In the last few days, several interesting videos came up on video sharing sites. There were old recordings and fresh ones.
Seitei or ZNKR iaido is considered fresh in the history of the „how to use the Japanese sword”. In 1969 (Sowa’s 51st year), the first Zen Nihon Kendo Remei Iaido manual was published with the goal of creating the opportunity for common practice through uniform forms and rules. This will allow them to build a larger “training group” and a larger community.
ZNKR Iaido is constantly evolving and the evidence for that is in 1980 (the 55th year of Showa), 11 years after the first publication, 3 new kata were added. It became 12 forms in the ZNKR Iaido. Also, the descriptions are specified and updated every few years. The purpose of this was stated quite precisely in the Zen Nihon Kendo Remei Iaido manual (quote ZNKR Iaido manual Hungarian version 2011 translation):
1. The explanation follows the spelling of modern Japanese. With a view to facilitating transposition into a foreign language and independent learning, we have made the text more concrete and comprehensible. (only differs from the original Japanese version)
2. The terms have been retained in their original form. In the case of lesser-known punctuation marks, we marked their reading next to the characters. The same sequence of movements is denoted by the same expression. (only differs from the original Japanese version)
3. The technical words have been brought into line with the technical terms.
4. The “Forms of Respect” and “Techniques” are described in the order used under enbu, and further information is classified under the heading “Supplement”. In this way – by transforming the whole manual into a triple structure – we were able to summarize and organize its content in an easy-to-understand form.
5. In describing the forms of respect, we took into account the public agreement of the Iaidō Commission (September 61 of Shōwa). The traditional forms are explained under the heading „Supplement”.
6. The use of sage was introduced as a requirement.
7. The word igi (“meaning of technique”) in the technical part has been replaced by yōgi (“overview”, the main line of technique). This allowed us to describe its content more clearly.
8. The shōmen direction used during the enbu was uniformly used to mark the directions.
9. In the technical part, we have clarified and standardized the terms, and we have made some additions and modifications to the techniques.
ZNKR handbook
Why is it necessary to update the descriptions from time to time and why are the changes needed?
Personal opinion:
1. Change maintains the potential for development.
The opportunity for development is important to me. I can motivate myself with more and more challenges, and with that I can reach levels I would not have dared to dream of at the beginning. My world view and faith will expand.
2. During practice, we catch up habits that need to be corrected.
Many times, we have experienced misunderstandings from translations or interpretations, whether it is a book or a translation of the teaching from a Japanese sensei. (Unfortunately, I don’t speak Japanese, so I’m relying on an interpreter who most often doesn’t translate into my native language.) Have you ever been in the situation when a Japanese sensei gives you some advice and you practice it very seriously, and a year later another Japanese sensei sees what you are doing and says what you were been taught was the compensation for your mistake and not the goal, which comes from a misunderstanding. It’s just like when you want to take a panoramic picture with your phone and try to follow a straight line, sometimes we move a little off the line and then we try to get back to it, but the picture behind it is still the same.
3. The sensei of the ZNKR Iaido Committee want to share with us the essences they have experience in a lifetime practice to show us a way.
Every master has his or her own individual teaching style, everyone has their own interpretations which comes from an experience. For example, when you had some difficulties with a kata or movement and at the and a simple thought navigates you trough. I can’t even imagine what thoughts and clear images a Sensei might have after more than 50 years of practicing. Therefore, we need to realize what is important in we’ve been told is the essence of thought that needs to be understood. What is going on in one’s head, just a very thin part is what the speech can convey. Like when we want to show a whole picture through a telescope. You can scan around and see every detail, but it’s different when you saw the whole picture at once.
4. The level of practice is constantly increasing along with the development of mankind. The level of expectations must also be adjusted accordingly.
The human species is developing, e.g. we no longer use a stone jerk, and his goals are also changing. Why we learn sword techniques is no longer because of our survival, but a possible way for our spiritual and character development. So Iaido needs to become a constantly evolving challenge. One possibility for development is technical development, where expectations are narrowed to cm and degrees. Technical progress is the easiest development, because it is objective and compatible with the original goal of being passed on many people in a uniform way.
These four arguments set out my thinking about the development of the ZNKR Iaido. It is also certain that development is accompanied by change, that there is no uniform acceptance of these changes. My vision is simple. I practice Iaido with passion and because I love challenges of it. I like the effort what I put in it and the goals I achieve. As long as my intentions are clear, so will my actions. For me, the development I see through the videos is positive and encouraging. I do not forget to respect where iaido comes from, I do not forget to practice koryu, they all fit side by side in unity in my passion, in me.