Suwari Waza Iai Kata – Variation of Ike Dōri Kata with Wakizashi Against Katana

This sequence is a Suwari Waza Iai Kata. Both opponents are seated in Seiza, facing each other: Uke carries a sheathed Katana, while Tori carries a sheathed Wakizashi. Tori needs two steps to reach Uke, whereas Uke only needs one.

As Uke steps forward with his right leg and strikes toward Tori’s head with a one-handed Shōmen Uchi, Tori steps forward with his right leg, draws his Wakizashi, and intercepts the cut with a cross-shaped parry: Uke’s blade remains vertical while Tori’s Wakizashi is held horizontally, one hand on the handle and the other supporting the blade.
Tori then rises onto both feet while driving his Wakizashi forward into Uke’s Tsuba (handguard). At the same time, he grabs Uke’s wrist with his free hand and pulls it diagonally away from its original line, drawing Uke forward and breaking his balance. As Uke is extended and unbalanced, Tori sweeps Uke’s right ankle with his left leg.
Uke falls forward onto his chest, and Tori maintains control of the arm while placing the Wakizashi across the back of Uke’s neck to restrain him.

The Kata ends with control rather than a finishing cut, as it represents a situation inside a Lord’s castle, where avoiding bloodshed is preferred and the attacker may need to be restrained for questioning.

This sequence is a variation of the Kata Ike Dōri (“capturing someone alive”), which is originally performed unarmed against a Katana, without the use of a Wakizashi.