Learning Iaido from Zera
- Thread starter Kurisutina
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Urumi: "Welcome Xanthe.
I understood that you lack a certain talent. Talent which all the Samurai should master. This is one the best skills in the Samurai's movepool, the Art of Iaido.
Iaidō (Art of Quick Draw and re-sheathing the sword) is constructed of smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade via a quick and swift flick to the ground on your right or left side, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard. The way this ability works is that dependant upon your ranking depends on the speed and level of effectiveness against enemy ninja. In close range if your as strong or higher level than your opponent you can effectively counter the ninja from using hand seals and resort to trying to counter the attack through similar means of kenjutsu or using a weapon or merely dodging and thus rendering your opponent useless against you. Its a perfect method in drawing a battle with a ninja into close combat and keeping it if you continously press them into the situation."
*Urumi wonders around Xanthe, resting her left arm on the ends of the swords that rest on the hip, as she explains the movement.*
Urumi: "We will begin firstly with the stance, similar to the basic stance which I will provide again with clear instruction.
Chudan no Kamae: the wielder of the katana has their right foot out infront of them and their left foot slightly behind them with the heel slightly raised off the floor and left leg slightly bent. The holding of the katana itself has the hilt leveled near your waist, an inch and half below your belly button and then held about 2-3 inches infront with the sword pointed 45 degrees upwards towards the targets throat. it is the most commonly used form due to its ability to be in the middle of all incoming attacks and can easily defend them.
Then after attaining this form I want you to place your left hand on the scabbard with your thumb pressed up against the tsuba and with your right hand on the hilt and then I want you to push the Tsuba with your left thumb so its slightly unsheaved and as you do pull the katana out of the scabbard fully before raising it to above your right shoulder with the blade facing forwards and then turning it around as you change the hold to show your back hand to the outside and bringing the katana down in a diagonal slash which will be the inital attack to cut through your opponent then when you're done I want you to do a swift and quick flick of the katana to your right side to represent the cleaning of the blood from the blade and then quickly change your hold to a reverse grip and slowly guide the blade into the scabbard and again switch your hold to the original so that you can then be ready to counter your opponent or prepare to fight another and ending the ritual of Iaido.
Follow this method for a complete set of 5 times, (seperate posts) and start with a slow step for every movement so you get the basics down and then with each try increase your speed so that you end on your fifth attempt having increased your speed 5 times and making use of iaido more fluidly. For the initial cutting practice on this line of bamboo canes.
*Urumi makes her way to a small and low chair and sits down. She takes a comfortable position and starts to slurp sake while enjoying her vanilla flavored pipe tobacco*
Urumi: "After you are done with those 5 separate posts of that move, I want you to do the following set of moves (separate posts as well, which is called Happō-Giri (Cutting in Eight Different Directions). Each cut is a simple strike from the top of the head straight down the centre line, with the sword ending parallel to the floor at roughly the same height as the lower abdomen. The order of the strikes is north, south, east, west, southeast, northwest, southwest, northeast, finally returning - without performing a ninth cut - to the original position (north).
First, Kirioroshi (Makkōgiri):
You bring the sword above your head again and slash your sword vertically down, aiming at the top/center of the head.
With this move you can also cut their wrists if they have their hands in front of them etc. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Second, Migi Kesagiri:
With this, you again raise the sword above your head turn it a little to the right and bring it down towards their left shoulder/neck area,
creating a diagonal slash going from the right to the left. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Third, Hidari Kesagiri:
This is almost the same but you do the move from the left.
So you again raise the sword above your head turn it a little to the left and bring it down towards their right shoulder/neck area, creating a diagonal slash going from the left to the right. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Fourth, Migi Ichimonji:
You move your blade swinging it horizontally from the right to the left, cutting the trunk area of the enemy. With this you can also cut the tendencies of the arms as well. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Fifth, Hidari Ichimonji:
The same move but you invert your position and movement.
You move your blade swinging it horizontally from the left to the right, cutting the trunk area of the enemy. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Sixth, Migi Gyakugesa:
Here you do a diagonal slash coming from below, the right side of you, rising to the left.
You aim at the torso area of the enemy. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Seventh, Hidari Gyakugesa:
Here it is the same. You do a diagonal slash coming from below, the left side of you, rising to the right.
You aim at the torso area of the enemy. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Eighth, Tsuki:
With this move, you simply thrust your sword in to the enemy.
You can aim in several different locations such as the throat, chest, stomach, limbs and what ever. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Alright, get to work and remember to focus and concentrate..."
