Originally Posted by
Derzis
Gentlemen, to cut this topic short, waza vs kata in iaido, the trolling subject of this topic. You are MJER, I am MSR. Some Sensei use Kata as term when they refer to Koryu in MSR. In practice, they say "today we'll do 12 seitei katas and will continue with koryu katas". When you go to grading, you have to perform 5 katas - splitting the number between SEITEI katas and koryu depending on how advanced you are. They don't say 2 waza - 3 katas. In normal life in a MSR dojo (at least the ones I've seen), kata/waza have the same meaning - very specific for iaido. The big mistake that is happening here is translating the idea that 'kata' in iaido has the same meaning as in empty hands. In the beginning it may look like that. Your Sensei is stressing you to lower your shoulder, to use your hips etc, ignoring almost the presence of the imaginary opponent - he is there as mannequin, not an important part interacting with you. But the moment you start to think about your opponent, that kata becomes a iaido fighting scenario*. Thinking about your opponent(s) moves and skill level will push you forward to high-ranks. Not because you thought you become 8th dan in a blink as you implied. But this is my interpretation, you are free to have yours.
Based on the texts like the interview with Kishimoto Sensei, where he used the same waza term for Seitei, I think he meant more than just waza=technic vs kata=form. At his level he sees them as iaido fighting scenarios. And they are, since their roots (for most of them) are in koryu. This is my interpretation, not the fact that on a paper it says 'waza' and some sensei says 'kata'. Both are correct, depending what they really mean to me. I am not a Japanese, I will never have his background/DNA/language knowledge to judge my affirmation. Now, you don't like it, it is not my problem.
* When is scenario, you can change tempo, even position of your enemy, etc, things that are happening above a certain level and some are saying that koryu spits in SEITEI.