The martial art of IAI-DO demands patience and fortitude.To study bushido the student first has to committed them selves body and mind, and to put all physical attractions or mental thoughts from their person .To study this great art demands total commitment ,
this will take a special person who is ready for whole obligation of ones self, and as you become exposed to the ancient art of IAI-DO your whole out look on life will change, you will not only become a better person but a more understanding human being. To be able to practice the same movements over and over again and to strive for perfection , and each day you practice you become more enlighten with the proficiency of IAI-DO- and the benefits that you received from this ancient art, Are in its self rewarding.
I mean the inspiration, that as an individual you receive from this ancient art, as you begin to put into the practice the martial art of IAI-DO. IAI-DO is a modern non combative discipline that stems from martial practices out of Japan’s historic past. The exponents of combative prototypes forms of Japanese swordsmanship are seen to have been extremely
vigorous men in each period of Japanese history.
They were men whose thoughts and actions give us a penetrating insight into the enduring cultural forces that have the have
molded the nature of Japanese thought, dictated the strict regulations concerning social conduct, set standards of aesthetic taste, developed a stern and conservative philosophy of life,
and eventually brought the leaders in the political time frame of the Tokugawa han [defense] to great heights as well as to miserable depths of despair. Nonetheless striking is the realization that today , in modern Japan, there are hundreds of thousands of person s of both sexes and in a wide range of age levels who make IAI-DO an important part of their daily lives.
Many of these people are as vigorous as were the counterparts in earlier ages, and a considerable number of the modern exponents of IAI-DO are important leaders of Japanese educational programs and of business and industrial enterprises, or they are prominent figures in Japans numerous social, religious , economic, and political organizations. Thus there can be no valid augment against the fact that a comprehensive study of IAI-DO will afford us a realistic contact with large segments of Japanese history and, moreover , that this study will be substantially educational not only with respect to many facets of life in pre-Meijj Japan but in turn in modern age as well. Historian John Whitney Hall notes that most of the difficulty In arriving at an understanding of Japanese history is due to attempts to explain things in terms of western preconceptions. As an alternative , Hall suggests; If the Western observer could but shift his view point and accept Japanese history on its terms, taking explanations from the content of Japanese culture and from the value system of the Japanese people themselves , the results would be quite different, and certainty more comprehensible. The student will of necessity be require to familiarize himself with a rich new technical vocabulary of words and concepts that are peculiar to the art of Japanese’s swordsmanship. Unless this is done, there I little hope of his gaining a genuine intimacy with the subject. It is true that classical combative swordsmanship in Japan was originally taught to protect the individual warrior so that he could better defend a specific nexus .Martial strength is obvious implied by a man armed with a sword, but he use of the word for wanton destruction has always been genuinely discourage. The sword is to be use only in the spirit of goku taihei; To defend the great peace. But their is much more to the art than the physical act of bring the sword into a combative use. The master teachers of swordsmanship, in all age of Japanese history, have consistently pointed to the need for the swordsmen to developed his mind as well as his technique with the blade. Even if the use of the sword is restricted to its practical combative applications, this mind concept urges that the sword must not be used in anger but rather in the furtherance of a sense of enduring loyalty and duty in the service of a superior.
