Iaido was largely influenced by Hayashinizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (1546-1621) who coined the term iaijutsu, the first Japanese art of sword drawing.
Created by Nakayama Hakudo in the 1930s, iaido literally means “the way of mental presence and immediate reaction” but is now known as “the way of sword drawing.” Although battojutsu was the term used in the 1400s to encompass sword drawing, iaido includes the arts of drawing, striking, removing blood from the blade and sheathing the sword. A perfect wrist snap of the hand should shake the blood off the sword before sheathing.
Iaido practitioners work with real blades and scabbards, which makes learning its sword tactics, strategies and techniques more realistic and intense.
– September 13, 2012
Dear Friends and Fellow Martial Artists,
It is with much regret that I extend to you all the tragic news of the passing of our honorable teacher Masayuki Shimabukuro, Hanshi. He was the 21st-generation master of the Masaoka line of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido and a founding member of the
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– November 9, 2011
In their new Japanese martial arts DVD collection, Advanced Samurai Swordsmanship, samurai sword masters Masayuki Shimabukuro and Carl E. Long detail and demonstrate a variety of samurai sword techniques. In this exclusive DVD preview, Long introduces Shimabukuro’s cutting demonstration, or suemono giri. “We’re going to explore the more advanced section
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– July 5, 2011
Japanese weapons master Masayuki Shimabukuro takes you to the next level of samurai sword mastery in this three-disc samurai DVD set! In Advanced Samurai Swordsmanship, Japanese sword master Masayuki Shimabukuro and his senior student, Carl E. Long, delve deeper into the elegance of body-and-weapon movement that defines personal mastery of
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– June 27, 2011
Do not allow anyone to swing a sharp sword at you.
You’d think that would be common sense—like “Don’t walk in front of a speeding bus.” Apparently, though, while people walking directly and deliberately in front of oncoming traffic is blessedly rare, it’s fairly easy to see videos of people in
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– March 24, 2011
In this martial arts DVD trailer for Samurai Swordsmanship Volume 1: Basic Sword Program by Masayuki Shimabukuro, the Black Belt Hall of Fame member takes you through step-by-step instructions for executing a sword kata called “junto sono ni.” Narration is provided by his senior student, Carl E. Long. This three-volume
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– March 24, 2011
In this martial arts DVD trailer for Samurai Swordsmanship Volume 2: Intermediate Sword Program by Masayuki Shimabukuro, the Black Belt Hall of Fame member shows you cutting technique with the fabled samurai sword. Narration is provided by his senior student, Carl E. Long. This three-volume DVD collection covers basic, intermediate
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– March 24, 2011
In this martial arts DVD trailer for Samurai Swordsmanship Volume 3: Advanced Sword Program by Masayuki Shimabukuro, the Black Belt Hall of Fame member and his senior student, Carl E. Long, demonstrate a two-man drill with wooden samurai swords. This three-volume DVD collection covers basic, intermediate and advanced concepts and
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