*Urumi stretches her limbs and is drinking sake while she observes Xanthe.*
I understood that you lack a certain talent. Talent which all the Samurai should master. This is one the best skills in the Samurai's movepool, the Art of Iaido.
Iaidō (Art of Quick Draw and re-sheathing the sword) is constructed of smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade via a quick and swift flick to the ground on your right or left side, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard. The way this ability works is that dependant upon your ranking depends on the speed and level of effectiveness against enemy ninja. In close range if your as strong or higher level than your opponent you can effectively counter the ninja from using hand seals and resort to trying to counter the attack through similar means of kenjutsu or using a weapon or merely dodging and thus rendering your opponent useless against you. Its a perfect method in drawing a battle with a ninja into close combat and keeping it if you continously press them into the situation."
*Urumi wonders around Xanthe, resting her left arm on the ends of the swords that rest on the hip, as she explains the movement.*
Urumi: "We will begin firstly with the stance, similar to the basic stance which I will provide again with clear instruction.
Chudan no Kamae: the wielder of the katana has their right foot out infront of them and their left foot slightly behind them with the heel slightly raised off the floor and left leg slightly bent. The holding of the katana itself has the hilt leveled near your waist, an inch and half below your belly button and then held about 2-3 inches infront with the sword pointed 45 degrees upwards towards the targets throat. it is the most commonly used form due to its ability to be in the middle of all incoming attacks and can easily defend them.
Then after attaining this form I want you to place your left hand on the scabbard with your thumb pressed up against the tsuba and with your right hand on the hilt and then I want you to push the Tsuba with your left thumb so its slightly unsheaved and as you do pull the katana out of the scabbard fully before raising it to above your right shoulder with the blade facing forwards and then turning it around as you change the hold to show your back hand to the outside and bringing the katana down in a diagonal slash which will be the inital attack to cut through your opponent then when you're done I want you to do a swift and quick flick of the katana to your right side to represent the cleaning of the blood from the blade and then quickly change your hold to a reverse grip and slowly guide the blade into the scabbard and again switch your hold to the original so that you can then be ready to counter your opponent or prepare to fight another and ending the ritual of Iaido.
Follow this method for a complete set of 5 times, (seperate posts) and start with a slow step for every movement so you get the basics down and then with each try increase your speed so that you end on your fifth attempt having increased your speed 5 times and making use of iaido more fluidly. For the initial cutting practice on this line of bamboo canes.
*Urumi makes her way to a small and low chair and sits down. She takes a comfortable position and starts to slurp sake while enjoying her vanilla flavored pipe tobacco*
Urumi: "After you are done with those 5 separate posts of that move, I want you to do the following set of moves (separate posts as well, which is called Happō-Giri (Cutting in Eight Different Directions). Each cut is a simple strike from the top of the head straight down the centre line, with the sword ending parallel to the floor at roughly the same height as the lower abdomen. The order of the strikes is north, south, east, west, southeast, northwest, southwest, northeast, finally returning - without performing a ninth cut - to the original position (north).
First, Kirioroshi (Makkōgiri):
You bring the sword above your head again and slash your sword vertically down, aiming at the top/center of the head.
With this move you can also cut their wrists if they have their hands in front of them etc. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Second, Migi Kesagiri:
With this, you again raise the sword above your head turn it a little to the right and bring it down towards their left shoulder/neck area,
creating a diagonal slash going from the right to the left. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Third, Hidari Kesagiri:
This is almost the same but you do the move from the left.
So you again raise the sword above your head turn it a little to the left and bring it down towards their right shoulder/neck area, creating a diagonal slash going from the left to the right. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Fourth, Migi Ichimonji:
You move your blade swinging it horizontally from the right to the left, cutting the trunk area of the enemy. With this you can also cut the tendencies of the arms as well. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Fifth, Hidari Ichimonji:
The same move but you invert your position and movement.
You move your blade swinging it horizontally from the left to the right, cutting the trunk area of the enemy. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Sixth, Migi Gyakugesa:
Here you do a diagonal slash coming from below, the right side of you, rising to the left.
You aim at the torso area of the enemy. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Seventh, Hidari Gyakugesa:
Here it is the same. You do a diagonal slash coming from below, the left side of you, rising to the right.
You aim at the torso area of the enemy. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Eighth, Tsuki:
With this move, you simply thrust your sword in to the enemy.
You can aim in several different locations such as the throat, chest, stomach, limbs and what ever. After the move, return to the basic starting stance as we learned in the very beginning.
Alright, get to work and remember to focus and concentrate..."
*Urumi stretches her limbs and is drinking sake while she observes Xanthe.*
Kurisutina
Active member
"Yeah, I suck." .-.
