Roshukai Ireland Iaido

Our MJER forms as written down by Iwata Norikazu Sensei.
There are many variations, some with less, some with more forms,some even include the Seitei forms alongside them.
Since the 17th Headmaster Oe Masamichi , the MJER has been in a constant splinter, who is the most legitimate, who knows the correct way. It will always be like this, as it was long before Oe Sensei.
All we can do is train and enjoy the journey.

Japanese Swordsmanship by Don Draeger, great historical information, Seitei Kata 1 to 10 explained alongside photographs.
At the start of the book he shows the correct grip of the Tsuka,as performed by Otake Risuke, showing where the left little finger is off the Kashira.After this we see the Seitei Kata grip, performed by Mitsuzuki Takeshi with the more common closer grip.
Otake Sensei explains in greater detail why Katori Shinto Ryu uses this grip in his own books however most schools, our own MJER uses the closer grip.
Small differences, different reasoning, hopefully same results...
As always, happy to hear other opinions.

A strange position, using the sword in a close situation.How deeply you cut is determined with how you visualiise where your imaginary opponent will be.
We do practice going very deep to have the flexibility if it was actually needed.

Photo by Chris Martin.

Nukitsuki, there are many variations, speed, intensity, target etc. It is likely the first thing we are taught in Iai and is our most practiced technique.
It may be our most important defence ,Sen Sen No Sen.

The Japanese sword, practicality and beauty from the fittings to the blade.

Makino Sensei, from Chiba, he was a great teacher, he trained intensely alone, even as he was in his early 80s at the time.He was deeply interested in applications to the forms.His skill with how to use your body was inspiring, I believe his Karate training helped with his own Iai and teaching Iai.When he heard I was a Karateka as well he did some Karate with me.The translator was also a Karateka so we were all doing Sanchin , with Katana in our Obi, fun times, while I was trying to be strong and getting whacked.
Although not my style, I told Sensei that it was Shotokan that I studied, and his reply was that he used to do Shotokan prior to starting his Goju Ryu training,I asked who his teacher was , Chojun Miyagi was the reply.He knew many things yet when Iwata Sensei spoke about the school he listened intently, like he was just starting out.
Dedication can last a lifetime.

We are called Roshukai because our Sensei, Iwata Norikazu Hanshi named his teachingsRoshukai.
He spent most of his life practicing with the Deshi of Oe Masamichi, and continued to meet old Iaidoka who had practiced under other teachers who practiced under Oe Masamichi.
His name choice was to pay the utmost respect to Oe Masamichi, his teaching were directly from the lineage, hence he named it Roshu kai.
He saw how Iai was changing, with Seitei and other reasons, and his writings, his group and his extensive travelling was to keep Oe Masamichi Iai from dying.
Today we have people saying his teachings are Iwata Ha, the teachings have always came from what way his teachers performed the forms.He knew many variations and tried to teach them.
He had been so strict so that we wouldn't start doing our own things, but keep the forms. I can think of maybe one form where he combined several of his teachers forms into his , but still taught how each teacher performed each Waza.
I don't think he would approve of Roshukai being called Iwata Ha, even if it does come from a place of respect to him.
We just didn't get enough time with him.

Pretend, pretend, pretend.

Iai, the imaginary opponent does X. you do Y, you do X and the imaginary opponent does Y.
Of course we can practice Bunkai, and we also have two man "partner" work, both also pretend.

Okay , don't get too offended.

Traditional Martial Arts have maintained some movements and strategies from, hopefully, actual fighting experiences and this is all we have left. It could all appear very negative, a hopeless place to try to discover the reality of battle or at the very least ,a mild confrontation.
This is why we don't say we are going to become skilled swordsmen, we might , albeit unlikely, become great at the sword performance so what is the actual point of our many hours in the Dojo?
Well, we all get different things and maybe all of our pretending isn't a complete waste of our lives.

Hanmi or Shomen, the big hip question.Too much either way is probably wrong.Natural movement is always the correct way.