IAIDO.COM recommends the Japanese Martial Arts Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where intensive courses are offered in iaido, judo, and jujutsu (jujitsu). Kendo is practiced in a weekly workshop. See the Japanese Martial Arts Center site.

IAIDO - the way of the sword, is a martial art form that began as an off-shoot of kenjutsu. It was developed as a defensive method to counter surprise attacks and enemy raids in fifteenth and sixteenth century Japan. The purpose of iaido was to slay an opponent with one stroke of the sword immediately after unsheathing it. In order to create such a defense system, situations and circumstances of surprise attacks were studied to devise a systematized way to use the sword effectively against many forms of attack.

The practice of this martial art requires a solemn spirit, extreme concentration, and skill. Every motion, such as the movements of the arms or legs and body, must correspond to the offensive motions of the opponent, and it is of utmost importance that a person follow the rules of discipline that have been carefully and thoroughly applied.

The secret to iaido is a calm spirit. With a tranquil heart you put your hand on the hilt of your sword - in a split second your hand moves to cut down the opponent and resheath the sword - then return to your composed mind. A serene spirit must be cultivated at all times. It is said that the sword is like the mind, and if the sword is upright, the mind is upright. But if the mind is not upright, the sword can never be wielded properly.

Even though you may devote yourself to it with all your heart and soul, it is very difficult to master iaido completely. It is possible, though, to move one step at a time toward the ultimate goal through practice.

The late Yamaguchi Katsuo - Meijin, 10th Dan

Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido

The Japanese Sword, known as the katana, was considered the ultimate weapon of the samurai, to be used not only as a fighting tool, but also as a means of achieving enlightenment. Through incessant practice in the ways of kenjutsu, a warrior was thought to be able to shed his illusions and more clearly perceive truth. The evolution of the Japanese blade, from the early chokuto to the tachi, and finally to the katana (along with its companion blades, the wakizashi and tanto), closely parallels the evolution of the samurai philosophy, which encompasses Shintoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and the eminently practical warrior Zen.