Assisted training

[Ben F.]

CAVEAT: I realize the best way to learn any martial art is with a qualified teacher and through much hard training.

I was discussing my future training with my Kumdo instructor the other night. Neither of us have any training in iaido but we are both interested in it. He is a 5th dan in TKD, 3rd in Hapkido, and 3rd in Kumdo. I am a "lowly" 1st dan in Kumdo and I have a 2nd kyu rank in Aikido, so I have had a fair amount of sword training. Both of us would like to study Iaido but due to our committments we don't really have the time to take more lessons.

Here is the crux: Is it possible, due to ones previous experience with sword arts, to learn Iaido (say, the seitei gata) from high quality books and video tapes but without direct, daily/weekly personal instruction? In addition to these training aids, a check in with a qualified teacher to get feedback would be included.

Thoughts?

[Steve]

Most definately!! Although, be rady to put in a LOT of time relative to those who have a Sensei. You can learn things via books, video's, but visiting a sensei is a must. Without that...forget it. Our Kendo club is based on that setup and as far as I'm concerned it works very well.

[Chusan]

One word:
no.
Well, here are some more words *g* :
Though quite a lot of people did their first steps into the Iaido- or even the Kendo-Game based upon books, that used to happen some twenty or thirty years ago. Today it is not really necessary any more. There ARE gasshuku and lessons in most countries, so it shouldn`t be any problem, visting one and get some advice.
Previous experience in let`s say Aikido is no help, since most Aiki-Dojos aren`t really very well-informed and have the tendency of doing it ´wrong ` (sorry, I may be completely wrong for Dojos in your area, but AFAIK this seems to be the poor truth in the part of the world where I`m living).
Ask yourself your question the other way round: do you think, a Kendo-Player can learn TKD from books and have advantages because he has done Kendo for some two or three years?

[Ben F.]

Chusan,

But wouldn't you agree that the things you learn in kumdo, such as how to move with the sword, how to swing the sword, the etiquette etc. also apply to iaido study? I agree that one probably couldn't manage the TKD/kendo cross-over but that is because you are talking about apples and oranges here. There is not much of a relationship between the two. I do see a similarity between kumdo and iaido just in the simple fact that both of them use the sword.

In my style of aikido, Yoshokai, buki waza are a big component of our study as well. In addition to bokken work, jo and tanto techniques are also emphasized as a method to make your aikido better; not as a freestanding weapons study all on its own.

"...do you think, a Kendo-Player can learn TKD from books and have advantages because he has done Kendo for some two or three years?"

I would say he has more of an advantage over someone who hasn't done any MA at all. He is aware of how to make his body do what he wants it to. But like I said above, TKD and kendo is apples and oranges.

[TheBraveFencer]

kumdo or kendo is really a lot different from iaido, and while you may be able to read books about iaido and attempt to learn on your own, you probably won't get the same experience out of it as you would learning from a real teacher. Not to look down on you or your friends experience in the different arts that you do, but just because you have experience with a sword from aikido and kendo doesn't mean you can learn the rest from a book. iaido is really concerned on drawing the sword and basically making a one-slash kill and overall is more "artsy" and graceful than kendo, which I feel is more sportish. I think learning iaido willl help out your kendo and vice versa, but without guidance of a teacher you really don't get the benefits of practicing either one. But books are a great way to get started on it...wanting to end on a positive note :)

[kendomushi]

Books are a great source for inspiration and basic knowledge in many cases. But they cannot compare to an actual instructor. In my experience, most english language books that try to cover more than the bare bones basics of kendo for example are rife with glarring misunderstandings and errors or outdated information.
Use books for gaining a basic understanding of equipment, philosophy, rules; but find an instructor to develop a full understanding and genuine skill.

[Ben F.]

Many thanks to all members for your input!