Iaido Basics: Chiburi and Noto, Part 1

[corochoone]

Don't speak too long, simply do it

[jacobross85]

i would change your tone. you're talking to your audience like you're correcting them rather than teaching. Plus I see no reason why one should not make use of different method of chiburi.

[robertmrivers]

Thanks for the reply. I am correcting. Iaido is not a style. There are specific styles of iaido. Each has a specific way of executing each element of a kata. If you do not understand why making use of different chiburi is a bad idea then perhaps my videos are not for you. Either you accept the reasons why or you don't. But that's OK! You can practice Iai as a hobby or you can practice the real thing. If I broke out an Eishin Ryu chiburi in the middle of a Mugai Ryu demo I'd be hamon'd

[atarBaktar]

Sensei Rivers: Excellent explanation on the symbolism of Chiburi. I do the same basic explanation in my own Dojo as that Chiburi will NOT remove blood or tissue from the blade and is done in kata only. As a professional swordsmith and Iaido practioner I commend you. In "real life use" doing Chiburi only will contaminate the siya and cause the blade to rust like crazy. It must be wiped down after a "real cut".

Dr JP Hrisoulas

aka Hage Bokatsu Sensei

[niinjaj]

Alot of self-proclaimed Iaido practitioners miss the point re: chiburi. Chiburi is a life-saving process which removes any obstacles on the blade ( blood / guts / etc. ) so that you can restore the balance of your katana, and more importantly, the razor-edge of the blade so that you can perform another quick-kill.

[robertmrivers]

@niinjaj Sure! That, too! Thanks for the comment.

[robertmrivers]

@SuperGanev I know...to not block comments is the most moronic thing I can think of. I get thousands of comments on Japanese swordsmanship from people all over the world who know nothing about it. I wonder sometimes why I spend all that time in the dojo or spend all that energy traveling to see my teachers when all I have to do to be considered an expert is play video games, wear my mother's clothes, and cut water bottles with my $29.99 internet special sword... Thanks for stating the obvious

[maxgunn555]

@SuperGanev yeah how about you shut the fuck up because you offer no explanation for your statement. mrivers and tenshinryu are the only people i have seen on youtube that actually no how a katana functions. they even offer understandings that make the japanese demos/katas look wrong.

[robertmrivers]

@maxgunn555 :)

[maxgunn555]

@SuperGanev why say indeed, if you then go on to say how i fail. lol. wow you really do not have a scientific mind do you. you said common sense in like every sentence. and again you lil bitch you haven't given any explanation as to why the methods shown here are not functional and good. maybe you're one of those bitches that does whatever their master says and blindly believe only those who have rented a dojo. stay off the internet - it's for people who like to think for themselves.

[maxgunn555]

@SuperGanev alright troll thats enough fun for the both us.

[SuperGanev]

@maxgunn555 haha, alright, mate. I am glad you are not getting carried away. I was only trying to wind you up anyway.I actually appreciate highly the contribution of people like your Mr Rivers. A considerable amount of devotion and selflessness is required for what he does. Keep it up! :)

[maxgunn555]

@SuperGanev alright troll but you got mental issues.

[LotusDragon09]

I hate when people say its to remove the blood almost as equally as the misinformation about fullers (bohi). You cant even completely remove water from a blade this way, let alone blood. I consider it a stylistic and symbolic finishing move. Pretty much what you said. Thanks for posting these videos! Its always a good idea to keep refreshing on the basics.

[Kurowaltsu2]

I love your instruction and at the same time your humor. ninja clan lol

[barbiann1111]

I notice that when you draw the sword you kept the saya in the same position, no pulling the saya back or sayabiki.

[robertmrivers]

@barbiann1111 There's no need to unless I am performing nukitsuke or nukiuchi...

If one is just taking the sword out, it is not necessary to perform sayabiki.

[barbiann1111]

no sayabiki when first removing the sword from the saya?

[robertmrivers]

@barbiann1111 This isn't a video on nukitsuke, it is on chiburi.

[chagrin101]

Good video and chiburi explanation, there is so much nonsense when it comes to Iai on youtube. it's good to listen someone who has an idea of what he'e talking about, well done thanks for posting the video.

