iai; art of drawing and cutting in one motion
Refers to the martial art technique of drawing the sword, cutting down an opponent, and resheathing in a single fluid motion. Often used in the context of iaidō.
See also: 居合
A master of iai cuts down the opponent the instant the sword leaves the scabbard.
historical street performance of sword-drawing
Historical term for a type of street performance during the Edo period, where a performer would demonstrate iai techniques to attract crowds and sell medicine or goods.
In the Edo period, iai-nuki was a spectacle used by medicine peddlers to sell their wares.
抜刀術 is a general term for sword-drawing techniques; 居合抜き is a specific term often associated with iaidō or the Edo-period performance.
Standard modern spelling.
Fuller spelling with okurigana い; less common than 居合抜き.
Compound of 居合 (iai, 'sword-drawing art') and 抜き (nuki, 'drawing out, unsheathing'). The historical performance sense derives from the martial technique.