Book Description
Iaido is the classical Japanese discipline of drawing and cutting with the long sword in defense of an unanticipated attack, throwing off the blood and returning the sword to its sheath. It is the direct inheritor of techniques perfected by centuries of samurais whose lives and honor depended on their spirit and prowess. Babin brings together all the information needed to pursue a formal study of this art, including how to choose a sword, cut with it, take care of it and assume the clothing. He covers not only the basic moves and positions, but the entire curriculum of forms of the muso shinden ryu of iaido. Equally important, the author puts the art in its historic and social perspective, helping clarify for the reader the spiritual pathway the way of the sword offers. If you want to learn iaido, this is your textbook.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Iaido is the classical Japanese discipline of drawing and cutting with the long sword in defense of an unanticipated attack, throwing off the blood, and returning the sword to its sheath. It is the direct inheritor of techniques perfected by centuries of samurais whose life and honor depended on their spirit and prowess. Iaido, however, has stripped these techniques down to their most basic elements in order for the modern warrior to use them to overcome the enemy within as well as without. Iaido represents the dichotomy inherent in Taoist philosophy and the Asian martial arts: outer form and inner meaning, defense and offense, stillness and action, life and death. Because it is not saddled with the need to be practical or realistic in this age, it is ideally suited to teach the basics of conflict inherent in all martial disciplines and indeed in life. Balance, timing, distance, and perception are all critical elements to warriors -- in the workplace as well as on the battlefield. Author Richard W. Babin, BS, M.D., brings together all the practical and theoretical information needed to pursue a formal study of the classical Japanese martial art of iaido. You will learn how to choose a sword, cut with it, take care of it, assume the clothing, and enter a dojo. Babin covers not only the basic moves and positions, but the entire curriculum of forms of the muso shinden ryu of iaido. Equally important, the author puts the art in its historic and social perspective, helping clarify for the reader the spiritual pathway that the way of the sword offers.