noun
iai; art of drawing and cutting in one motion
A Japanese martial art focused on quickly drawing the sword, cutting, and resheathing. Often practiced as a solo form (kata).
彼は毎朝、道場で居合の稽古をしている。
He practices iai at the dojo every morning.
居合は、座った状態から刀を抜く技術を重視する。
Iai emphasizes the technique of drawing the sword from a seated position.
From 居 (i, 'being seated') + 合 (ai, 'meeting'), referring to the readiness to respond instantly from a seated posture. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.