Seitei Iaido origins & background

 

The combat methods of using the Japanese sword that emerged in the Muromachi period (1333–1573) began to transform structured Ryūha (school or transmission) during the Sengoku period (1467-1600), a time of extensive civil war, political upheaval, and social transformation in Japan and continued into the early years of the Edo period (1603–1867) during the Shogunate ruling.

 

These classical Ryūha were not simply battlefield techniques preserved unchanged after warfare ended but rather formal pedagogical systems that used stylised designed Kata (predetermined forms) to transmit principles of swordsmanship, tactical judgement, self-command and warrior culture rather than literal reconstructions of typical combat encounters. These Kata described combative situations in orderto transmit principles, judgement, character, body organisation and warrior identity.

 

After the collapse of the Japanese feudal system in 1868 the theory and the practice of classical Iaidō disciplines were preserved away from actual combat and have become to be known as Koryū (old schools that pre-date the Meiji period) Iaidō.

​

In 1952 the Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei (ZNKR), also known as the All Japan Kendo Federation, was founded and in 1968 a technical committee of Iaidō leaders, created the Seitei Kata (standard forms) drawing mainly upon the techniques of several different Koryū.

 

• 1952 the original set was 7 Kata from seated, kneeling, and standing positions.

• 1981 a further 3 standing Kata were added.

• 2000 an additional 2 standing Kata were added.

 

These 12 Seitei Kata encompass the principles of sword handling from varied positions and against a number of opponents.

 

Yamazaki Akimasa, Hanshi 8 Dan from Ibaraki Prefecture, the current ​ZNKR Iaidō Iinchō (Chair of the Iaidō Committee) provides the technical direction of the Seitei Kata for the ZNKR and international affiliates. He succeeded Kusama Junichi Sensei.