My first Iaito

[liotb]

Hey everyone,

I've been looking into Iaito lately, and I've found a few I rather like on Tozano.com that are nice and basic, as well as well within my price range.
I'm consulting my sensei about everything, so don't worry about me rushing into buying anything based on what the forum says; I'm just curious about people's opinions and what they might think about the swords from Tozando.

The final decision will be made by my sensei, who obviously knows what I need.

I'm looking at the 'Basic Iaito' range to begin with, so please let me know what you think

[dillon]

My comments below are not about the iaito line in question but is about my experience with a Tozando iaito.

I have a Tozando custom shop iaito (it was a present). It's a bit tip heavy so as a first iaito I had to wrestle with it for perhaps a year and a half before I stopped being told off for dropping the tip at the end of kirioroshi (ok the tip dropping beating really started after the first year so took me six months of consciously working on it). Their custom iaito have a wider blade. I don't think this is the case with their other iaito but anyway, if you have a blade width preference (regular vs. wider) it's something to be aware of. It's a nice iaito generally (as far as I can tell... I'm not that much of an expert though) though the tsuka-maki is loose at one spot... probably due to the iaito being put together during the winter so loosened in last summer's (killer Japanese) humidity. It's not a big deal though and my sensei said I don't need to do anything to it for the moment.

[Decado]

Hey everyone,

I've been looking into Iaito lately, and I've found a few I rather like on Tozano.com that are nice and basic, as well as well within my price range.
I'm consulting my sensei about everything, so don't worry about me rushing into buying anything based on what the forum says; I'm just curious about people's opinions and what they might think about the swords from Tozando.

The final decision will be made by my sensei, who obviously knows what I need.

I'm looking at the 'Basic Iaito' range to begin with, so please let me know what you think

Just a word of warning. One of our guys had his iaito confiscated at Cutoms when he ordered from Tozando due to the new sword laws. He obtained a letter from Scott stating that it was legit, etc. The police stalled our guy for ages, demanding lots of other evidence. After several weeks he found out that the police had destroyed his iaito. He got his money back but he had spent ages trying to get it sorted out. He then ordered one from Nine Circles.

If anyone has ordered from Tozando in the last year or so with no trouble then please let liotb know. Just don't want you to go through the same thing my friend went through.

[Durandal]

While i totaly understand the circumstances why this law was edicted, I still find it very stupid, and more when i read the police simply destroyed the iaito.

[rottunpunk]

Hi David, another iaito thread? :/
Most basic iaito are the same.
If you are buying one off the shelf Tozando should be fine.
If you are worried about customs after the above post, there is ninecircles too.

But my advice would be to avoid steel iaito. Especially if you want to travel with it.

[dillon]

After the sword ban law went into effect, I have managed to import mogito (specifically kendo-kata-yo, a different iaito I brought in with me on a trip) I ordered from abroad successfully into the UK... though it really comes down to the individual inspecting HMRC officer as the guidelines are not terribly clear. What worked for me may or may not work for others, again depending on luck with the officier.

What I did was to send the following documents in PDF to the supplier and ask them to print and include with the shipping documents:

- letter from me explaining the intention for possession. The letter states that I am a legitimate martial arts practitioner, a member of relevant dojo and governing body, carry insurance, that it will only be used for relevant practice, relevant contact details and citation of the relevant law and the exemptions it provides (good idea to carry a print out of this law as well with the iaito when in the UK if stopped by police)

- scan of my latest menjo (also good to carry with your iaito)

- confirmation of third party liability insurance from BKA, this insurance is required for exemption (also good to carry with your iaito)

- confirmation of being a member of BKA and BKA dojo (also good to carry with your iaito)

Knee-jerk moral panic driven laws... as a society we sleep in the beds we make.

[DaveB]

I bought a rather nice Tozando custom iaito last year and haven't had any trouble with it at all.

I had heard that there might have been difficulties with Customs, and was prepared to forward them any info or BKA documentation that they might have wanted.

In the end there was no trouble in getting the sword through, just a small customs charge to pay. Andy and Daniel at Tozando are really helpful if you need any help from them too.

[lsrfbt]

I ordered a tozando iaito September 2010 a received it by December 2010, it was delivered by UPS who emailied me to ask for relevant documents, which I sent a copy of my BKA membership, a copy of the BKA's insurance certificate and who they are insured by. I had to pay import duty but other than that I had no problems.

