Preparing for Iaido Practice

Tying the keikogi, obi, and hakama, the way it's done at the Japanese Martial Arts Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Visit us at http://japanesemartialartscenter.com

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Iaido
• Martial
• Arts
• Spirituality
• Swordsmanship
• Japan

[yesimfromengland]

what is the full name of all this gear because i am willing to buy this set and well because i am trying to find samurai normal wear for during the day but cannot seem to find anything and the only example i can think of is the clothes that in the film THE LAST SAMURAI (tom cruize) wears in the film! if any one knows what i am talking about please reply to this comment and tell me what the set is called and wear i would be able to purchase this...and please put in consideration i live in the uk.

[youngnbs]

@yesimfromengland check out tozando.com. Many of our students buy from there and say the products are good

[torandi]

You should really pull the obi much harder or the sword will not be stable.

[youngnbs]

@torandi - thatnk for the feedback. This video was just a guide as to the basics. Everybody who practices iaido eventually learns just how tight or loose to tie the obi.

[bleuroo]

Question: my dominant hand is my left hand. I've often wondered if this would pose a problem, as it does with many other things (such as playing the guitar or using a cooking knife sharpened only on one side). Are there ways to accommodate left-handedness in this art, or would I need to become more fully ambidextrous before even contemplating taking lessons? Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions

[youngnbs]

@bleuroo - great question! There's really nobody who practices traditional iaido left-handed. The way the scabbards are built and the way the handles of the swords are made, everything is set up for right-handers. The good news is that we know some very accomplished swordspeople who are left handed - including the director of our dojo - Nicklaus Suino.

[kurodayo67]

Hi, I suggest to wear under the jacket a regular shitagi inbstead of a Tshirt and to change the knot with a classic kakumusubi or a ronin musubi the knot is thinner and better for the shape

[jedimaster00000]

I agree with Sk8wise. If you don't do martial arts... don't wear it.

[onEida777eAgle]

Very good description! Young lady excellently shows this ritually dressing , and the narrator also. Very, very nice tutorial.

[bleuroo]

Thanks for your helpful and prompt answer. I thought that might be the case, as it's only in old samurai films and cartoons that I've ever seen someone wearing a sword on the opposite side. However, it's encouraging to know there are swordspeople out there -- directors even! -- who've learned to overcome the handedness problem.

I once sprained my left elbow and had to become "right handed" for three months. It was awkward -- but not impossible. In time, my right hand slowly learned to adapt.

[kasmirz]

Very  Helpful. Thank you.

[kendoka0girl]

Informative video. We tie our obi in a slightly different manner.