
The term iaijutsu (居合術) became prevalent later (ca. 15th century) term encompassing both the practice of drawing the sword and cutting ( tameshigiri). Iaidō is often used interchangeably with Battōjutsu, literally meaning "technique of drawing the sword". Kenjutsu is generally practiced with a partner, in the form of predetermined routines, and often does include drawing or resheathing of the sword.Kendō is practiced with a partner, in full contact training or in Nihon-kendō-kata( kata) practice. The main weapon used in kendō, a flexible bamboo weapon( shinai), uses no scabbard. Kendō teaching does not include drawing and re-sheathing of a sword.Iaidō should not be confused with kendō or kenjutsu: However, around a century before his birth, the dynamic art of iaijutsu had been developed by Iizasa Ienao, the founder of the Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū. In the book Bugei Ryuha Daijiten by Watatani Kiyoshi and Yamada Tadashi, Hayashizaki Jinsuke (Minamoto no) Shigenobu is credited with establishing the influence and popularity of the art early in the sixteenth century, that is today widely practised as iaidō. The word iaidō approximately translates into English as "the way of mental presence and immediate reaction." 2.3.1 Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū and Musō Shinden-ryū.Iaidō in North America and Europe is often taught in dojo that also teach Aikido, Aikibudo or Kendo. Because of this non-competitive aspect, and iaidō's emphasis on precise, controlled, fluid motion, it is sometimes referred to as "moving Zen." Iaidō does not include direct competition or sparring of any kind.

Multiple person kata do exist within some forms of iaidō, but the iaidōka (practitioners of iaidō) will usually use bokken for such kata practice. Advanced practitioners of iaidō use a sharpened metal sword ( shinken).īecause iaidō teaches the use of actual metal weaponry, it is almost entirely based on the teaching of forms, or kata. While new students of iaidō may start learning with a wooden sword ( bokken) depending on the teaching style of a particular instructor, many of those who study iaidō use an unsharpened sword ( iaitō).

Iaidō ( 居合道) is a Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard. Nakayama Hakudō (c.1873–1958) is generally credited with first use of the term " iaidō".
