Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei Seitei Iaido

Here at Musoshindenryu dojo, before starting the more advanced koryu katas, we place a strong emphasis on learning the 12 seitei iaido kata.

Seitei Iaido, commonly known as "standard Iaido" was established by the All Japan Kendo Federation (Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei, hereafter ZNKR).

There were originally 7 and then later 10 established katas of ZNKR Seitei Iaido (hereafter Seitei Iai) which were developed during 1960's and 70's by a panel appointed by ZNKR for that purpose. The original intention in creating Seitei Iai was to produce a standard that could used for gradings nationally and later internationally.

These ten forms belong to three sets. The first to third katas belong to Seiza no bu, which are performed from seiza posture. The fourth kata belongs to Tatehiza no bu, which is performed from tatehiza (low-crouching posture). And the fifth to twelvth katas belong to Tachi no bu, which are performed from a standing posture.

Seiza no bu (Sitting in Seiza Set)

• IPPONME- MAE (FRONT)
  Detecting the harmful intention of the person in front of you, forestall it by
  using the sword tip to cut his/her temple in a horizontal action and then bring
  the sword down wa rds from above the head in a vertical action.
• NIHONME- USHIRO (REAR)
  Detecting the harmful intention of the person sitting behind you, forestall it by
  using the sword tip to cut his/her temple in a horizontal action and then bring
  the sword downwards from above the head in a vertical action.
• SANBONME - UKENAGASHI (RECEIVE, PARRY& CUT)
  When the person at your left suddenly stands up and intends to cut you
  downwards, you parry his/her sword with the ridge on the side of your sword
  and cut him/her from above the head in a downwards diagonal action.
• YONHONME - TSUKAATE (STRIKING WITH THE HILT - Tatehiza no bu)
  Two people, one in front and the other at the back intend to attack you.
  Thrust the pommel of your sword into the front opponent's solar plexus, then
  draw and stab the rear opponent. While turning back to the front bring the
  sword downward from above the head in a vertical action to defeat the first
  opponent.



Tachi no bu (Standing Forms Set)

• GOHONME - KESAGIRI (DIAGONAL CUT)
  While you are walking along, an opponent comes towards you and tries to cut you by bringing his/her sword from above the head. lmmediately cut him/her diagonally, first up through his/her right waist and then down from the left shoulder.
• ROPPONME- MOROTEZUKI (TWO-HAND THRUST)
  While walking along, three people - two in front and one at the rear intend to attack you. Forestall the front attack by drawing the sword and making a cut to the right temple of the first opponents face, followed by a two-handed thrust to the solar plexus. Turning next to the rear opponent, bring the sword from above your head and cut down vertically. Lastly turn once again to the front and cut the last opponent in the same manner.
• NANAHONME - SANPOGIRI (THREE DIRECTION CUT)
  Opponents in front, to your left and right intend to attack you while you are walking along. Draw your sword and cut the first opponent from above the head at your right immediately. Cut the next opponent to your left by turning to face him and lastly turn back to the front and cut the last opponent vertically downwards.
• HAPPONME - GANMEN ATE (HIT TO THE FACE)
  While walking along, people in front and the back intend to attack you. First do Tsuka ate to the face of the opponent in front of you, then, thrust the tip of the sword into the solar plexus of the one at your rear. Turn back around and cut the first opponent vertically downwards from above your head.
• KYUHONME- SOETEZUKI (JOINED HAND THRUST)
  You are walking along when a person suddenly appears from the left with the intention to attack you. Stall it by taking the initiative by drawing out your sword and cutting diagonally through his/her right shoulder. Then thrust the sword into his/her abdomen as you step forward.
• JU PPONME - SHIHOGIRI (FOUR DIRECTION CUTTING)
  You encounter four enemies who intend to attack you. Forestall the first by using Tsuka ate to his right hand at the right diagonal front. Then thrust into the solar plexus of the next opponent at your left diagonal rear. Continue by cutting the others at your diagonal front and back until all are defeated.

In the fall of 2000, ZNKR newly added two forms named "Sou giri" and "Nuki uchi" also in the tachi waza . So now Seitei Iai consists of twelve forms.

• JU IPPONME- SOUGIRI (COMPLETE CUTS)
  While walking along you encounter a person in front of you who intends to attack you. Forestall him/her by cutting to the left face diagonally, then through the right shoulder to the solar plexus and then the left torso. Cut his/her abdomen across the waist horizontally and finally finish with a vertical downwards cut. This kata was taken after "Sou-makuri" of Muso Shinden ryu and Muso Jikiden Eishin ryu.
• JU NIHONME- NUKIUCHI (SUDDEN DRAW)
  When standing face to face with a person, he/she suddenly tries to cut you. You let him/her cut the air by stepping back while you draw the sword. Make a vertical downward cut to defeat him/her. This kata was taken after "Gyokkou" of Mugai ryu.

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Musoshindenkoryu Iaido Katas

Shoden

The word "Shoden" can be translated as the "entry-transmission", and was derived from the Omori-ryu Iaido. Omori-ryu was said to have been created by Hayashi Rokudayu Morimasa, the ninth headmaster of the Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu, who lived from 1661 until 1732. It has been included in the Muso Shinden Ryu at the entry level, and contains the following techniques:

1. Shohatto (初発刀)
2. Sato (左刀)
3. Uto (右刀)
4. Atarito (当刀)
5. Inyoshintai (陰陽進退)
6. Ryuto (流刀)
7. Junto (順刀)
8. Gyakuto (逆刀)
9. Seichuto (勢中刀)
10. Koranto (虎乱刀)
11. Inyoshintai kaewaza (陰陽進退替技)
12. Nukiuchi (抜打)

Chuden

The word "Chuden" can be translated as the "middle-transmission", and was derived from the Hasegawa Eishin-ryu Iaido. Originally created in the seventeenth century by Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eishin (Hidenobu), who was the seventh undisputed headmaster of the Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu. Hasegawa Eishin-ryu has been included in the Muso Shinden-ryu at the middle level. It contains the following techniques:

1. Yokogumo (横雲)
2. Tora issoku (虎一足)
3. Inazuma (稲妻)
4. Ukigumo (浮雲)
5. Yamaoroshi (山颪)
6. Iwanami (岩浪)
7. Urokogaeshi (鱗返)
8. Namigaeshi (波返)
9. Takiotoshi (滝落)
10. Nukiuchi (抜打)

Okuden

The word "Okuden" can be translated as the "inner-transmission". Nakayama's Oku-iai is divided into two groups, Suwari-waza, and Tachi-waza; sitting and standing techniques.

Suwari-waza

1. Kasumi (霞)
2. Sunekakoi (脛囲)
3. Shihogiri (四方切)
4. Tozume (戸詰)
5. Towaki (戸脇)
6. Tanashita (棚下)
7. Ryozume (両詰)
8. Torabashiri (虎走)
   

Tachi-waza

1. Yukizure (行連)
2. Tsure-dachi (連� ち)
3. Somakuri (惣巻)
4. Sodome (総留)
5. Shinobu (信夫)
6. Yukichigai (行違)
7. Sodesuri-gaeshi (袖摺返)
8. Mon-iri (門入)
9. Kabezoi (壁添)
10. Uke-nagashi (受流)
11. Itomagoi (暇乞)
12. Itomagoi (暇乞)
13. Itomagoi (暇乞)