legit or not?

how can you tell if a certain kenjutsu ryu is legit or not? what are the some pointers to look at.. [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG] thanks in advance! [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG]

Well. Start by finding out whatever you can about the prospective teacher. Name of the style, who he trained with, for how long. Whether or not they are still associated with the parent organization. Who awards the ranks. Etc. Then come online to one of the more reputable forums and ask around to check it out. http://www.swordforum.com is one of the better places to check.

this is important. this will make practitioners aware of fraud. wont you agree?

Read some of the essays on http://www.koryu.com that should give you some insight on what to avoid.

what about your opinion? can elaborate some facts?... like dojo practices, respects and traditions. [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG]

They vary from one dojo to the next and one style to the next. We can't give you a checklist of things to look for as to what is done on the mat that you can use to evaluate someone.

i see. but is there any sword school you've known who practice iato with a partner?

Yes. Most Iai schools will have kumitachi waza at the advanced levels. You may not see them for several years however. It was more than 5 years before I got to do them at our dojo, and I understand that I started earlier than is usual.

other than iado, what ryu did you practice?

None. MJER is all I have trained in.