I take the first stance of the Iaido with my scabbard on my left hip and pointing it upwards at a 45 degree angle, around an inch and a half below my bellybutton. The scabbard is adjusted by my hip movements so that the scabbard is out about 2 and a half inches away from my hip. As I take the stance, I move my right foot in front of my left and facing forwards. My left foot's heel is slightly raised so that I can hold weight on the ball of my left foot and move quickly. As I take the stance, my knees are bent enough so that I can easily move and take a defensive stance but also not too much to begin having to focus on maintaining a good center of gravity.
Once in that stance, I put my left hand onto my scabbard to maintain its position and give me a feeling of how it is placed so that when I do pull out the sword, it is swift as well as controlled. When I reach over to the hilt of my blade, as I feel the touch of the hilt, I push the thumb of my left hand, which is maintaining the position of the scabbard and blade, in order to push the sword out a slight amount, revealing a shine in the sharpened blade. I then pull out the blade from the scabbard even further by using my right hand. As the full blade of the sword is revealed, I pull it around in a swift motion so that the blade is position at my right shoulder facing forwards while also grasping the hilt with my left hand, just below the right hand. I then dash at the target while swinging the blade in a diagonal direction, envisioning a cut dealt to a target that would stretch from their left shoulder to their right kidney. As I swing the blade in that direction, I flick the blade to the right side to clean off the blood that would be there from cutting through the target. As I do that, I take a tall stance and slowly place my sword back into its scabbard while also switching the hold to the hold I had before.
Kurisutina
Active member
I take the first stance of the Iaido again with my scabbard on my left hip and pointing it at the target's neck, the scabbard placed around an inch and a half below my bellybutton in order to get a good location where I can easily pull out the blade. I then adjust my hips and place the scabbard out about 2 inches away from me. As I take the stance, I move my right foot in front of my left and facing forwards. My left foot's heel is slightly raised so that I can hold weight on the ball of my left foot and move quickly while also doing the same with my right foot in order to move quickly in any direction necessary. As I take the stance, my knees are bent enough so that I can easily move and strike the target quickly.
Once in that stance, I put my left hand onto my scabbard to maintain its position, in the same position as it was before, feeling more natural then before. When I reach over to the hilt of my blade, as I feel the touch of the hilt, I release a hard push with the thumb of my left hand, which is maintaining the position of the scabbard and pushing the blade, in order to push the sword out a slight amount, more then before however, and exposing a well-crafted blade. I then quickly pull my right hand forward as I grasp the hilt. As the full blade of the sword is revealed, I quickly pull it around in a liquid motion that is quick and smooth. The end result of the motion is a blade pointed forwards with both of my hands on the hilt. I then jet forward at the target by pushing off with the ball of my left foot while swinging the blade in a diagonal direction, slicing in a direction that would hit vital locations in the body of a human being. As I finish the arc of my swing, I flick the blade to the right side to clean off the blood that would be there from cutting through the target. I then equip myself with the sword again by placing it back into its scabbard and switching my hold back to the one I had before.
Once in that stance, I put my left hand onto my scabbard to maintain its position, in the same position as it was before, feeling more natural then before. When I reach over to the hilt of my blade, as I feel the touch of the hilt, I release a hard push with the thumb of my left hand, which is maintaining the position of the scabbard and pushing the blade, in order to push the sword out a slight amount, more then before however, and exposing a well-crafted blade. I then quickly pull my right hand forward as I grasp the hilt. As the full blade of the sword is revealed, I quickly pull it around in a liquid motion that is quick and smooth. The end result of the motion is a blade pointed forwards with both of my hands on the hilt. I then jet forward at the target by pushing off with the ball of my left foot while swinging the blade in a diagonal direction, slicing in a direction that would hit vital locations in the body of a human being. As I finish the arc of my swing, I flick the blade to the right side to clean off the blood that would be there from cutting through the target. I then equip myself with the sword again by placing it back into its scabbard and switching my hold back to the one I had before.
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Kurisutina
Active member
I retake the stance I was holding before, specifically in the way in had it in for my second attempt. While taking the stance, I make sure to take the stance in a fluid motion, moving my right foot forward, my left foot back, raising my feet off my heels, adjusting my hips to the specific angle, adjusting the position of my scabbard and blade, and bending my knees to a specific height so that I can take a strong defensive stance or move incredibly quickly.
