Iaijutsu-Kono

[@Phaedians]

“Stand and fight!” “Show me your skill!” “Face me!”

[@tenno5509]

"doshor! doshor!"

[@chikenfartz]

“Are you cowards?”

[@TheOneWayDown]

People here super into the martial art and whatnot. I just find iaijitsu really cool to watch.

[@jjs3890]

Aside from a combat art it is also art in motion.

[@icecream6256]

I mean, it's cool to see this art So elegant

[@MohammedAli-ix4dw]

Is slow tho

[@vainklutz3179]

@@MohammedAli-ix4dw iaijutsu is the fastest unsheath technique.

[@satellite964]

I wish they'd train with soft cushion swords at full speed.

[@jaketheasianguy3307]

Dueling context kenjutsu, sure, we need to do sparring and pressure testing alot but there's no need for that training with iaijutsu. The sword drawing aspect was designed as a way to attack an unexpected opponent or defend yourself against an unexpected attack. Do you need much training to knock someone out with a sucker punch now days ? Same idea here

[@datuputi777]

hahaha that second move looks so suicidal but I guess in a medieval situation where you are caught by surprise that is much better than dying sword unsheathed.

[@34wildman]

are you referring to the one where he sidesteps or the one where he just kinda throws his leg in the air, because the sidestepping on is sensible as during the draw the blade blocks his opponents and immediately moves to an opening for a counter attack, where as the one where he throws his leg in the air, if you look closely, his blade blocks the lunge if it were to be completed, redirecting it and setting him up for a vicious stabbing counter attack.

[@datuputi777]

(O. o) redirecting it using only 1 hand(also a reverse grip a very weak grip for blocking and parrying) and he is not moving forward but backwards. You don't seem to see that it is a move only meant to buy time to strike the opponent not a move for saving ones own skin but maybe in such scenarios the attacker might double think lunging at you at full speed.

[@stevanb4481]

Only the 1st move is shown. How to unsheath and parry, dodge, block; it is always simultaneously the same movement that the unshown kill counter is. The killing counter move is not shown.

[@RevelationMedia777]

are you sure a reverse grip is weak for blocking?

[@TheDeshi100]

Actually more like a deference for the attacker to continue the attack. Doing so means getting getting hurt

[@jjs3890]

I really enjoy all of his videos. Seems to really go back into older movements and strategy.

[@novaman3509]

Its so hard to find Kenjutsu schools, and even harder to find Iaijutsu schools, and its a shame, because they are the true practices of the samurai warrior. Iado and Kendo are watered down, sport versions of what it really meant to practice samurai martial arts.

[@lonelysoldier9706]

+NovaMan 350 Iaido isn't a sport or watered down. Kendo isn't a sport and is not watered down. If you study kenjutsu, iaido, and kendo in one doujou, then you will know that Kenjutsu and Kendo support Iaido. Iaido/Iaijutsu was used to counterattack from saya. As soon as you do iaido and if the attacker is still alive and still fight you, then you go into Kenjutsu. Kendo, if you do it tradictionsly teaches you how to stike and how to use effectivly cut. unlike Kendo doujou that does a lot of competitions, traditional doujou will teach you that if you hack at the enemy, then you will not cut. But if you slice, you will cut. My sensei says you can't cut meat by simply hitting the meat with a knife, you must slice to cut. If I were to use my skill in real life, I can rely on my self due to me knowing those 3. And if you want, train in ju jutsu, or aikido/aikijutsu. Aikido/aikijutsu teaches defensive sword art as well as open hand art.

[@hapsororenaldy5971]

+1

[@andrewblack7852]

Kono Sensei has devoted his life to researching the actual use of the sword in pragmatic reality. He has one of the fastest draw to cut times ever recorded.

[@ktoniand2097]

