Beginners

BEGINNERS

Call or Text (918) 935-8364 E-mail info@OKCIaido.com

It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.
- Miyamoto Musashi

Beginning Iaido

You are welcome to visit the dojo during our regular practices on Friday or Saturday. You are welcome to watch or join us during this time.
Before you join practice, you will need to complete the Windsong Dojo waiver.
Students must be at least 13 years old to practice.

Practice

Students should make a concerted effort to arrive to class on-time, with enough time to dress out and prepare for practice.
Students may not come to practice with alcohol on their breath.
When entering or exiting the dojo, give a slight bow.
Please remove your shoes and socks and place them in the cubicles beside the door when you enter.
When stepping on or off the practice mat, please bow to the shinzen.
It is important to make sure your uniform is clean and laundered before practice.
Practice begins and ends with rei ho (bowing).
During practice, please be mindful of your surrounding - even bokken are dangerous.
Horseplay is not allowed.
Each practice is important and unique - you will get out of it what you put into it.

Equipment

At the start, students are encouraged to wear comfortable athletic apparel such as sweatpants and a t-shirt. Please make sure these are long, comfortable pants.
Students may not wear shoes or socks during practice.
Students may not wear jewelry during practice.
If you have any medical conditions or injuries, please advise the instructor before practice.

When ready, students should purchase the following equipment items from recommended vendors.

Bokken (wooden sword) with Tsuba (hand guard)
Plastic Saya (scabbard) with Sageo (cord, dark colors are best, e.g., black, brown, blue, or green)
Hakama (black)
Keiko Gi (black)
Kaku Obi (muted colors are best, e.g., grey, black, white, brown, green, blue)
Furoshiki (wrapping cloth, optional)
Juban (white)

Grading

When students begin iaido, they are dangai ("without grade"). Following that, students test for dan grades (much like the grading system found in Go, the Japanese name for the ancient Chinese strategy game).
The first grade students test for is sho dan (1st Dan), following a minimum of one year of practice and instructor recommendation. Dan grades range from 1st Dan through 10th Dan.
After roku dan (6th Dan), students may test for teaching licenses.

Renshi (after 6th Dan)
Kyoshi (after 7th Dan)
Jun-Hanshi (after 8th Dan)
Hanshi (after 8th Dan Jun-Hanshi)

Students in iaido do not wear belts that indicate grade. Some sageo colors are used to indicate grade or position and are otherwise not used (yellow or gold are for 8th Dan and white is reserved for the soke).

All grades are assessed and awarded by the soke during annual exams (usually held in March).

Dues