In a world that prizes speed, it can feel counterintuitive to move slowly — especially in a martial art where decisive, lightning-fast draws and cuts are celebrated. Yet in Iaijutsu, there is a timeless principle: “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”
Practising slowly is not laziness, nor is it hesitation. It is deliberate. Controlled repetition at a measured pace builds the very foundation for true speed, precision, and awareness.
Why Train Slowly?
1. Building Muscle Memory
When you move slowly, every detail of your form is revealed. The path of the blade, the timing of the saya-biki, the coordination of footwork and hips — nothing can be hidden in slow motion.
By repeating movements at this tempo, the body begins to encode the correct motion into muscle memory. Later, when speed is introduced, the technique will flow naturally without distortion.
2. Training Awareness
Fast movement often masks mistakes. Slow practice strips away that illusion.
-
Is your grip too tight?
-
Do your shoulders rise during the cut?
-
Does your breathing stop halfway?
When you practise slowly, you can catch and correct these habits before they become ingrained.
3. Cultivating Control Before Power
Iaijutsu is not about brute strength; it’s about efficiency and control. Moving slowly teaches you to guide the sword with precision. The sword should never feel heavy or unwieldy — slow repetition teaches you how to let the body and blade move as one.
4. Developing Zanshin (Lingering Awareness)
Slow training encourages mindfulness. You remain connected to every stage of the waza, from draw to noto. This attentiveness strengthens your zanshin — your ability to stay aware after each technique, rather than rushing to the next.
How to Practise Slowly
1. Isolate a Single Technique
Choose one waza — for example, Mae or Yaegaki. Practise it at half or even quarter speed, focusing on smoothness of movement.
2. Breathe With Each Phase
Link your breath to each stage: inhale as you prepare, exhale as you draw and cut, inhale as you settle into zanshin. This ties your awareness to your body.
3. Use Mirrors or Video
Slow movement makes it easier to self-correct. Watch yourself carefully to ensure posture, hasuji (blade angle), and footwork are aligned.
4. Repeat Consistently
Repetition is the key. Ten slow, perfect repetitions are more valuable than fifty rushed ones. Quality before quantity.
Final Thought: The Paradox of Speed
The paradox of Iaijutsu is that true speed comes not from rushing, but from removing wasted motion (Muda). Slow practice is the sharpening stone that polishes away hesitation, tension, and error.
So when you next train, resist the urge to “go fast” to feel powerful. Instead, move slowly — with full awareness. Smoothness will come. And from smoothness, true speed will emerge.
Because in Iaijutsu, slow is smooth… and smooth is fast.