I don’t want to insult anyone, and I’ll ask you to excuse me in advance, but… pragmatic reality? Sorry but just by looking at this I can say that most of those technique are USELESS IN ACTUAL COMBAT. First of all, I suppose similar physical capability and comparable sword technique, since a pragmatic reality point of view won’t imagine that the opponent will only move his blade 10cm forward while you are doing a WHOLE technique involving a LOT of movements. The first technique is quite good. The opponent blade is deviated and the opponent is threatened. I wonder why he make it so that the blade doesn’t point at the opponent and he has those hand posture, but the hand posture can very easily be corrected afterward and the blade angle is a minor detail during a thrust, so… This technique pass. Second technique, he draw his sword with a reverse grip while stepping back. Why is it bad? Now he has a weak grip, if he try to advance he will basically impale himself, and the attacker is in no way threatened. And don't try to tell me something like if the attacker step forward he'll also get impaled, Kono isn't in a posture to impale someone there (it's a katana, not a dagger nor a gladius). Third technique, the draw is to long to execute in such a situation, plus the posture that result from it is horrible. Leaning this much forward in the end of a parry is bad for the follow up you’re supposed to do next (in the end of a counter OK, but it ISN’T a counter since he isn’t doing an attack while parrying). You need to be able to use your body mass and to rotate your trunk for your strikes, else a simple piece of solid clothing will stop any cut you’ll be able to try. And if you’re supposed to do a thrust afterward, the opponent can easily parry it in this exact posture… supposing he hasn’t reacted before. Also, you need to lower your posture in combat for stability among other things, but this much will be detrimental instead: he literally have a leg doing a 90° angle. This is clearly too much. Fourth technique, he literally knee down, try to parry the opponent blade with a sword position that will easily break considering that you are in a lower position and using only one hand against two (if the hand gapping the sheath was instead on the blade back maybe), the whole thing while trying to threaten the forward leg instead of actually attacking it directly… It’s just the easiest part of the body to protect in fight: just move it back and come back. How much of a bad idea is it? It limit your mobility, the strength you can put in your strikes and parry, limit the range of movement you can do… And look, I know that iaido and iaijutsu integrate technique that start in such a posture, and that kata tend to end on the same posture has you started with, but no technique should make you knee down IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT. Fifth technique, if the guy doesn’t let himself hit you won’t be able to actually hit him that way, but you can try to do a bind and either way you have drawn your blade, so OK it pass. Sixth technique, do I have to point out that he literally move in front of the blade of a guy supposed to actually thrusting at him in the middle of the technique? And all of that without trying to deviate it or anything? Yeah, the guy will lose an arm, but that supposing that you could execute your technique. Seventh technique, he is basically jumping while drawing your blade. Why doesn’t he just lift his leg so that he can actually try to close in faster (actual kenjutsu technique, easy to integrate into iaijutsu if it isn’t already), and why he go into this posture at the end? I don’t know. But aside from that OK. Note that facing an opponent armed with a proper naginata, yari or about any pole-weapon wile being armed only with a kanata is a loosing battle in most of the cases. You want to close in as fast as possible, since you are the one being out-ranged and since hafted weapons in general have a small main striking area (here the blade of the naginata). If you go into close combat, the enemy can still use his weapon (he just have to put his hand higher in the shaft) but he lose a part of his leverage, lose his range advantage and won’t be able do deal that much damage with the shaft itself. Not saying he can’t, but not as much as the head (for obvious reasons), nor as much as an actual club or combat staff due to the weight is distribution. Eighth technique, if I understand well he was just showing how to unsheathe and/or sheathe the blade in iaijutsu/iaido. Nothing to say there except that he isn’t showing the blood washing part before sheathing. Ninth technique… FREAKING BACK GRIP… Yeah, I hate it. You can do as effective thrust against people behind you with a normal grip (actually, you have more options, just try), you will have a more solid grip, more blade control and more possible motion… Back grip is a show-of technique that has no pragmatic use.

[@ktoniand2097]

​@cyanide11111y Yeah, they are doing a demonstration, and they are using real sword. However, demonstration or not, the question my comment was about is "Are those techniques pragmatic like Andrew plack said?", and the answer is no. If they're going to mess up their technique due to using a real sword during demonstration, then they shouldn't and use a blunt blade or a boken instead, and maybe wear some protection. Saying 'they are using real blade for the demonstration so respect them' isn't an argument. There is a lot of option that exist to reduce or even avoid risk, and using a cutting blade here is just marketing and/or showoff. . As for respect, I have a lot more respect for Adorea Olomouc teams, who use real technique to make some amassing sword fights choreography, sometime without wearing protection. Having participated in such a group a few years ago, I know how hard and stressfull it is to actually do it, even with blunt weapon: it need a lot of training with face protection before actually trying without one, and even then, while knowing what each participant should do, it's still hard and stressfull as you need to have a great controll on your strength and movements to execute the choreography. Speaking of demonstration, they are starting a series of video about Capo Ferro’s Assaut Techniques (only this one is out): kzbin.info/www/bejne/poLCkqOJasd4nJI They show actual sword technique properly done with someone who isn’t just moving 10cm while the other guy do a whole technique, and we can see that the window those technique let the opponent have is so small that it wouldn’t be surprising at all for someone to not be able to react to some of those, let alone counter them. . And no, I’m not hating iaijutsu or kenjutsu, nor the katana. But the tendency for those two martial art do be more spiritual/philosophical than pragmatic is a fact (actually, that the case for about any traditionnal martial art). Plus, the fact is that some kenjutsu and iaijutsu masters critique HEMA saying "they are trying to resurrect a dead martial art, and will never be able to attain the essence of it", basically mocking HEMA. Well, HEMA tend to be more pragmatic and effective in actual combat, as it didn't go through the Edo period or anything similar (since it was 'dead' as they say). It's a shame since I find the katana's blade beautifull (not that European sword aren't, but it's another style), the katana's grip very comfortable (though not everyone will agree with me on this point) and the whole mythology surrounding it really interesting.

