swordril
IAIDO BASIC DRILL
(all cuts are 2-handed)
Begin with feet together, hands at sides, facing north.
Draw sword and chamber right arm with left palm facing right ribs, crook of palm aligned with sword hilt.
Step forward with right foot into right front stance, thrusting tip of sword northward, perfectly horizontal.
C-step with right foot back into a horse stance bringing sword back toward left shoulder. Strike at the opponent to the east with a horizontal cut, shifting weight forward over right leg (sort of facing northeast).
C-step forward with left leg into left front stance to the north. Blade slices up to the northwest in an arc. At the top of the arc (almost vertical) turn blade and follow the same arc path slicing downward.
C-step with left foot back into a horse stance and execute a horizontal cut to the opponent from the west, shifting weight forward over left leg (sort of facing northwest).
C-step forward with right leg into right front stance to the north. Blade slices up to the northeast in an arc. At the top of the arc (almost vertical) turn blade and follow the same arc path slicing downward.
C-step with right foot back into a horse stance swinging sword over left shoulder and execute a sobudi (overhead cut) to the opponent to the north.
Step forward with right foot into right front stance, make a small (1' dia.) circle clockwise with the tip of the outstretched sword (presume starting point is at 3:00).
Bring right fist up so that thumb & fingers are facing your left ear, and the blade is edge up and horizontal in front of your eyes.
Blood shake in a wide counter-clockwise arc (circling body to end pointing downward to the right). Left hand returns to sheath.
Resheath: Draw spine of sword through thumb & forefinger across top of sheath until tip falls into sheath opening. Position right fist so that sword is aligned with sheath. Snap sword into sheath with authority, bringing right foot next to left (still facing north).
IAIDO ADVANCED DRILL
(all cuts are 2-handed unless specified)
Begin with feet together, hands at sides, facing north.
Draw sword and execute a 1-hand horizontal cut to the opponent to the east while stepping with right foot into a back stance also toward the east.
Take 2 steps forward (east) ending in a right front stance, while bringing sword over right shoulder and executing a sobudi (overhead cut).
Bring left palm under right armpit facing down, bring right fist to left shoulder with blade horizontal pointing north. Execute a 1-hand horizontal cut to the opponent to the south while stepping with right foot into a right front stance facing south.
Draw right fist in front of left shoulder with blade vertical (upward) and place left hand on the spine. Left foot steps westward behind right foot, now pivot on balls of feet 180o into a left front stance facing north while executing a reinforced 1-hand horizontal cut ending with the edge pointing toward the west.
Drop sword tip to your right and spin 3 times (on right, on left and on right) as you take 3 steps backward (towards south, facing north) starting with left foot and ending in a cat stance, right foot forward. Sword will end up under right armpit, edge up, by extending right elbow beyond the path of the sword's arc after the last spin and tucking it under. Left palm is warding forward (arm outstretched, palm forward, fingers up).
Grasp hilt from below with left hand and flip the sword over while stepping out with left foot into a horse stance facing north. Execute a right blood strike to opponent to the north(blade sweeps from left shoulder towards right foot) shifting weight over right leg (left shoulder ends up pointing north).
Bring sword back towards left shoulder, arc overhead and execute a left blood strike, shifting weight over left leg (right shoulder ends up pointing north).
Shift into a left front stance facing west, rotate sword by pivoting with the right hand and moving the butt of the sword in a counter-clockwise circle with the left hand. Sword should horizontal with edge down and tip extending below your right arm to the rear, right fist backwards next to tsuba, left hand near butt. Look behind you over your right shoulder and thrust to the rear.
Step up on left foot bringing right foot alongside left knee (crane style) as you pull the sword forward, out of your opponent's body.
Flip sword around with left hand, catch with right hand and execute a 1-hand horizontal cut to the opponent you just stabbed (to the east), while stepping down with right foot into a back stance facing east (180o turn).
Wave sword (1 hand) counter-clockwise overhead and follow its arc by spinning 180o to the left, pivoting on left foot, and throwing a crescent kick with the right leg at the opponent to the west, landing in a back stance facing west. Continue sword's arc to execute a 1-hand horizontal cut from right-to-left, then turn sword and execute a 1-hand horizontal cut from left-to-right. The kick should start once sword tip points west, kick should reach opponent before first cut, but first cut should be completed when foot lands on floor, last cut is performed with both feet planted in back stance.
Step back bringing right foot next to left, facing west, sword in "salute" position (both hands on hilt holding sword in front of chest, blade vertical, edge forward).
Set right knee to the floor behind left foot, bathe sword along left sleeve with tip pointing west. Still facing west.
Pivot on right knee 90o to the right and bring left knee to the floor next to right. You're now facing north. At the same time, perform 1-hand blood shake counter-clockwise to the right (tip pointing down to the northeast). Place left hand on sheath.
Resheath: Draw spine of sword through thumb & forefinger across top of sheath until tip falls into sheath opening. Position right fist so that sword is aligned with sheath. Snap sword into sheath with authority, sitting back on your heels (still facing north).