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.

Kenjutsu is another of the Japanese martial arts involving the sword. Most kenjutsu practice is paired kata (pre-arranged forms), although there are also solo forms, practical exercises, and cutting (tameshigiri) in some forms of kenjutsu. Most of what are called koryu (ancient styles) include at least some kenjutsu. Some pre-eminent kenjutsu schools whose techniques are still practiced are the following: Katori Shinto-ryu, Kashima Shinto-ryu, Niten Ichi-ryu, and Yagyu Shinkage-ryu.

IAIDO 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.

KENDO is another Japanese martial art based on sword fighting. Kendo practitioners wear protective armor called bogu, and attempt to score points using shinai (a type of bamboo sword). Kendoka frequently shout (kiai) to express their fighting spirit, and their front foot must contact the floor at the moment of a proper strike (fumikomi-ashi). Since there is no sparring included in the art of iaido, many iaidoka also practice kendo.

BATTOJUTSU refers to some of the other Japanese arts that involve drawing the sword. One notable difference in the schools that call themselves Battojutsu rather than Iaido or Iaijutsu is that they typically place more emphasis on cutting with the sword after it is drawn. Iaido tends to focus on a quick draw that may also be used to cut the opponent, whereas Battojutsu is more likely to involve several cuts after the draw is complete. Some iaido schools frown on actual practice cutting, while Battojutsu schools often engage in cutting practice (called tameshigiri).