Samurai Journey: Iaido "Lightning Draw"

Make no mistake that despite the decorum and efficient beauty of the likes of the Tea Ceremony in which we participated, Feudal Japan was, in fact, a martial culture. Most things during this era had a military or combat "edge" to them, whether relating to how you held your rice-bowl when you ate (i.e. with your thumb over the lip of the edge to prevent someone from knocking it out from below and thus distracting you while they drew their blade to strike you) or how you walked down the street, and so, not surprisingly, Samurai warriors developed a method of deploying the swords at their sides in a fashion that was absolutely blinding to the untrained eye. Similar to our Wild West gunslingers and their notorious alacrity with drawing and firing a six-shooter, the Japanese art of Iaido emphasized drawing one's blade to strike or block from a variety of positions to ensure one's survival and safety, even from a relaxed, sitting or kneeling posture.

Pitchford Sensei again took Peri on a fantastic journey through this art, allowing her to understand the deft hand that it took to draw one's blade not only with speed, but with effective targeting to lethal effect. He also kept Peri laughing when she would grasp the handle of her bokken too rigidly or forcefully. He would say, "You're grabbing it like it's a ham sandwich, Peri! You have to grab it like you're petting a dog. Softly. Gently. Your blade is your friend. It's your pet. Treat it smoothly and nicely and it will protect you." From that point forward, whenever she would forget, he would call out, "Dog! Not sandwich!". She would laugh and change her grip/draw, and eventually, got to where she could move with considerable effect.