I'm shimming my saya and, as expected, made the koiguchi too small, so I'm busily sanding and checking the fit.

To save me going too far and having to start again, at what point do I stop? Imaged are where we are now. I think I need to carry on, but it is technically safe now, it fits snuggly, no way it can fall out even if tilted, but it looks too much habaki for me. I don't recall how it looked when I got it.

But I'll probably keep saying that until there is no visible habaki and then what was the point? 😄

I'm wondering as well if it will get further in with some use.

This is my first shim, my older iaito I just used to use nail varnish, so forgive my lack of confidence.

Edit Thanks all :)

I swear when I got it there was a gap, as I remember thinking I'd keep an eye and when it started to shrink, but I can't find any images from when I first got it.

I'll keep sanding!

Edit edit Found an image, not a good angle, there is a gap but it's half a cm at most. I'll maybe stop just before I get there and then use it to let it ease in the last few mm.

Hi everyone , I’m changing styles. RSR requires me to have something closer to 2.45 or 2.4 . The original price of my iaito custom was $1920 willing to sell for $1000 let me know via Dm if interested .willing to provide pictures . Was used for one class after sensei said it wouldn’t be a good fit . Thank you . I currently live in Chattanooga and willing to ship .

So I recently got this bokuto from a secondhand shop in Hiroshima-Ken. I fenced in school so I was interested in owning one. Apparently the mark at the bottom is Aramaki, but I know nothing beyond that. Would be super helpful if someone could let me know what I’ve got!

I heard through the grapevine from my Senpai and 2nd Iaido Sensei that at the last Iaido seminar the Hanshi's decided that they are removing the sageo for setei iaido? Today at practice we were told to remove our sageo and change how we do reiho. Thoughts from the community? Is this true or a bad case or telephone? Personally I really like having the sageo and enjoy the historical aspects of the sageo too.

I've seen 7 Samurai and several others, but what are your favorite movies with genuinely good sword-play?

Hello, I'm new to the art of Iaido and am looking for a place to train. I'm in Spartanburg SC and not having any luck finding an instructor. I reached out to a Kendo club that's about an hour away but they don't know of anyone in state. I'm hoping someone here has some recommendations. Thanks in advance

Hi Guys, need your thoughts on this.

I recently join small dojo and pretty new in Iaido. As newbie, I am excited to get new sword. Sensei has sword to sell but almost 40% more that i can outsource outside. Will sensei got offended if I got it from outside? how to avoid it?

Onengaishimasu

Hello everyone! I posted quite a bit ago asking about where to buy used Iaito and yall were SUPER useful. I ended up settling on just buying a new sword from swordis, specifically there only pre made Iaito. The sword is by shadow dancer and it was alittle more then what I intended to spend LOL listing at 400 however I grabbed it on a sale for 320. Did I overspend? Is shadow dancer a good company? And for when I grab a shinken, is shadow dancer a good company tameshigiri ? Thanks guys!

I have some nice silk sageo that have picked up green stains from the shitodome, which are gold-plated. The sageo are otherwise in nice condition and are pricy to replace, so I was hoping to touch them up.

I know silk can be rather fragile as far as what cleaning products you can use, so I was hoping practitioners here would have good tips on how to rejuvenate them.

Any ideas?

(@syuushinryuu) (Isao Machii) Does anyone have more in depth info on his school? There's not much out there and I'm really curious about his odd te-no-uchi and how "he uses the bodies mechanics to cut" if anyone has any info, please let me know. Have a great day 🙏

En un mes pasaremos unas semanas en Tokyo. Podríais hacerme recomendaciones de tiendas interesantes de Iaido? Quizá alguna que venda obis y sageos bonitos y alguna tsuba curiosa. Si no son muy caras mejor. Muchas gracias

Hello everyone this is my first time here :). I recently started taking Iaito lessons at a traditional budokan and was told I have to have my own Iaito by the start of my third month. Ive been looking online and can’t find many places that sell the aluminum ones or just used ones. I’m also looking for a uniform, my sensei says tonzando is really good but they’re over 200. Thank you all in advanced :))

Estas son las Tsubas que empecé haciendo para mi y ahora las tiene todo el Dojo.

Son de maderas de las que usan los constructores de instrumentos musicales.

La primera que hice era de sólo una capa y al primer impacto se rajó en la línea de la fibra.

A partir de ahí puse tres capas: 1ª y 3ª horizontal y la 2ª vertical el sentido de la fibra. Este sistema las hace muy resistentes.

Uso modelos de Tsuba tradicionales de los que me he hecho plantillas en PLA, para la forma y el hueco central, que después hay que ajustar cuidadosamente.

Aquí consigo las maderas, supongo que en cada país se podrán comprar localmente.
https://www.madinter.com/es/maderas/palas-y-puentes.html

En esta de la foto las maderas son: Palo Rojo - Iroco - Nogal europeo. Bien lijado y con una mezcla de aceites y cera de abejas. Queda fenómeno, bueno, a mi me gusta y a mis compañeros.

