Iaido Classes

Back row L to R
Alec Litrel, Judy Farabaugh, Jennelle Reilly, Anthony Gallo, Chris Litrel, Bill Hickey, Jeanne Cook, Brian Farabaugh, Daniel Bernardone, Ethan Bernardone

Front row L to R
Sensei Laura Rebecca, Sensei Joe Adornato, Sensei Michele Benzamin-Miki, Sensei Dara Masi, Sensei Nick Wuertz

Missing from picture: Daniel Friedman
Sensei Masi teaches classes in Iaido for adults and children at Suigetsu Dojo. She is ranked at Nidan in Soshoryu Heihodo Iaido, founded by Masakazu Tazaki, Sensei and Shodan in Aiki Toho Iaido founded by Shoji Nishio, Shihan. She is currently a student of Joji Yoshida, Shihan and Michele Benzamin-Miki, Sensei in Aiki Toho Iaido. Shihan Masi teaches classes in Iaido for adults and children at Suigetsu Dojo and is one of very few martial arts instructors training and ranking children in the martial art of Iaido.

Suigetsu Dojo Iaido students study Aiki Toho Iaido which was founded by Shoji Nishio Shihan and is currently led by Yoshida Shihan. Hakkoryu Jujutsu and Aikido are styles whose roots are founded in Daitoryu Aiki Jujutsu and have many similar principles. Because of these similarities, Hakkoryu students will find the study of Aiki Toho Iaido to be particularly meaningful.

Iaido

In Japanese the word for sword is ken, and in writing the character for ken in reference to fighting adversaries and opponents, it is written as the character ken, for "seeing." Seeing clearly in battle the decisive move. The sword cut can take a life or be used as a metaphor or symbol; as in cutting through the barriers in our minds to our freedom. Iaido, often referred to as the art of drawing the sword, is always in relationship to an opponent.


There are four basic movements to all Iaido forms (katas).

The first is drawing the sword from the sheath (scabbard).
The second is the Cut (or cuts).
The third is the movement, which indicates the removal of blood from the sword after the cut.
The fourth is to re-sheath of the sword to the scabbard.


The Japanese sword has a long history of use in warfare, and many of the traditional katas (forms) standing or kneeling, are currently still practiced. Now in times of peace many new styles of swordsmanship have been created.

Aiki Toho Iaido

Aiki Toho is a series of katas founded by Shoji Nishio Sensei based directly on Aikido techniques, movements and principles. Application of these katas is studied in "Kumidachi," sparring with bokken and jo staff. Study and understanding of these katas relates to the empty hand, grappling, punching and kicking techniques.