[@ktoniand2097]

​@cyanide11111y It's not a question of respect then, but an understanding. I understand all of that, but the fact is that the techniques aren't proper, and, if it's a matter of security, they could have used dull sword or protections to permit themselves to use proper technique. I see no reason other than marketing and/or showoff to do as they did, and knowing all the symbolic there is behind the swords, especially in the Japanese mythology and culture, I find it insulting for all those symbols and philosophy around the katana that a master swordsman specialized on the matter did as they did with a katana. . Question: how do you define a 'dead sword'? To me, a 'dead sword' is a sword that has been damaged beyond repair, and thus is 'dead'.

[@iammichael1094]

@@ktoniand2097 What do you think of his student? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJOuqqSNaJJ3d6s

[@keiichimaebara8141]

Ever recorded by himself

[@zawarudowryyyyyy]

I didn't know Gilbert Gottfried taught swordfighting.

[@bundy4prez462]

HODIDO HODIDO HODIDO!

[@Jdmsword14]

such wonderful techniques

[@malevolenceXXXensues]

the instructor reminds me of Yukio Mishima for some reason

[@kengingrich8102]

Great. My respect.

[@popsbayless615]

Excellent!

[@user-su9rm7uo6z]

恐れ入りました。奥深いです。

[@teej783]

Nacht Physik,, I hate to have to point out the obvious but Iaijutsu is the art of drawing the Japanese sword. Notice he is also getting off line, a good technique even if you have no weapon, and simultaneously drawing the katana at an angle to divert the opponent's strike.

[@rvisyauvis001]

逆手納刀かっちょいー

[@b.d.syungincarroll4010]

Pov: you came from zenitsu's fandom under fighting style

[@mauriziolopez6478]

kaminari no kokyū... ichi no katà... hekireki issen...

[@artinhjollder4779]

does anybody know the style? Yagyu shinkage ryu, Mugai ryu, Suio ryu? The evasive body movements (taisabaki) and blade orientations are very interesting here

[@artinhjollder4779]

***** Thank you very much Nagai-san. So since he is a specialist in extracting and interpreting the most practical waza from different styles of Koryu, I assume that he uses a particular style as his main reference and I think that is Katori Shinto ryu. How can it be true?

[@stevanb4481]

Only the 1st move is shown. How to unsheath and parry, dodge, block; it is always simultaneously the same movement that the unshown kill counter is. The movement responding to the attack is shown. To being attacked. The killing counter move is not shown.

[@Darren_Tay]

+motterboy20 What do you mean by combat version of iaido? You do know that Iaijutsu, iaido and batto jutsu are all interchangeable right? If you referring to the modern emphasis of the spiritual aspect of iaido, i can assure you that different ryuha, schools, dojos and different sensei all have their own style of teaching and their own philosphy of what iaido is to them. Not everyone emphasize on that. There are obviously a variety of ryuha, but just for the record, iaido techniques are definitely combative, they have been proven on the battlefields of japanese history.

[@bushimotter]

I tend to arch myself forward similar to how this master is. I wonder if it is because this is more about the technique instead of the art? This looks like a combat version of iaido, which is what I figured it was. This video definitely gives me some very good forms to practice, love it! +1 Favorite

[@nachtphysik8380]

I would like to see these techniques in full speed (maybe with wooden swords) as it is with some knowledge of HEMA hard to imagine how you could reliably be faster with your sword sheathed when your opponent has it already drawn and in front of your face more or less. I get that you have to try anything you can to survive in such a situation, but it seems kind of unrealistic to pull that off. Instead of counterattack, I would try to get my sword between myself and his to just defend the first attack before I can draw my sword completely and be on same grounds. Instead this master leaves quite some attacks open to him. In some situations it looks like, he would close those openings before he goes for the counterattack but then the stances look a bit unstable and could bring you to fall due to the impact of the swords connecting. (example 2 where he lifts his right leg in a backwards motion which potentially brings the leg closer to the opponents sword and you potentially lose some stability) Don't see it as hating or such please. It just seems that the Iaijutsu in this particular video seems not practical and using that back then in real fight, would result in you being killed most likely. Yet I'd guess you could adapt every technique, showed here, to defend the attack instead of going for a quite dangerous counterattack. The counterattack just looks more fluorishy but is most likely just purely lethal to yourself.

