Outdoor and Rec Athletics 0117 - Iaido, Japanese Swordsmanship

Debated as the most superbly engineered sword in the world, the katana has deep roots in Japanese culture. Popularly recognized as the icon of samurai warriors as their primary weapon on the historical battlefield, Iaido reinvents the use of the sword as a means of precision and refinement inspired by less chaotic situations. As glamorous and exciting as it can be to draw and cut with a sword, can it be cared for and re-sheathed with the same respect? As a form-based martial art, Iaido is practiced without an opponent. Its principal function is the study of kata (forms), which consist of four primary coordinations: 1.Nukitsuke, drawing cut; 2.Kiritsuke. finishing cut; 3. Chiburi, cleansing the blade; and 4. Noto, returning the sword to the scabbard. Students will begin by studying these basics and then practicing the prescribed order of kata to learn how they function within one imagined situation to another. (((This course is designed for repeat enrollment - intermediate and advanced students will progress to more complicated material each semester.))) Instructor permission is required. Uniforms and equipment are provided by the instructor. Instructor permission is granted ONLY in-person during attendance within the add/drop period. REQUESTS FOR EARLY PERMISSION PRIOR TO THE FIRST CLASS WILL NOT BE HONORED FOR HAMPSHIRE OR 5-COLLEGE STUDENTS. ABSOLUTELY NO WEARING OF jeans, jewelry, watches, hats, shoes or socks during class. Class meets on the gym floor near the climbing wall in the Robert Crown Center. 5-College students will be graded pass/fail

This class may be used for CEL 1 credit.