Where to find a cheap "drawing sword"?

[Jason H.P. Yoo]

The subject text pretty much says it all, but I'll elaborate on my question here.

Where would I find a cheap, usable dummy sword that I can use for drawing practice? This is about the whole aluminum replica deal. I've been looking around a bit on the net for stuff and I don't really know where to start. I've also heard nightmarish stories about the mainstream commercial martial arts swords as being unsafe. Can anyone fill a newbie in on the real deal?

Thanks!
Jason

[Soulend]

Hi Jason. Well, would have to start by putting out the old chestnut: 'Ask your Sensei!'. Different ryu sometimes use swords with certain characteristics due to differences in technique within the style. Also some sensei simply want you to use a certain type...because of blade length, curvature, tsuka length or whatever.

That said, check out this page at EJMAS. (http://ejmas.com/ejmasiaitosource.htm) It's a good resource to start. I am not familiar with any place that sells legitimate iaito at a price I would consider 'cheap' (guess it depends on your definition of cheap :) ), as many are as expensive, or more expensive as shinken of comparable quality.

I'm not sure of the prices, but the following places generally offer quality iaito, and may be worth a look to see what they are currently offering:

Nosyuiaido's Swordstore (http://www.swordstore.com)

Mugendobudogu (http://www.mugendobudogu.com)

Tozando (http://tozando.pair.com)

Bugei Trading Company (http://www.bugei.com)

Nosyuiaido also offers bokken with saya..you may also want to consider that to start with.

[Blackthorne]

Here's the sword that I use: Cheapie Iaito (http://www.awma.com/index.cfm/action/productdetail/product_id/6722.htm). Although a "cheapie" It does have a full tang and a bamboo mekugi. Everything is in the right place, the saya is decent quality, although the kurikata and the koiguchi are plastic. Also, the sageo are too short, so you will have to get a new one. The tsuka is plastic with nylon ito glued on it in a way that looks like a normal type wrap. It only has one seppa, and the fittings aren't top quality, but if all you are looking for is a cheapie drawing sword, this is what I would suggest. It is dull, but the kissaki can still puncture you.

Best of Luck,

[yamamatsuryu]

Here's my 2 cents worth.
First, Like Soulend stated, ask your Sensei. They can give you information that we cannot.
The AWMA "Iaito", I wouldn't trust too much. Most of those-type of Iaito are made by the same manufacturing company with the same specs across the board. They're poorly made. On the Expensive end, there's Nosyu, and from what I've heard, they're the best. Like mentioned by Soulend, they also have a Bokuto with a saya for practicing Nukitsuki/Noto. Also, there is a hard-plastic Iaito now, that comes with a Saya for learning how to draw/resheath. I got to play with one about a month ago, seemed like a good training tool. It was heavy (Heavier than a bokken), but I don't know if it will withstand contact (I'm still waiting ona reply to an E-mail on that subject.) They run about $59-$125, depending on the size.
Before you go out and start spending your hard-earned money, I suggest that you talk to your instructor first and get guidence. I cannot stress this enough.

Jared Albrecht

[Charlie Kondek]

How cheap is cheap, Jason? That $100 special Blackthorne showed us might not be too bad except if its weighted poorly then you'll get used to drawing an ill-waited sword, which will throw you off when you start using the real thing.

The iaito I use I got second hand from a fellow iaido-ka that had used his for a while and was ready to upgrade to a nicer one. It originally cost him a little over $200 and he had used it for a couple years when I offered him $100 for it. (I love the darn thing, by the way.) For more info, please check out the retailer that we used, our very good friend in the kendo world, Dave Christman:

http://kendo.nscl.msu.edu/battlecreek/dragon.html

[Charlie Kondek]

Oh! And P.S., maybe you think you need a cheapie so you can get the action of batto and noto correctly. It's been my personal experience that dilligent study with the bokken will prepare you for this. After using bokken for a while before getting my first iaito, making the leap between wood and steel was not that hard. This means, I think, paying careful attention to your instructor's lessons in koiguchi and saya adjustment - you know what I mean? Practice hard, and you'll find that you don't have that much trouble.