IAIDO Ikkyu test Jan 11th 2010

[darmarquis]

Thanks for posting this. I've been studying Iaido informally for years now and decided that I should prepare to take the Ikkyu test. This helps me to know what's coming. Were there other components to the test, and if so, please enlighten me. Also, I'm looking forward to seeing the Shodan test. Thank you.

[bigbadboysjp]

Thanks sajiko for the comment. I will try hard and get better. As for the sageo. That's how my sensei and his sensei does it.Most dojo do that way here in japan. But I will still ask him. It's great to get advice. Now I can really improve my iaido. Gonna take it to the next level. Thanks to all.

[shajiko]

oh and there are more things to correct but that comes later when you are more experience. first learn things in time. your speed of learning i mean :)

[shajiko]

I will comment on other things later if u like. I have comment alot so scroll down for my first comments. goodluck in iaido training my friend. For me i just got my Nidan last year November 20th. peace

[shajiko]

-When do Noto: relax right hand and arm. Move left hand like almost 1 finger thickness over the saya, so sword can rest, so right hand has it more easy.

Use Saya more, that means move it more to the back when do noto. But keep in mind that your saya hand should be against your body even when move backward for noto. Position of sword should be forward 45 degrees. Keep sword as horizontal as POSSIBLE!

Noto you do now is with 1 stop.

[shajiko]

-When sword above head and you cut down. there is no stop. That means... When you did your horizontal cut. U have there little stop called seme. Then you move sword towards above head and cut... there is no stop. So the timing is important. When sword above head your left hand should be already holding sword and cut down without stop above head. When hands above head Squeeze your both ring and pink fingers.

-Why you move sword down again, after horiz. cut? don't

-You feet should be wider spread.

[shajiko]

Learn everything slowly so you know the position of sword when to end. The fastness comes later on, that is how it works.

-I see when you draw, you move your sword down first then up to enemy. The direction is directly to the enemy with the back of your sword.

-Try to stop sword point at Armpit. To do this, train slowly movement. Too hasty in beginning lead to no control.

-When sword travels towards head, you go too much direct way. The way is to travel the sword near the ear up. ask sensei.

[shajiko]

....use back of hand to move the left over of the sageo that might be crossing the sword end. Ask your colleage about it or sensei.

-Try not move hands when you done with tighten the sageo.

-Lean to draw, that means, good timing, when your hands go to sword. 1st left hand is a little bit faster then right hand to draw. you will be faster in drawing. Why is this? i explain: left hand before right hand means. Left hand is to unsheet sword with thumb on Tsuba that is why :) so after that its drawin

[shajiko]

MAI:

- When greeting to sensei bowing keep sword at same place as possible.

-When sit down don't bent too much forward, try keep sword at same pisition when sit down.

(check the left guy of you when you all do Ukenagashi, that is more the right way).

-I nothice that your sageo (rope) you keep short at almost half length of sword. It should be at almost end sword. How to do that, When you put sword down, you already have sageo on left hand below sword and move it to the end. Then use back of hand

[shajiko]

Hi Bidbadboy, first of all grats on your Exam of ikyu :) yes when u are new you are bit sloppy, some are more some are lesser. But good to go. Learn by watching too and learn by doing things slowly. So you get the right sence of where the sword will stop. Don't use force with cutting. Sword should do it for you by gravity, so if u learn that you will get a steady sharp cut. Now i go comment on kata MAI. It will be alot of words so spare me :) i want u to know.

[izzazalexander]

I hope u pass your shodan this year bidbadboy!

[mishimasword]

Whoever gave you one star for this should be kicked in the nuts, I'm giving you 5. Listen people, this is Ikkyu, not 6th Dan practitioners, there are going to be a LOT of mistakes and pretty sloppy moves but hey, that's where we all start from, is it not? I say all the power to you Bigbadboysjp, good luck on your journey of Iai and keep up the dedication, you will be rewarded soon enough.

[bigbadboysjp]

I hope that all of you can leave a comment here. Thanks.