The following technical points distinguish dojos of the Nakayamakai:

1) the short form of the iai kata as transmitted;

2) the nine movement jo kata;

3) the five awase (kumitachi);

4) 7/8 of a circle as happo fifth movement;

5) iai goshi as the official ending of each iai waza;

6) the avoidance of modern chiburi, sword angles, grips and footwork;

7) the kihon dosa practiced through as kata, the second tai no henko involving a 180 degree turn.

The Arts

Nakayamakai KoAikido consists of three major arts:

kenho [剣法] (also called kenjutsu [剣術]), the use of the Japanese sword;

joho [杖法 ] (jojutsu [杖術]), the four foot stick;

and taiho[体法] (taijutsu [体術]), empty hand work.

The use of other weapons (長刀naginata, 槍yari, 小刀shoto, 短刀tanto, 六勺棒rokushakubo, 半棒hanbo,柔杖 yawarajo etc.) is subsumed under each of these categories.

The primary modes of learning are

1) kata [型], the pre-arranged forms, and

2) interactive practice of techniques with a partner [双体練習, sotai renshu].

Our kenho consists of suburi [素振り] (practice cuts), kumitachi [組太刀] (paired forms), iai [居合] (sword drawing, cutting, and return, never referred to in our tradition as iaido), and practice against armed and unarmed partners.

Our joho includes five kata, kumijo[ 組杖], and paired practice as above.

Our taiho comprises nage-waza [投技] (projections); oase-waza [押技] (immobilizations); taoshi-waza [倒し技]( body dropping techniques); kansetsu-waza [関節技] (joint locking techniques); and shinkei chusu kogeki [神経中枢攻撃] (stimulation of nerve centres).

The Kata

The following seiteigata [制定型] (established forms) both major and minor, are to be learned and mastered by a lifetime of practice.

1. Iai kata [居合型]

2. 5 kumitachi [組太刀] (awase [合わせ])

3. 5 kumitachi (awase) kara iai renshu [組太刀から居合練習]

4. Ki musubi no tachi [氣結びの太刀]

5. Happo giri [八法切り]

6. 31 no jo [三十一の杖]

7. 9 no jo [九の杖]

8. 22 no jo Koho [二十二の杖古 法]

9. 13 no jo [十三の杖]

10. 22 no jo Shinpo [二十二の杖新 法] (optional)

11. 5 kumijo [組杖]

12. 5 kumijo kara tandoku renshu [組杖から単独練習]

13. Dojo misogi [道場禊]

14. Kihon dosa tandoku renshu [基本動作単独練習]

15. 3 Kokyuho undo: Ten, Tenchi, Chi [ 天(天地)(地)呼吸法運動]