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Post by amstel78 on Jan 8, 2020 10:38:02 GMT
There's a dojo near me (https://www.newyorkbattodo.com/) that bases its technique on Toyama Ryu which is a simplified form developed by the Japanese army. I'm thinking about checking them out as they offer Saturday and evening classes. But yes, there are several different styles or schools of Iato. Most individuals will probably be limited in selection simply based on what schools are closest to them.
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reptaronice1
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Post by reptaronice1 on Jan 8, 2020 15:08:03 GMT
Just quick draw, I have not looked at any particular style yet. Any advice on one? Don't know if you have the possibility to train it near you, but maybe try Meirin Mugai - Ryu? I'm training it and I like it very much since it is, as weird as it sounds, peaceful. Edit: a typo There are a few places by my city but I’d have to double check thanks
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reptaronice1
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Post by reptaronice1 on Jan 8, 2020 15:09:21 GMT
I never knew iaido had different styles. Yes, it has many. Without getting too deeply into it for the moment, IMHO, the most useful for beginners in the USA is Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, and it is best described and explained in the book Flashing Steel. The second edition with the yellow cover is the one you want. Thanks! I may pick that book up
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reptaronice1
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Post by reptaronice1 on Jan 8, 2020 15:09:43 GMT
I completely second treeslicer 's recommendation. Flashing Steel is a great primer on Eishin-Ryu iaido and deserves a spot on any swordsman's bookshelf. 2nd Ed. is great Thanks!
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reptaronice1
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Post by reptaronice1 on Jan 8, 2020 15:10:39 GMT
There's a dojo near me (https://www.newyorkbattodo.com/) that bases its technique on Toyama Ryu which is a simplified form developed by the Japanese army. I'm thinking about checking them out as they offer Saturday and evening classes. But yes, there are several different styles or schools of Iato. Most individuals will probably be limited in selection simply based on what schools are closest to them.
Thanks will be sure to look at stuff near me, I am in PA and have had a fellow fourmite recommend me a few places. Thanks again!
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Post by jyamada on Jan 8, 2020 16:43:29 GMT
There's a dojo near me (https://www.newyorkbattodo.com/) that bases its technique on Toyama Ryu which is a simplified form developed by the Japanese army. I'm thinking about checking them out as they offer Saturday and evening classes. But yes, there are several different styles or schools of Iato. Most individuals will probably be limited in selection simply based on what schools are closest to them.
Good choice, NewYorkBattodo (Byakkokan) is an excellent dojo for Toyama Ryu.
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Post by jyamada on Jan 8, 2020 16:46:09 GMT
Shinwa is the lowest end of functional junk. True. Replace the "n" with "t" ....
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Post by amstel78 on Jan 8, 2020 18:46:52 GMT
Thanks will be sure to look at stuff near me, I am in PA and have had a fellow fourmite recommend me a few places. Thanks again! I have a house in PA but spend most of my time in NYC since I work in the city. My house is in NEPA (Pike County) though. Where in PA are you located?
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Post by amstel78 on Jan 8, 2020 18:49:20 GMT
Good choice, NewYorkBattodo (Byakkokan) is an excellent dojo for Toyama Ryu. That's good to hear. Will go check them out this Saturday as they have a class from 5:00 to 6:30. They also have weekday classes from 8:30 to 10:00 PM but I'm usually up at 5 AM so hard to stay awake now past 9 PM. I hope they offer Kendo as well....
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Post by treeslicer on Jan 8, 2020 19:56:10 GMT
Yes, it has many. Without getting too deeply into it for the moment, IMHO, the most useful for beginners in the USA is Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, and it is best described and explained in the book Flashing Steel. The second edition with the yellow cover is the one you want. Thanks! I may pick that book up To give a little more information, Japanese martial arts come in two major divisions to begin with, koryu and gendai ryu. Ryu literally translates as "flow" (which is what Google Translate does to it), but applied to martial arts it translates as "linage", "tradition", or (most commonly seen and least accurate) "school". Ryu as a term for a martial arts style reflects the way in which it is transmitted from sensei to students as an inheritance from the past. Koryu are "old linages" founded before the Meiji Era (1868-1912, during which sword wearing was banned and the samurai suppressed), while gendai ("modern") ryu were founded Meiji or later. Most koryu date their original founding to sometime in the Muromachi period (1336-1573) while most gendai ryu were created during the Showa Era (1926-1989). Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu is an example of a koryu, while Toyama Ryu and ZKNR seitai iaido are gendai examples.
The first complication here, there are only 3 iai/batto koryu known to me which have a totally unbroken, unbranched linage going back to the Muromachi, 2 on Kyushu and one in the Tokyo area, and none of them have dojo outside Japan. All the surviving koryu available in the USA are the result of schisms and technique changes during Edo or later, followed by a general revamping of techniques and practices following WW II. Similarly, Toyama ryu is now mostly a postwar invention, and has begun to fragment. Goes with the territory, lots of egos and business considerations in the martial arts.
I recommended MJER to you because I feel that a novice iaidoka's first contact should be with a koryu where they will be initiated into the cultural basics of the Japanese sword arts and learn the jargon. For that, with all its current warts (the old hands will know what I'm referring to), MJER is still (arguably) the best iai "boot camp" available in the USA, as well as the easiest to find books on and a dojo of to join.