Once I have taken my standard stance for Iaido, I place my left hand on the scabbard of my blade and quickly place my right hand over the hilt of the sword and quickly jet the sword out by pushing it with my left thumb and then pulling it out with my right as my left follows, all in a fluid motion. As I pull out the blade, it comes to my right shoulder and is then redirected downwards at an angle at the bamboo cane, hitting the vital organs of a normal human being and cutting straight through the bamboo. As the swing is ended, I perform a quick flick and a fluid motion back into the scabbard, returning it to a hold I had before.
Once I have taken my standard stance for Iaido, I place my left hand on the scabbard of my blade and quickly place my right hand over the hilt of the sword and quickly jet the sword out by pushing it with my left thumb and then pulling it out with my right as my left follows, all in a fluid motion. As I pull out the blade, it comes to my right shoulder and is then redirected downwards at an angle at the bamboo cane, hitting the vital organs of a normal human being and cutting straight through the bamboo. As the swing is ended, I perform a quick flick and a fluid motion back into the scabbard, returning it to a hold I had before.
Kurisutina
Active member
I take the Iaido stance once again, being fluid in all the motions of movement and considering every small detail of my stance.
With my left hand on the scabbard, I flick it up while grabbing it with my right hand and then using a circular motion to bring both my hands together while bringing it to a position in front of me and near my right shoulder. I then strike the bamboo at an angle that would kill a normal human being, at a much faster speed then the previous attempts, and as I finish the arc of the swing, I flick the sword in order to clean off the bamboo blood and also return to my original hold as I slowly return it to its scabbard.
With my left hand on the scabbard, I flick it up while grabbing it with my right hand and then using a circular motion to bring both my hands together while bringing it to a position in front of me and near my right shoulder. I then strike the bamboo at an angle that would kill a normal human being, at a much faster speed then the previous attempts, and as I finish the arc of the swing, I flick the sword in order to clean off the bamboo blood and also return to my original hold as I slowly return it to its scabbard.
Kurisutina
Active member
I take my iaido stance fluidly and quickly.
I then proceed to flick my sword out of the scabbard while grasping it with my right hand and my left hand quickly catching up and without a moment of delay, the sword is facing forwards near my right shoulder and a moment later, is brought down into an arc that is facing diagonally across the bamboo. As the arc is finished, I flick the blood off of my blade and reversing back to a normal hold as I sheathe the blade back into the scabbard.
I then proceed to flick my sword out of the scabbard while grasping it with my right hand and my left hand quickly catching up and without a moment of delay, the sword is facing forwards near my right shoulder and a moment later, is brought down into an arc that is facing diagonally across the bamboo. As the arc is finished, I flick the blood off of my blade and reversing back to a normal hold as I sheathe the blade back into the scabbard.
Kurisutina
Active member
I take the Iaido stance with my legs spread apart, my feet raised at the heels, left hand on the scabbard, adjusted forwards and just a bit below my bellybutton, and my knees bent, now a natural stance for me.
I then swiftly jolt the blade out of the scabbard using my left thumb and then bringing the blade upwards, to above my head, while following with my left hand and it comes to a near instantaneous stop as I use my weight in order to increase the force of the downwards arc. As I finish the arc, with a quickly flick and placing the blade back into the scabbard, I finish the first form while also taking the basic stance once again.
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Kurisutina
Active member
While in the basic starting stance once again, every detail acute to how it should be, I place my left hand on the scabbard at a close position to the hilt.
I grasp the blade with my right hand and flick the tsuba with my left thumb and as I do, the blade slides out of the scabbard. As the blade is sliding out, I use the moment to pull out the blade fully while using a fluid motion to bring it up above my head, slightly to the right. As I take the sword above my head, I use my weight and center of gravity in order to begin bringing the blade down onto the bamboo at an angle that would normally cut person's neck and shoulder area. As I slice through, I move forward and flick the blood off of my blade while placing the blade back into the scabbard and taking on my normal stance once again.
Kurisutina
Active member
Using the regular Iaido stance, I then place my left hand at a location on the scabbard close to the hilt.
I grasp the hilt of the sword and while doing so, I flick the blade up by releasing force with my thumb that pushes the blade out of the scabbard and grasping the blade at the same time with my right hand. I use that moment to pull out the blade form its scabbard and raise it to a location above my head and slightly to the left, reverse of the Migi Kesagiri. I then use my weight and center of gravity to bring down the blade through the bamboo at an angle that would cut through the right shoulder of a normal human being. With a quick flick and re-entering the Iaido stance, I finish the third form.
Kurisutina
Active member
I am already in my Iaido stance and I place my left hand back onto the scabbard at a position just below the hilt of the sword.
