Episode 12: IAIDO Four Pillars of Solo Training

The transcript is from a YouTube video by "Seki Sensei," the 22nd Headmaster of a 400-year-old sword style, who provides essential guidelines for students practicing budo or katana techniques alone. Before explaining specific details, Sensei warns that training alone can be counterproductive in the early stages and strongly recommends seeking constant feedback from an instructor. Furthermore, for long-term growth, it is crucial to choose a Sensei with whom you have a personal connection, as the transmission of martial arts is based on human connection. The video then illustrates the four key points for solo practice: maintaining a low posture (lowered waist), avoiding rushing movements to ensure accuracy, and ensuring proper gaze, imagining the opponent at your level. Finally, he recommends abandoning the idea that "more is better" in the early years, prioritizing observation of the Sensei over mere repetition.