We are often asked what equipment beginners need to practice Iai - the answer is very little. Loose clothing is OK to start with, although as you progress you will acquire traditional iaigi and hakama, costing about $100.
You will initially start with a wooden sword (or bokken) which we can provide, and quickly graduate to an unsharpened training blade (an iaito) which costs $400-$600. After several years of practice, you may feel confident enough to move to a hand-made Japanese shinken, although these are only for advanced practitioners: they are extremely sharp and typically cost several thousand dollars.
