Iaido

     Based on my research, I learned that Iaido is a much more reactive than active art. It deals more heavily with swiftly responding to the opponent than going on the offensive. It also has an emphasis on being Smooth and fluent in motion, not choppy or disorganized. The term Iaido (居合道) roughly translates to "the way of mental presence and immediate reaction", which further emphasizes how important reaction is to the art. 

    Iaido also has some more philosophical undertones to it, not being strictly used for combat. it is meant to be a reflection of the perfect warrior, with intelligence, sensitivity, and conviction. There is no sparring in Iaido, and there are rarely more than one person in each demonstration. Occasionally, higher level Iaidoka (Iaido students), will practice with training dummies, but this isn't extremely common. 

    Overall, Iaido is very interesting. It is a form of swordsmanship that isn't entirely concerned with making the first move or going on the offensive. it is much more of a defensive art, focusing on reacting swiftly, cleanly, and in a controlled manner.