Iaido Intro Workshop

“The purpose of today’s training is to defeat yesterday’s understanding.”
Miyamoto Musashi

This is an Introductory Iaido Workshop. Space and gear are limited, registration is required.

What You Need To Know

Iaido is a tradidtional Japanese sword art focusing on dualing and everyday fighting, as oppossed to fighting on a battlefield (kenjutsu). Emphasis is on drawing the sword with a cut, and sheathing the sword. It is a practice of movement and focus. Our iaido is a koryu, and is taught as such. Transmission of the art is from teacher to student, as oppossed to large classes and organizations. Chushinkan Iaido teaches Nishio Ryu, Omori Ryu, and Eishen Ryu styles primarily.

Burden Sensei was introduced to iaido at an aikido/iaido seminar in Chicago taught by Vu Ha Sensei in Muso Shinden Ryu, in 2015 (I believe). He then started formal training in Muso Jikiden Eishen Ryu under Para Sensei in 2016 (I believe). He left that dojo to train with Nakayama Sensei in 2022.

Nishio Ryu, aka Aiki Toho Iaido, is an iaido style develped by Nishio Sensei to complement aikido training. Omori Ryu is a set of 12 forms, almost all from seiza, used by most iaido schools to begin training in the sword. If you test with Chushinkan Iaido you will select one of these styles, and all kyu tests will be in that style. However, nidan and above require knowing both styles.

As a koryu, Chushinkan Iaido is not affiliated with any larger organizations beyond a loose connection to other dojos run by students of Nakayama Sensei. Therefore, we are not eligable to join any taikai (competition), nationally or internationally. Which may be for the best as, while there are occassionally taikai in the US, most are in Japan during Golden Week (which is by far the most expensive time to traval to Japan).

What To Wear

We train in a standard gi and white belt (same as you wear to aikido classes), and a hakama. The only other gear needed is a sword. If you do not have a gi, let us know in the comments when you register, and we will bring a spare belt for you. A belt is required to keep the sword on. Otherwise whatever you wear to aikido class is fine. If you don’t have a hakama, that’s fine. We are very limited on loner swords, so sign up fast. The last person to reqister will be using a bokken, which kind of sucks for training.

disclaimer

Nakayama Sensei is based out of the LA area, and has recently retired from teaching and closed his dojo. Burden Sensei still remote trains with him for the time being, but this could change at any time. Therefore, testing for rank is unlikely, and if it does happen, it will be somewhere else. Either California or Utah. If Nakayama Sensei does retire completely, Burden Sensei will continue to pursue training, most likely either with Chiba Sensei’s style in Birankai, or through Kiyoikaze Iaido.