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The History of Iaido

Japan has a long military history, which cannot be imagined without the sword and the development of martial arts. The development of the sword goes back more than 2,000 years, when the first swords came into use. One of the earliest blades was called "chukuto" or "upright straight sword", since the blade was not bent. Not earlier than about 700 A.D. did a smith named Amakuni find out that it was easier to draw a curved sword, and yet the remained long ones, called "taichi". It was the right weapon for people fighting from horseback, not, however, for foot soldiers. That is why the "katana", in use today, was later developed.The "katana", used in Iaido nowadays, may well be the most prestiguous forged weapon worldwide.

The samurai were very often involved in individual skismishes; that is why the systems of sword fighting were developed throughout the centuries. The first to develop a system of teaching and training in Iaido was Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto Shigenobu (1546-1621), the founder of Sigenobu ryu. This style developed into Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu and Muso Shinden ryu, which are practised today.

At the end of the last century, after the Meiji Restauration (1868), sword fighting lost its importance, since the public wearing of swords was no longer permitted and the warrior class abolished. And yet, the original arts of Iaijutsu, Kenjutsu or Batto jutsu were taught in individual schools. Sword fighting having lost its practical use, and the spiritual aspect of Zen gaining more and more relevance, the art was renamed as Iaido after World War II, during the time when the practice of martial arts was forbidden bay the americans. The term "jutsu" (technique) was replaced by "do" (way) to emphasize the present peaceful background to this unique martial art. Thus, today, Iaido is a way of human perfection and not a technique for military conflicts.