Hayai (早い) - To be Fast or Early in Iaido

I wanted to add a metronome into design. Sadly it didn't work out...

Iaido is often practiced and demonstrated slow (especially in contrast to sparring arts like kendo), often because students are handling long metal swords and safety in the dojo is a priority. Being on the younger side of adult Iaidoka however, after some years of slow practice, I wanted to express my iaido in a more dynamic fashion, and figured that swift iaido was where it was at. Swordsmanship was about speed and getting your angles right. If you took your time, your opponent (even imaginary ones) would have beaten you.

During my journey in Iaido, occassionally I would hear sensei utter Osoi (遅い, you're late). Interestingly enough, it was always during the transitions like furikaburi that I would hear such a response. In my youth, I would attempt to move faster, spend less time in these transitions and senseis would either give a subtle nod, or a more generous Yeah, like that~ (そう、そう、そう～)

When sensei said Osoi (you're late) this time, it was during one of the turning waza Koteki Gyakutou. I wasn't going slowly, and yet he said I was late. In his words, if I had drawn like I did, my opponent would have already cut me down. If speed was not the reason I was late, it dawned on me that timing was the reason.

I needed to draw EARLIER.

Imagine going for an appointment, you could either reach the destination on time but out of breath, hot and flustered, or you could arrive early, be well put together and possibly well-informed of any additional information you might need for this appointment. I think I'd like to do the former.

See you in the dojo~

Billy

P.S: Writing this brings me back to a kendo tournament many years back where two kenshi, one a young spritely fellow known for his quick, sniping attacks, faced a much older, stockier guy who'd recently recovered from an illness of sorts. Younger guy was making a flurry of attacks, each parried by the older gentleman quite remarkably. Just then, older guy casually sidesteps, does a slow furikaburi (in kendo at least), and lands his shinai squarely on the younger fellow's head.

My brain was just too full of glue fumes to have made the connection.