Cuando me dan el bokken recién comprado, lo acuchillo (no sé cómo se traducirá esto) y lo lijo hasta muy muy fino, queda muy suave. Luego le aplico el mismo producto.

En las imágenes se puede ver antes de lijar y dar cera y luego, la plantilla es para centrar el agujero.

Espero que esto inspire a algún practicante, no puedo soportar el plastiquete y la goma esa con la que vienen.

He vectorizado y convertido a .stl, Tsubas tradicionales para mi aito.

El ajuste es exacto a mi Nakago, a diferencia de la de hierro que venía del fabricante.

Son muy resistentes y con el iaito no hay encuentros con el de otro compañero, como con el bokken.

Se pueden lijar y barnizar y tienen un acabado muy bueno. Si se hacen con PLA férrico, se oxida pero me parece menos resistente que el de fibra de carbono.

Espero que inspire a algún compañero. Tengo los STL disponibles.
https://makerworld.com/es/models/3273998-tsubas-para-iaito#profileId-3712798

Un saludo

My club mentioned that they put glue on top of their ito to keep them secure and tight, was wondering if anyone else has heard of this, and what glue would you recommend?

I've searched everywhere I could, and have not found anything on this

Does anyone know of any good forums or sites to sell Iaito on? I've tried a few general sword sites/forums and some local spots/dojos, but don't know if I'm in the right spaces for this type of sword.

Sorry if this isn't within proper conduct, or if it's already been asked. And thanks in advance.

I just saw a post on the fb-page of my local dojo from a person in my iaido class, who posted some thoughts about respect for the dojo, and how he thinks you shouldn't speak unnecessarily, ask too many questions or laugh and joke in the dojo, and it made me worried about my own behaviour, and if I'm being disrespectful without being aware of it.

I understand wanting the dojo to be a place for respect and quiet focus, but isn't it possible to still be respectful while being jovial and having fun with one another? and isn't asking questions a necessary part of learning?

Both of my sensei are people who tend to joke around sometimes, and that has created a relaxed atmosphere where I feel comfortable being myself, and one of the sensei and I even have some iaido related inside jokes between the two of us.

So because of that friendly atmosphere I have on some occasions made a joke while we're standing around after listening to the sensei talk about the details of a kata or something like that. I'm not talking about interrupting or talking during a demonstration, but maybe a joking comment or observation at the end of a demonstration before we get started with our kata. When we do the kata I'm focusing on my own shit so ofc I'm not talking, but if my sensei is looking at me doing a kata and I make a mistake I sometimes point it out to them as a way of self-correcting and letting them know that I know I made a mistake. In my eyes that's just part of the communication between teacher and student.

Am I being disrespectful by not being silent and stoic while in the dojo? I'm not a very serious person, but I am very serious about iaido and learning the art, so I would appreciate some input from all of you.

What are your thoughts on this? How is it in your dojo? Are jokes or idle chit-chat something that's frowned upon?

Looking to try iaido and I’m wondering if anyone knows much about iaido Nashville. As Its the only dojo in my reach, I intend to go there, but wanted to hear some other folks thoughts first.

Some months ago I bought a new iaito with a yellowish/mustard color tsukaito. It’s super beautiful to me. But after some time the color has started to darken because of use, which I think it’s completely normal.

But still I want to know if there’s a way to provide cleaning to it. Any recommendations? does alcohol work well? I know rubbing is a bad idea.

It was a nice day out, so I was able to get my 4 favorite swords out for photo shoot! First is the Howard Clark L6 with the turquoise carved saya, and been nubuk wrap by evolution blades. The fittings and polish are Josiah boomershine.

Next is my Evoultion blades Motohara, heavy target cutter. Mokomue fittings, caved says, with a green tint to the samegawaw panel on the saya, and a giant O Kissaki.

Then we have my work horse, it’s an evolution blades Motohara XMC, xtreeme matt cutter. It’s still the best mat slayer I’ve ever held or seen. Blue silk ito, demon theme thought the sword fittings.

Then my Tozando Iaito. My Dojo mate calls it the watermelon because of the green leather ito, red washed samegawa. It’s a barest snowing if what happens to blankend brass after you use it for years. I handle this stowed by far the most, and it shows. All the blamed brass is turning a copper color from my hands rubbing them. I actually love the patina it’s developing.

The Clark sword killed its first 10 tatami mats today. It cuts extremely well. On par with my motohara heavy target cutter. Obviously without the crazy geometry evolution blades does on the XMC, nothing cuts as well as those. I’m sure if I gave Howard the dimensions, he could have done it. I simply asked Howard to make me a 30 inch blade, for cutting mats, and let him decide the rest.

This ShadowDancer katana tsuka came in for a new look and I was happy to provide it. This tsuka has very nice fittings for a production katana, very detailed and in a lovely wave theme.

I added new top level samegawa, polished and bright white and featuring an emperor's node. I then wrapped it in tsumami-maki style with beautiful Tetsu silk ito, imported from Japan.

I love how the first and second primary nodules aligned perfectly on either side of the last ito crossover, before the omote end knot.

It's off to join it's blade and serve it's owner well for years to come