garden.
Katy - It is a lot more practical and physical than I made it sound. I go through this strange mental exercise every year before testing. I was hoping for a year off but was informed I am going for 4th degree, ready or not (I never think I am ready)
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