[@Darren_Tay]

I agree that i would like to see it in actual speed with bokken just so we can see the technique from another point of view. However, I disagree with what you said namely using your sheathed sword to block and re-counter. I dont know your ryuha, assuming you are training under a qualified instructor. But alot of traditional school dont do that. If were so desperate that you did that, you probably were in a tight pinch already. It also would defeat the purpose of iai since its focus is to be wary of your surroundings and react fast. (preferably during the enemy's initial draw, not making reference to the video obviously) We also need to remember that iaijutsu depending on the study of your ryuha, have a variety of reactions to the enemy attacks. Ranging from sheathed, drawing, mid draw and unsheathed and full attack. Nothing wrong with his schools teaching. Alot of the technique executed by him looked like he purposely avoided contact to protect his sword, but he actually deflected the blows in a particular angle and re counter strike immediately using that angle. Its a very similar application to what james williams teach on one of his videos showing how he uses a tanto to redirect blows as a block and using the momentum and angle to change into a strike at the same time. As for how dangerous his techniques are to the practioner in terms of practicality, i think it really depends on what you like and dislike. Its like coffee, you and i might not like the same brand. But at the end of the day, he is transmitting presumably the most accurate teaching of the founder's combative technique. Who knows if it actually work and how many fights the founder originally had if any. The last thing i wanted to highlight is that this video isnt in english and there might also be alot of points we are missing if we arent fluent in japanese. Like Bruce lee said, we should have an open mind, learn from a variety of arts and if it works for you incorporate it into your arsenal thats how you get better.

[@s3dchr]

I'm not an expert at all, but I would assume, based on common sense, that it would be useful with the user is experienced/fast enough and also can read the opponent's movement and dodge it while at the same time performing his move. What's obviously most important about iaijutsu, though, is that it looks badass as hell :P

[@stevanb4481]

Nacht Physik Only the 1st move is shown. How to unsheath and parry, dodge, block; it is always simultaneously the same movement that the unshown kill counter is. The killing counter move is not shown.

[@jjs3890]

That's a good point. As a bujutsu instructor, HEMA & SECA student i can tell you that samurai arts and European arts hold some similarities but also some very big differences. This video is of some basic kata. I teach through a different system but generally attack, counter, and defense all happen with one fluid movement especially when from a draw. When body mechanics are natural and timing understood, the person drawing their blade will usually land their cut before the opponent even finishes their cut. Of course this precision happens after practicing the draw a million times slow to ensure body meets mind, aka, muscle memory. If you are interested, perhaps I could make a short clip and show you.

[@vitriolicAmaranth]

I believe the point isn't to strike from the sheathe before your opponent can even attempt to strike you but to draw and strike as quickly as possible, while also avoiding your enemy's weapon, hence the large amount of footwork shown.

[@Robot2600]

arigato!

[@caioviana]

Ukyo Tachibana's fight style! (Samurai Shadow)

[@vargshowspeed609]

kaminari no kokyu, ichi no kata, hekireki issen, rokuren

[@aimankaya1825]

Mizu no kokyu go no kata katen no jiu

[@bushimotter]

I will also learn this noto to go along with the technique. Again, thanks for the video!

[@Lumynum]

Teach me sensei.

[@kukri1014]

こういう昔の技術ってどれくらい伝承できものかな。 甲野先生みたいな物好きがいつの時代にもいるとは限らないし。

[@user-dg4tl4bw6v]

居るは居る

[@CitronCoffee]

これらは昔の技術ではないですよ？

[@Kaydje]

He is very fast lol

[@foxandwolffriend9359]

I hope they're using Aluminium Alloy swords,because Iaijutsu was meant for war while the attacking Samurai were wearing Armor. Iaijutsu enabled the one who used this deadly form to aim for the gaps in the Armor. For example,the areas in the human body where there were blood vessels: Like the Armpits where the Japanese Armored Sleeves "Kote" would not have the plates sewn. If there were plates sewn there,no one would be able to move their arms while wearing the Kote Sleeves. So Armor pretty much became a thing of the past when the Iaijutsu form was created. Though Japanese Armor Websites do sell real wearable Samurai Armor made of steel plates.

