The history of Iaido can be traced back over 400 years. Its practice is very difficult because the purpose of Iai is to maser the secret of defeating your enemy without drawing the sword or to mentally conquer your opponent with the sword left in the sheath, to settle problems without resorting to arms. Iaido is a unique blend of the ethics of Confucianism, the introspective methods of Zen, the naturalness of philosophical Taoism, toned by the severity of bushido. It fosters a focused and calm state of mind in the practitioner. Iaido is a meditative discipline, it complements and enhances one¡¯s Kendo abilities. The sword in Iaido, is a spiritual instrument, without material dimensions, and is never outdated. The hours of training that the exponent must dedicate to one¡¯s search for mastery are those hours in which one comes to grips with one¡¯s spiritual self. Iaido is the art of drawing the sword from the saya (scabbard). It generally consist of four basic movements.