Seitei Iai
制定居合 · Seitei iai
Literally: „standard iai“
Also known as: Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iai, Zen Ken Ren Iai, Zenkenren Iai, Seitei-gata, ZNKR Iai
Twelve standard iaido forms that the All Japan Kendo Federation introduced in 1969 and expanded by 2000. They serve as the basis for both grading examinations and competitions.
Quick Facts
About the kata
Seitei Iai, officially Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iai, is a set of twelve forms in which the practitioner draws the sword and cuts against an imagined opponent. The All Japan Kendo Federation, per the English Wikipedia, uses them as the benchmark for grading exams and shiai competitions. The Japanese Wikipedia adds that federation dojo practise them alongside the older koryu schools. The three opening forms, Mae, Ushiro and Ukenagashi, begin seated in seiza, the fourth, Tsuka-ate, in the kneeling iai hiza, and the remaining eight — Kesagiri, Morote-zuki, Sanpogiri, Ganmen-ate, Soete-zuki, Shihogiri, Sogiri and Nukiuchi — are practised standing. Per the federation's manual, in Robert D. Stroud's English translation, each form has the same phases: the draw, nukitsuke (nukiuchi in the last form), cuts or strikes, shaking off blood, chiburi, and sheathing, noto. As a general rule the manual advises starting each form on the third breath and, if possible, completing it in a single breath. It describes the gaze as enzan no metsuke, with half-closed eyes, hangan.
Meaning of the name
The official name is Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iai (全日本剣道連盟居合), abbreviated Zen Ken Ren Iai (全剣連居合). It is commonly called seitei or seitei-gata, which the English Wikipedia interprets as standard sword-drawing forms; the Japanese Wikipedia also gives the notation 制定居合. The set must be distinguished from Toho, the five forms of the All Japan Iaido Federation (Zen Nihon Iaido Renmei), taken from five main schools.
Creator and history
The All Japan Kendo Federation was founded in 1952; per the English Wikipedia its expert committee drew elements from the sword schools Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu, Muso Shinden-ryu and Hoki-ryu. The Japanese Wikipedia names only the first two and says the sword etiquette at the start and end of practice also comes from them. In 1969 the federation introduced seven forms. Three more, Ganmen-ate, Soete-zuki and Shihogiri, were added, per the manual's revision history, on 21 March 1980, effective 1 April that year; the English Wikipedia gives 1981. The Japanese Wikipedia says this fixed the number at ten, after the model of Nihon Kendo Kata. The last two forms, Sogiri and Nukiuchi, were added on 2 November 2000, effective 1 April 2001. The manual also records revisions from 1976, 1988 and 2006.
Bunkai – applications
The federation's manual gives an imagined situation for each form. In Mae the practitioner cuts an opponent in front from above, makko kara no kiri oroshi; in Ushiro the same behind. In Ukenagashi they deflect a strike with the blade's shinogi; in Tsuka-ate they strike the hilt's pommel (tsuka gashira) into an opponent's suigetsu in front. In Kesagiri they cut diagonally upward as the opponent raises a sword. In Sanpogiri they face three opponents — front, right, left; in Shihogiri, four. In Ganmen-ate they strike the face with the hilt, in Soete-zuki they thrust the abdomen with a supporting hand, and in Nukiuchi they answer an opponent opposite who suddenly cuts.
Common Mistakes
The federation's manual warns that after tucking the sword back into the obi, the practitioner should not move it back and forth or twist the hilt.
Key Tip
According to the federation's manual, the hilt is held as if the practitioner were lightly gripping a hen's egg.