[robertmrivers]

私達の本部の道場所は東京にある。 私は日本からの無外流居合道の第5段である。私はアメリカである­。 私は日本語を理解してもいい

[ElectronicAgitator]

Is my English strange?Your Japanese is confused and is also strange similarly. Stop disguising it as the Japanese with the translation software. It absolutely comes to light to the Japanese.

[ErectoronicAgitator]

↓ to RealNinja25

[robertmrivers]

Of course I used a translator. I am not Japanese. I wanted to attempt to communicate with my Japanese viewer. I apologize if it does not work, but I am sure the message was received. There was no disguising anything.

[Naisho07]

@ElectronicAgitator: Yes your English is strange. And Mr. Rivers's Japanese is not perfect... now we can move on. Language is for the purpose of communication and does not have to be perfect for one to understand it. Let's all just try to communicate and not criticize the attempt...

[cloud86735]

anyone care for mudkips, party van? anyone.....oh i forgot, this video does not belong to the interwebz

[mitsubishi777]

You look very nice in Kimono and Hakama. Anyway, you're chic and cool.

[kendoka0girl]

Thank you for sharing.  :D

[bushidoandsamuraido]

wow learning science too good vid I want to learn how to use a katana

[richared1979]

Since you are making an Iaido basics training video, shouldn't you follow the seitei?

[robertmrivers]

Seitei (typically) is the iai associated with the ZNIR/ ZNKR. What people do not understand is that many schools are not a part of the ZNIR. Therefore, they do not do the seitei kata. Koryu Iai came first. Seitei was founded in the early 1900's well into the modern era.

Iai is kihon (basics), kata, and application. What I am showing is kihon. You are speaking of specific kata when you refer to seitei. Different schools have their own specific basic kata.

Thanks for the comment.

[robertmrivers]

In my particular ryuha, we do not need the Seitei nor are we members of the ZNIR. Therefore, we do not do the Seitei. This is the case in many koryu.

[killerofbloo]

i was trying to find a chiburi video, thank you, very professional

[DomDaDJ]

do u purposefully lower ur sword in your Chudan?

[robertmrivers]

Yes, it is called tekkitsuke.

Thanks

[sachifre]

What school of iaido are you following?

[robertmrivers]

I am not teaching a particular school in the videos. These are for general information. But, as for ryuha, I am a member of the Suimokai, Mugai Ryu Iaihyodo Meishi ha, based in Tokyo.

[robertmrivers]

True Chiburi

[tomeato]

If done correctly, the chiburi motion CAN get rid of the blood on the blade although there is indeed a symbolic meaning to this. Oh and by the way: I don't know any style that has a small chiburi with the kissaki pointing to the floor. Your style?

[robertmrivers]

No...it can't. Not to be disrespectful, but it doesn't.

As for chiburi pointing at the floor, unless a style dictates that the sword is perfectly parallel to the floor (some do), then the sword IS pointing at the floor. The stylistic differences are going to dictate WHERE on the floor the sword is pointing.

Yes, in Mugai Ryu, Meishi ha, we do point the kissaki somewhere on the floor... it is very specific. Thanks for the comment.

[tomeato]

I seeeeee. And why is it pointing at the floor?

[robertmrivers]

Thanks... we point it at the floor because the fallen opponent is on the floor. Others will have different reasons. Happy training.

[tomeato]

Interesting. As far as I was taught this is the reason the kissaki points at the fallen opponent when performing o-chiburi. Chiburi being only some sort of ritualized remain of o-chiburi has the blade parallel to the floor in Eishin-Ryu and I think in Muso Shinden Ryu, too. Same to you.

[robertmrivers]

As for chiburi and the blood, I have one of my students bringing a bottle of ketchup to the dojo tonight...will post a video response tomorrow to this often misunderstood technique...

[tomeato]

I'm looking forward to that one =)

[robertmrivers]

It'll be up in the morning

[MitsuyoshiJubei]

That reminds me:

I went to go...I told Kate to go make me a sammich, but she told me there was no ketchup. o.O First the ketchup than my mouth guard. I get the feeling you're trying to tell me something. Something Naginata-like...

[wkb316]

I cant speak for removing blood from a sword, but I do know you cant shake blood from a knife...and its much shorter and can be snapped quicker than a sword. So I agree with Rivers, the idea maybe romantic, but not realistic.

[kfkonrad]

Excellent instruction! Thank you for sharing this.