Shubukan at CIK Iaido competition, october 2008 5th and 4th DAN

[shajiko]

most of them go below horizontal and that is not good in seitei, especially standing kata's, and the above stroke has to be a big swing not short. Or isnt this seitei? (ofcourse they have to perform Koryu kata's too). i think i saw the guy in front at the 2009 ek in the netherlands. i was in the dutch ek team.

[kendomaniac]

The guy in front is Claudio Zanoni, part of the Italian Iaido team.

[RykkerNighteyes]

I'm not an expert but judging just on Ippon Mei Mai the 3rd guy away from us looks the best. The guy closest to us has the point of his sword WAY too low, should be at most one blade width down.

[Proton1]

For overall effectiveness though, the second away from us is best. The others are chopping with whippy, overpowered beginner cuts while number two shows good timing in his swing.

Yes, swing timing is important too, especially while demonstrating koryu.

[Naisho07]

Yep, spot on. Good eye.

[Fujinokaze]

Isn't the gentleman closest to the camera Claudio Zanoni, Iaido 5 Dan, who wins the European Iaido Championships in his class every year? Maybe you are right, but in that case it seems that the European Iaido Championship referees disagree with you. ;-)