Precepts of Kono Hyakuren Sensei
1) Students must not add their personal interpretations or make even the slightest changes to the Iaido kata (forms) that have been passed on from ancient times.
2) Students shall train themselves while maintaining a strong resolve to correctly pass on to future generations the kata (forms) that have been passed on from ancient times.
3) The wielding of a sword is as a mirror reflecting the spirit of the person using it. Students shall not simply handle a sword but also practice in order to seek the meaning of its waza and its nature, and through this practice, train to improve themselves.
4) Students shall strive to develop their character through the study of Iaido.
5) Iaido is a path of study that has value throughout one's entire life.
- Kono Hyakuren / 河野百錬 (1898 – 1974)
Alternative English Translation
河野百錬先生 宗家訓
當流の居合を學ばんとする者は、古來より傳承せられ以って今日に及ぶ當流の形に聊も私見を加うることなく、先師の遺された形を毫末も改變することなく、正しく後人に傳うるの強き信念を以って錬磨せられんことを切望する。
剣は心なり。心正しければ剣正し。心正しからざれば剣又正しからず。
剣を學ばんとする者は、技の末を追はずその根元を糾し、技により己が心を治め、以って心の円成を期すべきである。
居合道は終生不退、全霊傾注の心術たるを心せよ。
- Kono Hyakuren / 河野百錬 (1898 – 1974)