Preface vii
Acknowledgments viii
How to Use This Book ix

Introduction 1
What Is Iaido? 3
Why Practice Iaido? 6
A Brief History of Japanese Swordsmanship 8
The Evolution of Eishin-Ryu Iaido 12
What You Need to Practice Iaido 14
About the Japanese Sword 16
How to Wear the Obi and Hakama 20
Etiquette and the Code of the Samurai 23

Basic Techniques 25
How to Bow 27
Fundamentals of Practice 36
How to Read the Illustrations 42
Seated Set 43
Drawing Methods Set 83

The Intermediate and Advanced Practitioner 101
Intermediate and Advanced Practice 103
The Samurai Sitting Method 106
Eye Contact, Focus, and Dignity 108

Intermediate Techniques 111
Secret Forms, Drawing Methods Set 113
Half-Seated Set 126
Secret Forms, Standing Set 156

Advanced Techniques 187
Secret Forms, Seated Set 189
Secret Forms, Extra Set 209
Sword Methods 222

Glossary 237
Bibliography 245
Index 247