Iai

[mArTiAl_GiRl]

lol! so fireka, now you too huh? ...I think I told you before, my swedish Sensei promised me to teach me Iaido (if you practice Shito-ryu and want to get a Shodan in it and pass the gradings, you have to know Iaido and Kobudo too). But the thing is, not many from my club get to study Iaido. So, I was really surprised when he said: i'll teach you Iaido, I promise.

 

All I need now...is to get to Sweden and to his Dojo! ...if I only could do it now *sigh*, I won't probably get back to my home untill I'm 18 or so..

[Tal]

humm...i thought the idea was if youve mastered Iaido you shouldnt have to worry about butt kicking, there shouldn't be much fighting after the sword is drawn anyway, draw and kill in one motion right?

 

In a duel, a kenjitsuka would totally own an iaidoka. reason - the kenjistuka will draw his sword before the fight, and once the sword is draw, the iaidoka loses his advantage.

 

And what if your opponent has some skill and parries your first cut or two - you're screwed.

[fireka]

will i'd like to argue with you because it's fun to, b ut since I haven't taken either art it would just be *. I want to study Iaido anyway, just a little, an dlook at kenjitsu, then decide. Won't be till i'm a solid strike fighter anyway.

[White Warlock]

A simple analogy would be to compare a gunfighter's fast-draw with that of a sharpshooter. Both are needed in a gunfight, unless the guns are already drawn.

 

(Actually the analogy was made in reverse, by producers in old Hollywood, by 'stealing' Kurosawa samurai movies and making them into westerns. Ah well.)

[fireka]

Well, Iaido is still the better choice for me because i'd be doing it out of just pure intrest more than practical use. I will probably learn both but i'm more likely to payfor an Iaido class than a Kenjitsu. BTW, whats the difference between Kenjitsu and Kendo other than suffix?

[Tal]

Well, Iaido is still the better choice for me because i'd be doing it out of just pure intrest more than practical use. I will probably learn both but i'm more likely to payfor an Iaido class than a Kenjitsu. BTW, whats the difference between Kenjitsu and Kendo other than suffix?

 

Kenjitsu is an amalgamation of many japanese sword schools from about 1000AD to 1600AD (those dates are very approximate, don't quote me). Its a very complex and effect art. The main weapon is the katana, but wakizashi is also used sometimes. Kenjitsu uses a plethora of parrying techniques and strikes, as well as stances and movement.

 

Kendo is a much simplified and safer form of kenjitsu. It has only a fraction of the techiques available in kenjitsu. There are only four valid targets (head, throat, torsoe & wrists) and a handful of stances. Kendo is mainly a sport today, but it still involves a lot of realistic fencing techniques. I kendo, a shinai is used for sparring. A shinai is a bamboo practice sword which is very safe to spar with. If your opponent is armored, you can make full power strikes with a shinai without injuring them.

 

Its a bit like jujitsu and judo. Judo is a simplified and safer form of jujitsu, but still has many effective fighting techniques in it.[/i]

[Tal]

Well, Iaido is still the better choice for me because i'd be doing it out of just pure intrest more than practical use. I will probably learn both but i'm more likely to payfor an Iaido class than a Kenjitsu. BTW, whats the difference between Kenjitsu and Kendo other than suffix?

 

Kenjitsu is an amalgamation of many japanese sword schools from about 1000AD to 1600AD (those dates are very approximate, don't quote me). Its a very complex and effect art. The main weapon is the katana, but wakizashi is also used sometimes. Kenjitsu uses a plethora of parrying techniques and strikes, as well as stances and movement. Its hard to find a kenjitsu dojo these days. Its too dangerous for modern times.

 

Kendo is a much simplified and safer form of kenjitsu. It has only a fraction of the techiques available in kenjitsu. There are only four valid targets (head, throat, torsoe & wrists) and a handful of stances. Kendo is mainly a sport today, but it still involves a lot of realistic fencing techniques. I kendo, a shinai is used for sparring. A shinai is a bamboo practice sword which is very safe to spar with. If your opponent is armored, you can make full power strikes with a shinai without injuring them.

 

Its a bit like jujitsu and judo. Judo is a simplified and safer form of jujitsu, but still has many effective fighting techniques in it.

[fireka]

well i bought the book on Iai, i'm really enjoying it. It's making me take care of my own weapons and gear a little better and I'm enjoying the philosophy and history a lot.

[kotegashiNeo]

Yes it is quite dull I learned one kata or set for six months that was extremely simple. Anyway I set off in a different direction and found batto-ryu and never looked back.