Let's face it, at 32 I'm not getting any thinner and sitting on the couch playing video games just doesn't burn the calories like it used to. To keep in shape and fuel my fascination with Japanese culture, I have decided to study iaido, the Japanese art of drawing the sword.

About two weeks ago, I joined the New York Budõkai and in my brief experience there, I have come to the realization that iaido is much harder than it looks. Founded by the late Sensei Yoshiteru Otani (pictured left), the dojo teaches several forms of iaido including Muso Shinden, Jigen and Tamiya Ryu, as well as Jodon which is a staff based martial art. Part philosophy, part physical martial art, iaido is a living art form with the object to physically, if not strategically, disarm your opponent. Akin to the most difficult of Russian ballets, every movement, every possition and every breath have been carefully considered to maximize the blade's impact in any combination of forms necessary for combat. Complicated by the fact that everything is in Japanese, I have a lot to learn.