The traditional Japanese fencing (kenjutsu) developed from feudal age in hundred of different styles, whose some of them are still surviving nowadays, as the Yagyu Shinkage Ryū, the Katori Shintō Ryū, the Musō Shinden Ryū. They originate the modern forms of Kendō and Iaidō, as well as, through the study of Ueshiba Morihei and his disciples, of the Aikiken (Aiki method of the sword), which complete the Aikido bare hands forms together with the Aikijo (Aiki method of the stick).
The Iaidō pursuit the perfecting of the art to draw the sword and to cut in a single move. The practice is based on the use of a not-sharpening sword (iaitō) for the learning of the basics of drawing (nukitsuke), cut (kiritsuke), symbolic cleaning of the blade from the blood (chiburi) and sheathing (notō). The Musō Shinden Ryū included 4 series of kata, as well as the practice of cut with a real sword (katana) on targets as matting or canes (tameshi giri), and the study of the forge of the Japanese sword.

For more information: European Iaidō Federation