Hope this helps

[MiddleEarthNet]

Just a word of warning. One of our guys had his iaito confiscated at Cutoms when he ordered from Tozando due to the new sword laws. He obtained a letter from Scott stating that it was legit, etc. The police stalled our guy for ages, demanding lots of other evidence. After several weeks he found out that the police had destroyed his iaito. He got his money back but he had spent ages trying to get it sorted out. He then ordered one from Nine Circles.

If anyone has ordered from Tozando in the last year or so with no trouble then please let liotb know. Just don't want you to go through the same thing my friend went through.

ME!

I ordered an iaito from Tozando last May. It did get stopped at customs but only for a couple of days and the only problem was I had a different shipping address from billing address. But it was easily sorted. Another person at my club ordered on about 2 months ago from Tozando - came through customs without even getting stopped.

And they are both great iaitos.

[Kokoro777]

Just throw this into the discussion....I've only ever bought Iaito from Nine Circles and have to say I really like them. They are solid, made of stainless steel, rather than aluminium/zinc alloys, so are much less susceptible to fatigue fractures, nothing rattles on them (even my oldest one which was my work horse until recently), they are well balanced, the tsuka ito are tight etc etc. They have to be cheaper than getting one imported from Japan and if there's ever a problem, Martyn and Quentin at Nine Circles are happy to sort things out. I know their saya options aren't thrilling, but this is your first iaito. You can also get a spare saya because as a beginner, you will destroy your first saya with rough draws!

[rottunpunk]

My first saya never got destroyed.
Dave, pick some out you like and ask Tims opinion on which one is best for you.
Plus, if by a huuuge longshot customs do stop it he will be able to unstop it easily enough I am sure.

Do you have a keikogi yet? It is pricey, but whilst you are on tozando have a look at the snazzy seersucker gi. They look smart and breathe unlike tetron.
Alternatively i can point some cheap fleabay alternatives your way

[Kokoro777]

My first saya never got destroyed.

I was referring to mere mortals rottunpunk.

[rottunpunk]

I know that, I am omnipotent after all

But if one takes care to regularly check the saya and fill it where and when needed the damage should not get too drastic surely?

[pgsmith]

Just throw this into the discussion....I've only ever bought Iaito from Nine Circles and have to say I really like them. They are solid, made of stainless steel, rather than aluminium/zinc alloys, so are much less susceptible to fatigue fractures, nothing rattles on them (even my oldest one which was my work horse until recently), they are well balanced, the tsuka ito are tight etc etc. They have to be cheaper than getting one imported from Japan and if there's ever a problem, Martyn and Quentin at Nine Circles are happy to sort things out. I know their saya options aren't thrilling, but this is your first iaito. You can also get a spare saya because as a beginner, you will destroy your first saya with rough draws!

I never destroyed a saya either.
Another thing to consider is if you are ever planning on taking a trip to Japan, you cannot bring your steel iaito.

To the OP,
It would be a good idea to find out if Tozando's low end iaito, such as the one you are looking at, are made by the Minosaka company. I have heard several disturbing reports lately about a serious slip in the quality of Minosaka's low end iaito (shims in the habaki), and I would advise against one from them until they can guarantee that the situation is corrected.

[Nukitsuke]

I never destroyed a saya either.
... Minosaka company. I have heard several disturbing reports lately about a serious slip in the quality of Minosaka's low end iaito (shims in the habaki), and I would advise against one from them until they can guarantee that the situation is corrected.

I've never destroyed one on my iaito either. My shinken saya has gotten well worn, however.
With regards to Minosaka low end iaito, one of my students had that exact issue. We found shims in the habaki, and even a small pressure crack/wrinkle just where the ha meets the habaki. He sent it back and was immediately refunded. There is something to be said to the "you get what you pay for" concept here.

I wouldn't allow an unsafe iaito into our dojo for practice, and that's something you need to consider when purchasing these lower end iaito as well. Is it safe? Will I be able to use it regularly for at least 5-7 years? After that, will it still be in good enough condition to pass along to a junior or sell? If any of these answer as NO, then maybe you need to spend a little more up front. Just my opinion.
Brad