There is no other moment, no other time, that will be as this one right now, we are living in. Ichigo Ichie, roughly translated, means one moment, one opportunity.
#Iaido long island series#
At times it has seemed that I am trying to climb to a mountain peak and when I get there, I notice it is a false summit, with another series of peaks still to climb. It is not a work of perfection but rather one of progress. It is sometimes defined as, an art that emphasizes being aware and capable of drawing the sword and responding to sudden attacks. The “do” means “way”, it is the way of Iai. Iaido is about developing ourselves, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s humorous, when I see it is my ego, that really gets in the way of learning the form. I experience joy, when I know I have reached further and accomplished some little aspect of the form. There is happiness and joy when I have accomplished some aspect of the practice that I had been working on for a long time. Just when I was feeling that I had made some level of accomplishment, there are several new things to be aware of. It has been brutal to my ego, but it is my ego that is the biggest block to the process.
I have ridiculed myself for not being able to comprehend, a technique. Anxiety, that I still have not got it, yet. I have felt depressed because, I was not understanding something and frustrated by just how long it took to get to the understanding. In the emotional, just a swirl of emotions have come up for me. When performing noto, I have poked myself with the kissaki (point) of the blade. In the physical, I have experienced strains, pulled muscles, soreness, a twisted toe and various aches and pains.
When I started to work on the form, I became aware of both physical and emotional occurrences. When I have reached a level of what I think is accomplishment, sensei will point out many new aspects of the form, I must now attempt to include that in my practice. In fact, it is not easy! There are numerous little elements to Iaido and there is an overall flow to the form that is quite difficult to master. I wonder why? Why did I choose Iaido? The truth is, I thought it looked easy, when I watched an old YouTube video, in black and white of a Iaidoka, (Iaido practitioner), executing a form from the sitting position with a wakizashi, (short sword). It will be 3 years in August that I have been practicing Iaido. “It is the right thing for me in this time.” Reflections on Iaido practice by Kasmir Zaratkiewicz, May 4, 2021
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