Iaito

Iaito are intended for Japanese sword practice according to the description of the specific model and the rules of the school. Blade and handle length, weight, balance point, width and sori curvature all vary. Small changes affect handling, so height alone is not enough to select a size.

WKC is represented by Dragonfly Iaito. Hanwei models include Practical, Tsuru Wakizashi, Tori, Musashi and Practical Plus, while Cheness Cutlery contributes Deluxe Carbon Steel. Listed blade lengths run from about 68.5 to 75.8 cm, with varied weights and balance points of roughly 10 to 14 cm.

Matching the school

Consult the instructor and account for blade, handle and overall length. Compare weight, balance and sori. Also check the blade material and finish because the word iaito does not replace the full specification or the rules followed in class.

• school and instructor requirements
• blade and handle length
• weight and balance point
• material, width and sori

Training sword inspection

Before practice, inspect the handle, guard, fittings and scabbard. Loose or damaged components make training unsafe. Clean the blade with a product suited to its stated material. Transport an iaito in a protective case and store it separately from swords intended for other purposes.