Seitei
Click here to go to the desctription of the formsThe art of drawing the sword
Seitei Iai Kata has its roots in Kendo , a lot of the basic footwork and stances can be seen within it. Many great masters of Kendo also practised Iai as well as other martial arts. Because of the restriction put on the martial arts by SCAP , Kendo and most of the martial arts that were practised in pre-war Japan were forced to re-invent themselves. When modern Kendo was reintroduced in 1953 it bore very little resemblance to pre-war Kendo and was destined to become virtually a pure sport. Because of this some of the traditional sword schools would not join the ZNKR but would carry on their own traditions, and associations. Some of the traditional schools do not practise or recognise Seitei iai as they consider it to be to young and does not embody the tradition of martial arts, but is for sportsmen only. The koryu forms practised by the traditional schools were once new, and were probably not accepted in their time either. Either way Seitei Iai kata is a good starting point for learning swordsmanship.
The origin of the forms of Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Seitei Kata started in 1967 when it was realised that the majority of modern Kendo practitioners in the ZNKR had little or no experience of the techniques of using a real or live sword. And had realised that Kendo had become the way of the shinia . A committee was set up, comprising of the following members.
- Danzaki Tomoaki, 9 th Dan Hanshi,
- Yamatsuta Jukichi, 9 th Dan Hanshi,
- Yamamoto Harasuke, 9 th Dan Hanshi,
- Masaoka Ichijitsu, 9 th Dan Hanshi,
- Muto Shuzo, Hanshi, 9 th Dan Hanshi
- Kamimoto Eichi, 9 th Dan Hanshi,
- Yoshizawa Ikki, 9 th Dan Hanshi,
- Suetsugo Tomezo 8 th Dan Hanshi,
- Nukada Hisashi, 8 th Dan Hanshi,
- Ohmura Tadaji, 8 th Dan Hanshi
- Sawayama Shuzo 8 th Dan Kiyoshi
Six members of this committee were asked to formulate seven forms that would represent the basic techniques of the sword. The seven forms of Seitei Iaido were introduced into general practice in 1968. By 1977 it was realised that the seven forms were incomplete, a new committee was formed, to reassess the situation. The new committee was comprised of the following.
- Danzaki Sensei 9 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Shinden Ryu
- Kamimoto Sensei 9 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Shinden Ryu
- Hashimoto Sensei 9 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Jikiden Ryu
- Wada Sensei 8 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Shinden Ryu
- Mitani Sensei 8 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Jikiden Ryu
- Sawayama Sensei 8 th Dan Hanshi, Hoki Ryu
In 1980 the findings of this committee were announced, three new forms were introduced into the Seitei Kata, all were Tachi Waza .
These ten forms today are practised by all dojos that belong to the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei, and could be used as a standard for gradings nationally and internationally.
It must be understood that the Seitei Kata is not static. Each year a panel of masters review the forms and occasionally small changes are made, this enables the Seitei kata to be a living art and to ensure that the standard is maintained and that its original purpose is not lost.
In 2000 two new forms were added to Seitei kata, these are So-Giri and Nuki-Uchi
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