I then use my right hand in a fluid motion while adjusting my hips to the right. As my right hand touches and begins grasping the hilt, my left hand flicks the tsuba out a slight bit and my right hand finishes the motion by pulling out the blade. As I pull out the blade, I pull it out to my right side and grasp it with my left hand. With the blade facing forwards, I then use my weight and my feet in order to balance myself as I deliver a powerful strike through the torso area of the bamboo and cut the bamboo straight across, where one's vital organs would be located. As the horizontal arc is finished, I place the blade back into the scabbard while re-taking the basic Iaido stance.
Kurisutina
Active member
Using the stance I have been using, I place my left hand on the scabbard of my sword, just below the tsuba.
I grasp the hilt with my right hand and as I do, I flick the blade out with my left hand, revealing the blade, and pull out the blade directly to the left of my stance. My left hand quickly grasps the hilt after pulling it out and with a dash at an angle, I pull the blade over to the right, directly across, I slash through the bamboo, using my feet and legs to balance myself as I slash the bamboo. I then flick the blood off and retake the stance I held at the start.
Kurisutina
Active member
Using the stance I had before, I place my left hand about a few centimeters away from my sword's hilt and get ready to move quickly.
I then grasp the hilt of my sword while flicking the blade out with my left thumb, enough to reveal about an inch of sharpened steel, and finish the movement of my sword by using my right hand to pull out the full length of the blade. While pulling the blade out, in a fluid motion, I pull out the blade to a position below me and to the right side of my stance, with both hands on the hilt of my blade and my blade facing forwards. As I dash at the target, I uplift my sword quickly and cut through what would normally be the middle of one's torso. As I finish the upward arc, I place my blade back into its scabbard and retake my Iaido stance.
Kurisutina
Active member
I am in my Iaido stance. I place my left hand onto the scabbard about a couple centimeters away and my thumb is ready to flick the blade.
As I grasp the hilt of the sword with my right hand, I flick the tsuba, revealing my blade. I pull out the full length of the blade with my right hand and as I do, instead of readjusting the blade to a different position, I go in for the straight kill from the position that my blade was in while in the scabbard, leading to a quick diagonal strike that would cut through someone's mid torso and their left shoulder area. The cut is quicker then the last due to the position of my blade. As I finish the motion, I quickly flick off the blood and slowly place my blade back into its scabbard while retaking the standard Iaido stance.
Kurisutina
Active member
Using the Iaido standard stance, I place my left hand just a few centimeters away from the tsuba and prepare my stance by raising my feet, separating them, adjusting my sword's position, and bending my knees to a suitable position.
I then grasp the hilt of my blade at a location farther away to the tsuba then normal and flick the blade out, revealing a shine in my blade, and as I do, I pull out the blade fully with my right hand. When pulling the blade out, I take it into a position in the right side of my stance with the blade pointed towards the bamboo and I place my left hand in front of my right. In this stance, I then lead a thrust with my left hand into the bamboo, straight through the middle, a location I was envisioning as a vital organ. With that I return my blade to the scabbard and return to a tall position.
"I'm done." @_@
Urumi: "Excellent performance Xanthe. Now we will have you practice another Iaido technique:"
Urumi: "Now...using the same Chudan no Kamae stance, placing your left hand on the scabbard and your right hand on hilt and by pressing your thumb up to lightly unsheave the katana, follow up with unsheaving it completely in a quick mannor as you have now learnt to do Iaido with speed. Then raise the katana above your head directly and grab hold of the hilt with your left hand and bring the katana down swiftly cutting down the center of that bamboo cane. Then as same with the general Iaido, do a swift and quick flick of the katana to your right hand side to represent the removal of the blood and then finish resheaving the katana."
Kurisutina
Active member
"Alright, a vertical Iaido that utilizes two hands. Understood."
I take up the regular stance with my knees bent, my sword adjusted, my feet placed correctly, my left hand placed on the scabbard a few centimeters away, and my right hand placed on the hilt of the blade, closer to the end of the hilt. I then flick the tsuba of the my sword and reveal the blade. As I do that, I pull the rest of the blade out using my right hand. When I pull out the blade, I use a circular motion with my right hand in order to bring it up above my head. As I bring it up, I place my left hand above my right on the hilt. As my left hand reaches the hilt, I use the force of gravity and my own body's force in order to bring the blade down onto the bamboo, aiming for the very center of the bamboo, cutting it into two separate canes of bamboo. The cut is much more powerful then a normal Iaido due to the vertical slash. As I finish the arcing vertical slash, I flick the blade by making a sudden movement with both my hands and after doing so I place my left hand on my scabbard and re-sheave my sword into the scabbard with my left.