They were men whose thoughts and actions give us a penetrating insight into the enduring cultural forces that have the have
molded the nature of Japanese thought, dictated the strict regulations concerning social conduct, set standards of aesthetic taste, developed a stern and conservative philosophy of life,
and eventually brought the leaders in the political time frame of the Tokugawa han [defense] to great heights as well as to miserable depths of despair. Nonetheless striking is the realization that today , in modern Japan, there are hundreds of thousands of person s of both sexes and in a wide range of age levels who make IAI-DO an important part of their daily lives. Many of these people are as vigorous as were the counterparts in earlier ages, and a considerable number of the modern exponents of IAI-DO are important leaders of Japanese educational programs and of business and industrial enterprises, or they are prominent figures in Japans numerous social, religious , economic, and political organizations. Thus there can be no valid augment against the fact that a comprehensive study of IAI-DO will afford us a realistic contact with large segments of Japanese history and, moreover , that this study will be substantially educational not only with respect to many facets of life in pre-Meijj Japan but in turn in modern age as well. Historian John Whitney Hall notes that most of the difficulty In arriving at an understanding of Japanese history is due to attempts to explain things in terms of western preconceptions. As an alternative , Hall suggests; If the Western observer could but shift his view point and accept Japanese history on its terms, taking explanations from the content of Japanese culture and from the value system of the Japanese people themselves , the results would be quite different, and certainty more comprehensible. The student will of necessity be require to familiarize himself with a rich new technical vocabulary of words and concepts that are peculiar to the art of Japanese’s swordsmanship. Unless this is done, there I little hope of his gaining a genuine intimacy with the subject. It is true that classical combative swordsmanship in Japan was originally taught to protect the individual warrior so that he could better defend a specific nexus .Martial strength is obvious implied by a man armed with a sword, but he use of the word for wanton destruction has always been genuinely discourage. The sword is to be use only in the spirit of goku taihei; To defend the great peace. But their is much more to the art than the physical act of bring the sword into a combative use. The master teachers of swordsmanship, in all age of Japanese history, have consistently pointed to the need for the swordsmen to developed his mind as well as his technique with the blade. Even if the use of the sword is restricted to its practical combative applications, this mind concept urges that the sword must not be used in anger but rather in the furtherance of a sense of enduring loyalty and duty in the service of a superior.
IAIDO CONSIST OF FOUR MOVEMENTS
NUKITSOKE DRAW
KIRITSUKE CUTTING MOVEMENT
CHIURI REMOVING THE BLOOD FROM THE SWORD
NOTO RETURN OF THE SWORD TO THE SAYA OR SCABBARD
MUSHIN NO-MIND-NESS,OR NO THOUGHT NESS WHEN DOING THE ART OF IAIDO TO CLEAR THE MIND.
There are no short cuts, because of are western life style we would like to learn every thing about life in the shortest time possible, with that type of attitude you as a student would misspend your time. there is an very old saying. Rome was not built in a day,
IAI-DO is the threshold of beginning to learn about your self,
the more you are exposed to this ancient art, the more that you will discover about who you are.
I personally have been in the martial since I was ten years old and every day I learn some thing new about myself as well as the martial arts, I look forward to each day as a learning experience.
I personally will never stop learning. IAI-DO has been great enlightening experience for me. When working with the katana. The katana and you become one because the body and sword became an extension of your body with no separation, this takes time to learn as well to experience this great movement. When you do not separate the two. You are at the beginning of threshold of IAI DO. In the art of IAI DO movement becomes second nature, like breathing every day
you are not aware of your breathing, this is the natural feeling of IAI DO when each movement becomes normal with no thought process, at this point in your life you will begin to experience the true meaning of IAI DO
as you gain the knowledge of this martial art.
IAIDO is not for every one, if you are looking for instant results, then this is not for you , do not waste your time. Again there are no short cuts.Time is of no importance ,IAI-DO is timeless if you as a student want to learn, then you will find the time to spent learning IAI-DO. The IAIDO that is taught in the TONG LEONG school is traditional way, the formal classes are taught with great discipline behavior is very important, the student must learn to be patience with them selves.
I have taught IAI-DO to females and children and have great results. If you have the time I have the patience to teach the great art of IAI-DO. My greatest reward is to see my student or students excel, that in its self is my incentive. The classes in IAI-DO begin with politeness and ends with politeness as each student is equal to each other. As you learn the movements of IAI-DO and practice in your spare time, you will begin to improve each student will reach his or hers level. There is no best student as each student will develop themselves and will have a favorite technique, this is what makes IAI-DO great.
Thank you for taking the time to read this document.
Grand Master Manuel Agrella.