古代日本武士進屋必須抽取出插腰間長刀，那居合道是什麼?

香港藉劍道人2014年3月造訪 無外流明思派 東京吹毛会本部道場 宗家，問有下面一條關於居合的問題和回答，

Q: Finally, I have a question about the iaijutsu. Why iaijutsu is practicing in a sitting or low posture? Because in the ancient time, when a samura entering a house, he should put off his long sword from his wrist, he shouldn’t wear his kanata inside the house or when sitting on the tatami. So, in a situation when he had to draw his long sword, he shouln’t draw his sword from his wrist, put picked up his sword from the floor. 

(譯 : 最後有一問題關於居合術，為何居合術的招式以坐技和低馬練習? 因為在古代，當侍(武士)進入屋，必須從腰間將長刀抽出，室內不可能腰間插刀或腰配武士刀坐在疊疊米上，所以一旦要動長刀，只消取放在地上的武士刀，沒有可能從腰間拔刀。

A: Yes, you are right. But iaijutsu itself is used to practice the swordsmanship with restrictions, when you are standing up, you are free to move elsewhere, but in a kneeing position, there are restrictions of movement, Muigai Ryu has 20 iaijutsu kata, of which 10 kata are in kneeing position, 10 kata are in standing.

(譯: 你沒有說錯。其實居合術是一種劍術上給予習者的制約訓練，因為當在膝蓋跪坐時動作便不及站立時那般活動自由。無外流有20式居合術形，10式坐技，10式立技。

 

可見日本刀的居合術主要目的乃在一種限制中的練習，在跪下時動作活動受到限制，不同於站立時能自由移動。日本武士進入在室內行坐時，是不會如此插著刀在腰間的，必須抽出放置。居合術的意義已經在上述說明。日本劍者多數明白這點。可是不少海外劍道人出現誤解，到今天依然有制定居合道修習者接受公開訪問時向大眾說居合道乃古時日本武士在起居空間防範被襲擊的技法。那可是完全不明白昔日日本武士的攜刀進屋和室內情況，對居合道本那設計來一種活動限制訓練，加強本身功夫的原意，完全扭曲和人云亦云。

真正的室內拔刀可是腰間那柄短刀(脇差)，或者如何盡快將身旁置地板上的長刀取上手對敵。