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reptaronice1
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Post by reptaronice1 on Jan 8, 2020 21:23:44 GMT
Shinwa is the lowest end of functional junk. True. Replace the "n" with "t" .... Lol
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reptaronice1
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Post by reptaronice1 on Jan 8, 2020 21:24:23 GMT
Thanks will be sure to look at stuff near me, I am in PA and have had a fellow fourmite recommend me a few places. Thanks again! I have a house in PA but spend most of my time in NYC since I work in the city. My house is in NEPA (Pike County) though. Where in PA are you located? Near Pittsburgh
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reptaronice1
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Post by reptaronice1 on Jan 8, 2020 21:28:46 GMT
Thanks! I may pick that book up To give a little more information, Japanese martial arts come in two major divisions to begin with, koryu and gendai ryu. Ryu literally translates as "flow" (which is what Google Translate does to it), but applied to martial arts it translates as "linage", "tradition", or (most commonly seen and least accurate) "school". Ryu as a term for a martial arts style reflects the way in which it is transmitted from sensei to students as an inheritance from the past. Koryu are "old linages" founded before the Meiji Era (1868-1912, during which sword wearing was banned and the samurai suppressed), while gendai ("modern") ryu were founded Meiji or later. Most koryu date their original founding to sometime in the Muromachi period (1336-1573) while most gendai ryu were created during the Showa Era (1926-1989). Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu is an example of a koryu, while Toyama Ryu and ZKNR seitai iaido are gendai examples.
The first complication here, there are only 3 iai/batto koryu known to me which have a totally unbroken, unbranched linage going back to the Muromachi, 2 on Kyushu and one in the Tokyo area, and none of them have dojo outside Japan. All the surviving koryu available in the USA are the result of schisms and technique changes during Edo or later, followed by a general revamping of techniques and practices following WW II. Similarly, Toyama ryu is now mostly a postwar invention, and has begun to fragment. Goes with the territory, lots of egos and business considerations in the martial arts.
I recommended MJER to you because I feel that a novice iaidoka's first contact should be with a koryu where they will be initiated into the cultural basics of the Japanese sword arts and learn the jargon. For that, with all its current warts (the old hands will know what I'm referring to), MJER is still (arguably) the best iai "boot camp" available in the USA, as well as the easiest to find books on and a dojo of to join.
Sounds like koryu would be the best way to go. I honestly will have to read this a few times lol I don’t think I’ll remember it all.
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Post by treeslicer on Jan 8, 2020 23:02:33 GMT
I have a house in PA but spend most of my time in NYC since I work in the city. My house is in NEPA (Pike County) though. Where in PA are you located? Near Pittsburgh There's several dojo offering sword arts (kendo, iaido, or kenjutsu) in Pittsburgh. You might do a Google search, and then call around.
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Post by Cottontail Customs on Jan 9, 2020 0:21:31 GMT
For anyone in the NYC area, Sword Class NYC is a great sword school, offering iaido, Kendo and European sword arts. Master Raab Rashi owns and runs the dojo.
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Post by amstel78 on Jan 9, 2020 2:11:23 GMT
For anyone in the NYC area, Sword Class NYC is a great sword school, offering iaido, Kendo and European sword arts. Master Raab Rashi owns and runs the dojo. Thanks for the link. They're pretty far uptown for me though. I'm checking out two dojos over the weekend: Shidogakuin Kendo & Iaido Dojo and Byakkokan Dojo. Byakkokan is only a few blocks from and I can walk there in about 10 minutes which is ideal. Shidogakuin is a bit further north but still only about a 20 minute walk.
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reptaronice1
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Post by reptaronice1 on Jan 9, 2020 6:31:18 GMT
There's several dojo offering sword arts (kendo, iaido, or kenjutsu) in Pittsburgh. You might do a Google search, and then call around. I googled a few and need to call them I would probably stick with Iaido or kenjutsu as I hear kendo can be painful lol thanks treeslicer
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reptaronice1
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Post by reptaronice1 on Jan 9, 2020 6:33:27 GMT
For anyone in the NYC area, Sword Class NYC is a great sword school, offering iaido, Kendo and European sword arts. Master Raab Rashi owns and runs the dojo. Thanks for the link. They're pretty far uptown for me though. I'm checking out two dojos over the weekend: Shidogakuin Kendo & Iaido Dojo and Byakkokan Dojo. Byakkokan is only a few blocks from and I can walk there in about 10 minutes which is ideal. Shidogakuin is a bit further north but still only about a 20 minute walk. Yay you got a profile pic! I always remember other members by profile pictures for some reason. Kinda awesome that this thread went from a crappy katana to dojo recommendations lol. Glad to see people are getting information.
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Post by sacredcompass on Jan 9, 2020 23:19:52 GMT
I remember meeting a group of iaido practitioners and there was a new prospect to their dojo asking about the aikido classes and then a sumo guy jumped in to recommend his courses there to him if he "really wanted to do some sparring."
He proceeded to ask the iaido guys if they do any sparring like the kendo folk and they kinda laughed about it and said something along the lines of "...there's no point in sparring, you give a little girl one of these swords and put her against a group of football players she'll slaughter them all easily."
As an athlete myself, just kinda found that logic humorous.
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Post by MOK on Jan 10, 2020 5:23:54 GMT
Ah, but what if you give one of the footballers a sword, too!
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