What brought you to Iaido?

[Compact Diss]

Next week is my first class and I am very excited to begin. I have watched an Iaido class and there were four other beginners. I wondered what brought them to want to practice Iaido.
When I was young I achieved a purple belt in Kenpo karate. I now have a young daughter who will soon be a yellow belt in Kenpo. Sitting in her class and watching her do the same forms and so on I used to practice gave me the urge to get back into Martial Arts. I just did not want to do Kenpo.
About a month into her classes the movie the "Last Samurai" came into theatres. As much as I do not want to admit that the movie sparked an interest in the art it did. It is something I want to learn. I'm sure there are more out there just like me. I spoke with my brother in law who holds a 4th degree black belt in Kenpo, he brought Kendo to my attention. I did the usual google search and found forums like these. Went to bookstores and read up on the art.
I was originally interested in Kendo but found Iaido to be what I am really looking for. My goals through Iaido are what you read about, self discovery, discipline, knowing your own mind.
How did you get here and into Iaido?

Joe:cool:

[Halcyon]

I've been practicing kendo for about five years and my sensei recommended that I take up iaido as well. For a while I resisted because iaido didn't seem as 'exciting' as kendo, and frankly, I enjoyed the physicality of kendo. But during one post-practice drinking session, I agreed to take up iai and I've never looked back. Now I enjoy both equally. And when you're focused on iai properly, it can also be physically demanding.

Kendo and iai are mutually complementary disciplines. Some sensei compare it to two wheels on the same axis. They reinforce one another. I've been told my iai has progressed rather quickly compared to those who don't practice kendo. But we also have students who started with iai and then picked up kendo and they seem to learn kendo faster than others starting from scratch.

Hope you have fun.

[Compact Diss]

I do believe both can complement each other but I will wait before I get into Kendo. The Kendo classes I have watched were very physical, for myself I think I will do much better having the basics of Iaido down first. I have so much to learn anyway.

[Onara]

I too have recently found a place that offers iaido instruction. I'm looking forward to getting started.

[Compact Diss]

Thanks Halycon and Onara.

Good luck Onara, I wish you the best. I am looking forward to a new way of life.

Halycon it's nice you replied, many views but not many replies...many must have been born into Iaido...

[Halcyon]

Thanks Halycon and Onara.

Good luck Onara, I wish you the best. I am looking forward to a new way of life.

Halycon it's nice you replied, many views but not many replies...many must have been born into Iaido...
:-)

must be the iai equivalent of immaculate conception.

[Yzakj]

Thanks Halycon and Onara.

Good luck Onara, I wish you the best. I am looking forward to a new way of life.

Halycon it's nice you replied, many views but not many replies...many must have been born into Iaido...

Okay here's another reply if it even matters anymore. I was practicing kendo for about a month or so, when Iaido had started back up. When I was first practicing, there was absolutley no Iaido whatsoever at the dojo, and I was so happy when I saw it being practiced. So one day I asked my Kendo sensei if I could do it, and he introduced me to the Iaido sensei, and next week I started.
I really liked the aspect of learning moves, and perfecting every single little move that I could. Plus now that I am using an Iaito (actually kata sword cause I am borrowing from dojo) it is more exciting, the actual drawing and sheathing of the iaito is a feeling unmatched by using just a bokuto. I just hope you enjoy Iaido long enough to use an Iaito, I find that once you get an Iaito, you've just begun.

[Compact Diss]

Yes, the use of an Iaito seems much more exciting but I am a beginner and am happy to be where I am.
Tonight was my first class and I really enjoyed it. You can tell how much focus is needed. I would listen as instructed then attempt what was shown but until I focused and basically blocked everything out around me then I would do it correctly. I look forward to practicing.

[Yzakj]

Man, I was just thinking that I really like going to Iaido class. The feeling of the draw of the sword, and sheathing, is sooo nice. It is really too bad I don't have an Iaito to practice with at home, although I still have a bokken. How long have you been doing Iaido so far Compact?

[chidokan]

Warning. iaido can cost you a fortune. Before I started it I wasnt bothered about going to Japan, buying a sword (or two...), new gi, training four nights a week minimum, travelling all over the country every month at weekends, etc etc etc...
I should have stuck to kendo, it would have saved me a fortune....there again I do need a new men, that hakama looks good, need to pop over to Japan again to have a go with a few friends, carbon fibre shinai, hand made shinai... :laugh:

stick with it, it gets harder as you go along.

[R A Sosnowski]

[SNIP]
I was originally interested in Kendo but found Iaido to be what I am really looking for. My goals through Iaido are what you read about, self discovery, discipline, knowing your own mind.
How did you get here and into Iaido?
Joe:cool:

In late 1995, after taking Aiki-ken (and Aiki-jo) for three years, my instructor told me that he had no more to teach me, and that if I wanted to further my studies of the "Japanese sword," I should go to a local Iaido Dojo, Dohsikai Kendo & Iaido Dojo (http://www.doshikai.org/), to train.

I started in Jan 1996, and have been practicing since then; I trained at Doshikai from the beginning of 1996 through the end of 2001, and achieved Shodan in Kendo and Sandan in Iaido. In Dec 2001, I relocated from southern NH to central MD just north of the Metro DC area, where I now teach Iaido.

As I am occasionally in the southern NH area, I try to drop in on classes at Doshikai as my schedule permits.

HTH,

[Compact Diss]

In late 1995, after taking Aiki-ken (and Aiki-jo) for three years, my instructor told me that he had no more to teach me, and that if I wanted to further my studies of the "Japanese sword," I should go to a local Iaido Dojo, Dohsikai Kendo & Iaido Dojo (http://www.doshikai.org/), to train.

I started in Jan 1996, and have been practicing since then; I trained at Doshikai from the beginning of 1996 through the end of 2001, and achieved Shodan in Kendo and Sandan in Iaido. In Dec 2001, I relocated from southern NH to central MD just north of the Metro DC area, where I now teach Iaido.

As I am occasionally in the southern NH area, I try to drop in on classes at Doshikai as my schedule permits.

HTH,
Ray,

Do you have a beard? I believe I viewed a class in Acton the night you visited.

[R A Sosnowski]

Ray,

Do you have a beard? I believe I viewed a class in Acton the night you visited.

I do indeed. I was in Acton on 29 Dec. 2003.

Were you the guy on the couch?

[Compact Diss]

Yes I was and last Monday night was my first class. I am very happy. Besides my muscles being in pain the next couple of days from not using them the class was great. I am going to move into the Kendo soon but would like to spend about a month doing the Iaido.

[roar]

Definitely not born into it.
I had been doing judo for a couple of years when me and my girlfriend went to a demonstration of iai in 1990. It was a nice demo, and it looked far more "stylish" than judo, with smelly and baggy uniforms. After five years with judo, i found I had no real talent in it, relying to much on musclepower to "get them su*kers down".
Trough iaido, i got to know kendo and jodo as well. Did iai. judo, jodo and aikido parallell for a couple of years, then I dropped aikido and judo, and took up kendo in 92-93. Doing iai, jo and kendo now, in that order of preference, love and dedication. :)