Iaido

In early August, Yamamoto sensei 6th dan iaido and head instructor led a week-end seminar in Brisbane on Ichimon Shinkage Ryu iaido. Students not only had the opportunity to learn and practise this form of iaido kata, but also to practise tatami (mat) cutting. The seminar finished with a tatami cutting demonstration by Yamamoto sensei.

Yamamoto sense towards the end of his demonstration

Sensei addressing students at the start of the seminar

One of Yamamoto sensei’s students demonstrating iaido kata

Adjusting the tatami mate ready for cutting

One of the seminar participants having her first attempt at mat cutting…

…and a bit surprised by the outcome

Yamamoto sensei in action

 

Bamboo and Mat Cutting

One of the most visually spectacular elements of the 2012 Australian Martial Arts Festival, and the 8th Australian National Gumdo Championships, was the bamboo and mat cutting performances. The mats are soaked in water for at least 24 hours to make them solid. Cutting bamboo is a grading requirement.

I have tried mat cutting a few times, and occasionally have experienced the thrill of the clean, almost magical and effortless cut through the wet mat. Unfortunately, more often the sword wedges itself in the mat, or bounces off the mat or fragments the mat into portions – such that the mat looks like it’s been attacked by a giant, ferocious (and very untidy) rat. So, I can scarcely begin to imagine the degree of training and skill required to slice through several stands of bamboo or multiple numbers of mats at one time. However, this was achieved over the nationals week-end, and very spectacularly – so awe-inspiring.

He is finishing the cutting of the seven bamboo stands with a return cut

If you look where her free hand is positioned, you can see the cut she achieved in the bamboo with this back cut: the bamboo is just beginning to separate from the cut

Even reviewing these photos now for this post, gives me goose-bumps. The level of dedicated training and the concentration to achieve results like this leaves me breathless.

Sword 2

WordPress is not allowing me to add a 4th picture to the sword cutting entry. So this is the second picture which should have followed on from the last picture in the previous series. This second picture was the very next frame – my camera takes 10 frames per second…

Testing sword skills

On Monday evening, I was able to take photos at a local sword cutting seminar. The seminar provided instruction in, and opportunities for, cutting water-soaked tatami mats with “live” blades; and for cutting paper. Both tatami and paper cutting require skill with the sword. The incorrect angle of cutting, or a failure to cut through the tatami results in a butchered and ragged tatami which bears mute but very evident testimony to your ineptitude. Similarly, it is easy to shred or tear suspended newspaper with a sword by simple force. However, to evenly slice through the paper requires a light touch and accuracy. From the seminar:

Stands with tatami ready for cutting

Attempting paper cutting