Iai-Tate Do: Japanese Swordsmanship Iai-Tate Do is a blend of traditional Iaido (a martial art which utilizes the Japanese sword) and the more combative sword art known as Tate Do. The Japan Iai-Tate Do Federation was founded by Yamazaki Kiyoshi Sensei, located in Anaheim, California. The style of Iai-Tate Do practiced by the Federation is Kashima Shinto Ryu, which originated in Japan in the middle of the 15th century. Chief Instructor Kiyoshi Yamazaki Kiyoshi Yamazaki Sensei, a 6th dan master of Iai-Tate Do, is also the international chief instructor of Japan Karate-do Ryobu-kai, and is a dedicate martial artist with a lifetime of experience in a number of martial arts. He holds the rank of 7th-degree black held in Shindo Jinen Ryu Karate-do and Shito-ryu Karate-do. His expertise in Iai-Tate Do and the martial arts has attracted producers in Hollywood; he has served as a technical advisor, instructor, and even acted in several movies. His celebrity students include Arnold Schwarzeneger, Sting, Richard Hatch, Sandal Bergman, Wilt Chamberlain, Bridget Nelson, and Grace Jones. The most recent credit on the big screen is the movie "Dragon Heart". His most recent TV credit is "Conan: The Barbarian". Class Locations: ANAHEIM DOJO Yamazaki Sensei, Chief Instructor 1512 Euclid Street Anaheim, CA 92802 714-774-5730 Mon: 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM (Beginners) Wed: 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM (Advanced) Sat: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (Advanced) CHICAGO DOJO Cieplik Sensei 403 Douglas Avenue Arlington Heights, IL 60004 847-253-9870 Call for class schedule A Typical Class All classes begin with meditation, followed by warm-up exercises. Once completed, the ten formal seitei-gata techniques (basic kata) as well as the more difficult Tate-Do kata are performed, depending on the individual student's rank. A wooden bokken or an iaito (unsharpened sword replica) is use by all students for the first year or two until they can safely perform the techniques of drawing, cutting, and noto (placing the blade back into the scabbard). More advanced students are expected to use a Nihonto (true Japanese sword). Meditation is repeated at the end of class. The Ten Formal Kata of Iai-Do: The Seitei Gata Techniques 1.Mae Nuki-Uchi (Front nuki-uchi cut): A draw directed at a forward opponent from a seated posture (the opponent is also seated). 2.Ushiro Nuki-Uchi (Rearward nuki-uchi cut): A draw directed at an opponent seated behind the swordsman, who is also in seiza (seated). 3.Uke Nagashi (Deflection. Literally means "to receive and wash away"): A rising block followed by a kesagiri cut. 4.Tsuka-ate (Striking with the butt end of the sword): A strike with the butt end of the sword hilt (the kashira) to a facing opponent followed by a thrust to a rearward opponent followed by a kiri otoshi cut against the front opponent. 5.Kesagiri (Cutting on a diagonal): named after the cut, a kata involving both a kesagiri cut and a gaku (reversed) kesagiri cut. Executed in tachi (standing). 6.Morote-tsuki (Two-handed thrust): A forward kasume giri cut, followed by a thrust forward, after which a kiri otoshi cut is made against opponents located first to the rear and then to the front. 7.Sampo Giri (Three-directional cutting): Involves cuts directed at opponents located to the right, left, and front of the swordsman. 8.Gammen-ate (Face strike): A forward strike with the butt end (kashira) of the katana, followed by a rearward thrust and then a forward kiri otoshi. 9.Soete Tsuki (Joined hands thrust): Opponent attacks from the left with an overhead cut which is avoided and responded to by a one-handed kesagiri cut and a forward thrust. 10.Shiho Giri (Four directional cutting): A kata that deals with opponents at four angles of attack. The Japan Iai-Tate Do Federation Advanced Kata 1.Ha-Koken: "Eight Directional Lightning Strike" 2.Kabuto Ware: "Helmet Breaker" 3.Tsuka Kote Kai Shi: "Tsuka Wrist Lock" 4.Oikaze: "Against the Wind" 5.Hiji Ate Giri: "Elbow Push Cut" 6.Iri Mi Kote Giri: "Go Inside & Cut Forearm" 7.Tanashita: "From Under Floor" 8.Koko: "Mouth of the Tiger" 9.Yokogumo: "Fogbank" (Bank of Clouds) 10.Yai Gaki Kokyu Giri: "Stone Foundation Breathing Mind Cut" Kiritsuke: The Cutting Techniques 1.Kesa-Giri: a diagonal cut from the top right to the bottom left, or the top left to the bottom right. 2.Kiri-otoshi: an overhead cut; from top to bottom. 3.Kasume Giri: a strike to the temple. 4.Nuki-uchi: cutting horizontally from left to right. 5.Tsuki: a stabbing or thrusting movement. 6.Osi-Giri: "Halted cut". The final cut in the kata Ha-Koken. A kiri otoshi cut made against a prone opponent which is stopped before contacting the opponent. 7.Sukui-Giri: a cut to the ankles. 8.Gaku-te Hachiji Giri: a one-handed back-hand cut. 9.Tsu-te Yoko Giri: a backhanded cut with the second hand in support. 10.Ka-Tate Jodan Kiri-Tsuki: a one-handed strike to the top of the head. The History of Iai-Do Written by Sensei Brian Stokes President, 5th Dan Japan Iai-Tate Do Federation Founded in mid 15th century Japan by Choisai Ienao at the Katori Shinto Shrine. This style was the first of the formalized Iai schools. Students from the Katori school went on to start their own schools, one of which was the Kashima Shinto Ryu. The most famous of these schools was Batto-Jutsu. About 1450 A.D., Choisai Ienao founded the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. This individual, an excellent swordsman to begin with, buried himself within the confines of the Katori Shinto Shrine, a very large monastery-like establishment about 40 miles northwest of modern Tokyo. He emerged 1,000 days later with a series of kata for many of the weapons available during that era, but in particular, the katana or Japanese sword. Few will argue that the Katori Shinto Ryu was the first of the formalized Iai schools. It was not long after the establishment of this ryu that other schools began to make their appearance. Some of these schools were begun in other parts of Japan by students of the Katori school, some of whom incorporated some of the regional sword styles, while others developed independent of the Katori school. The Kashima Shinto style, developed at the Kashima Shinto Shrine, the sister shrine of the Katori shrine, was developed by Tsukahara Bukoden when he incorporated some of the elements of the Kage style. Perhaps the most famous of these later schools is Batto-Jutsu, developed by Hayashizaki Jinsuke Shigenobu (1546-1621).