| Mahatma Gandhiis the art of drawing the sword | | | | to overcome the enemy without the sword being |
| and striking an armed opponent at lightning speed. | | | | drawn in the first place - in other words, to |
| It is the art of strategy, achieving precision in all | | | | conquer the enemy "spiritually", with the sword |
| aspects of mental and physical ability, including | | | | still in the sheath, and so resolve problems without |
| accurate footwork, balanced posture and critical | | | | having to even resort to violence. There is one |
| timing. Live blades are razor-sharp and | | | | quote that explains this way of thinking: "The mind |
| experienced practitioners are the only ones | | | | is not disturbed by the self being beaten up but |
| permitted to use them. The risk involved is | | | | by the self beating up others." History: Iaido |
| thought to be worthwhile because this is the only | | | | derives from the ancient way of the Samurai |
| way achieve the ultimate in awareness and | | | | warrior (bushi), and the forerunner of the art we |
| concentration, and to unify the mind and the body | | | | know today, Iaijutsu, was used in earnest on the |
| together in total harmony. Although Iaido may be | | | | battlefield, whereas Iaido was designed to practise |
| classed as a separate martial art, it is closely | | | | "the way of the sword". Evidence suggests that |
| related and complementary to Kendo. Kendo | | | | the bokken used today in Iaido has been used as |
| practice requires 2 people fencing each other | | | | a weapon since around 400 AD. The bokken is a |
| armed with shinhai (bamboo swords) and wearing | | | | solid wooden stick with the same shape, weight |
| armour, whereas Iaido is practised on an individual | | | | and approximate length as a sword, and is usually |
| basis wearing a gi, juban, hakama and obi. | | | | made of red or white oak. Bokken technique was |
| Practitioners use a real or an imitation sword, | | | | followed by the art of tachikaki (drawing the |
| called an iaito. The aim of the exercise is to | | | | sword from its scabbard). The blade (tachi or |
| perform a set of movements (kata), in which the | | | | katana), was long and straight and the Japanese |
| sword is drawn, an imaginary opponent is cut, and | | | | warrior would carry it on his left side. A shorter |
| then the sword is resheathed. The ultimate | | | | blade was used for quick-draw techniques known |
| purpose of Iaido, however, is to master the ability | | | | as batto. |