Here at the Agassiz dojo, in addition to the more advanced koryu kata, we place a strong emphasis on learning the 12 seitei iaido kata.
Seitei Iaido, commonly known as "standard Iaido" was established by the All Japan Kendo Federation (Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei, hereafter ZNKR).
There were originally 7 and then later 10 established kata of ZNKR Seitei Iaido (hereafter Seitei Iai) which were developed during 1960's and 70's by a panel appointed by the ZNKR for that purpose. The original intention in creating Seitei Iai was to produce a standard that could used for gradings nationally and later internationally.
These ten forms belong to three sets. The first to third kata belong to Seiza no bu, which are performed from seiza posture. The fourth kata belongs to Tatehiza no bu, which is performed from tatehiza (low-crouching posture). And the fifth to twelfth kata belong to Tachi no bu, which are performed from a standing posture.
In the fall of 2000, ZNKR newly added two forms named "Sougiri" and "Nukiuchi" also in the tachi waza. So now Seitei Iai consists of twelve forms.
The word "Shoden" can be translated as the "entry-transmission", and was derived from the Omori-ryu Iaido. Omori-ryu was said to have been created by Hayashi Rokudayu Morimasa, the ninth headmaster of the Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu, who lived from 1661 until 1732. It has been included in the Muso Shinden Ryu at the entry level, and contains the following techniques:
The word "Chuden" can be translated as the "middle-transmission", and was derived from the Hasegawa Eishin-ryu Iaido. Originally created in the seventeenth century by Hasegawa Chikaranosuke Eishin (Hidenobu), who was the seventh undisputed headmaster of the Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu. Hasegawa Eishin-ryu has been included in the Muso Shinden-ryu at the middle level. It contains the following techniques:
The word "Okuden" can be translated as the "inner-transmission". Nakayama's Oku-iai is divided into two groups, Suwari-waza, and Tachi-waza; sitting and standing techniques.
These are paired kata performed with a bokuto and saya. Simliar to kendo kata, both have an Uchidachi and Shidachi role.
These are paired kata performed with a bokuto and a jo (wooden walking stick). Similar to tachi uchi no kurai, they are practiced by an Uchi and a Shi.The kata consist of 12 slightly modified kata drawn from Shinto Muso-ryu Jōdō including 2 kata created specifically for Seitei Jodo.