[@Kaydje]

Dude wtf are you talking about iaijutsu is just sword drawing techniques, and the katana was a personal sidearm rather than a weapon of war.

[@Banana-cc5rx]

lol that's like saying you hope soldiers are bringing an assault rifle to a war because it has more ammo capacity. Well duh.. And as above said Iaijutsu is just a technique of drawing and readying your weapon to intercept and counter. This isn't some shounen anime shit that lets you pin point a single weak spot for the kill. Protecting yourself takes priority over killing.

[@whiteceiling]

lol weeb

[@t0caia726]

D: ugh...

[@cheers9503]

Arthur Boyle is laughing right noe

[@mynamesjustmaxwell6814]

I'm very confused by the second technique. I don't really know what that one's supposed to accomplish.

[@terryboy8046]

I'm guessing it's to target the hands

[@mynamesjustmaxwell6814]

@@terryboy8046 maybe... Ion know man, that one just seems incredibly impractical

[@bernardputersznit64]

well he did not slice his fingers off

[@LupisRex]

seems like the instructor needs a shorter sword if he wants to not die trying to get it out in time

[@kristjanorthaber5434]

+LupisRex Seems like you know nothing of long swords and their use :)

[@LupisRex]

so polite, thank you. always been more of an archer myself

[@Facenameguy]

Watch his hands as he draws the blade. He compensates for blade length by bringing the sheathe forward to draw quicker and still have that reach advantage. A shorter reach means he might get parried during his opponent's draw.

[@61zulu77]

+Joseph Stuckey Actually the reverse is true: when the right hand draws the sword, the left hand should push the saya backward so the sword would exit the saya faster. Watch the rest of his draw

[@NicktheLP]

+Kristjan Orthaber Kenjutsu and iaijutsu schools don't favor long swords in most of the teachings actually. That's mostly for cavalry, where advanced techniques and draws don't matter as much

[@syahmiearman]

Kaminari kokyuu ichi no kata:

[@enjoyer2227]

Jinsuke Saze much?

[@petreckstere2704]

What is the stance at 1:55 supposed to do?

[@thomasalex3541]

from my rough understanding it's preparing to throw the sword as a ranged attack

[@animeamv4946]

I know Iaijutsu from MHrise game

[@Answererrrr]

2.04 .. that's a suicidal tecenique in my opinion. Eye for an Eye,sure. [you can't stop his slash that way, you can obiously have one yourself, but in blade combats a draw is not contemplate: you would be both died] But i'd always prefer to kill my opponent and stay alive.. call me an idiot if you dare.

[@danfrenchtoast9830]

Юптхер риссиа

[@josephbrown6623]

Who's here from... Dark Souls??

[@Fhanta006]

zenitsu

[@Ken19700]

All of these moves look like a last ditch effort. I think it's best if you already have your sword out when someone attacks.

[@christophersmith3657]

Ken MacMillan these are moves to use when threatened and they are very close with a drawn weapon. you are mostly right, they are something of a last resort, to a degree.

[@grandmawweslammedamidget]

Well iai is quick response training

[@smoothcriminal7232]

Is this bullshit or what? From what I know you don't use Iai stance on a confrontation specially if the opponent is already on guard. Iai are commonly used for ambush or surprise attacks. A guy on a Chu-dan stance facing someone on Iai stance is completely open. He can be cut down at any moment

[@user-pr8pj1ym3f]

居合じゃなく抜刀だよな

[@BenAbrigil]

HEMA HEMA HEMA, same with MMA, western superiority

[@dimitriostsougkranis3232]

HEMA=studying swordsmanship from books

[@JohnMaxGriffin]

BenAbrigil It’s true that in most combat situations, European style weapons would have the overall advantage. Metallurgically Europe had an advantage, and the longsword in particular has major advantages over Japanese swords. If you’ve got a katana, and you don’t kill the longsword-wielder on your first swing, you’re going to be at a big disadvantage. The typical longsword has better reach, parrying ability, and is far better balanced. HOWEVER, you must consider the all-out commitment in Japanese swordsmanship toward finishing the opponent immediately once the blade was drawn. Everything is about that first cut and doing it as quickly and powerfully as possible.

[@user-cd9el7wu6q]

相手が斬ってきますってどこ斬っとんねんww空斬っとるやんか(笑)

[@user-hd2ls8ik5l]

居合の中に抜刀という行動が含まれます　何か誤解して居る様だ