it's alive!!
Dear fellow Iaidokas!
Yes, I'm still among you and - you wouldn't beleive it - I really found an Iaido Dojo! Unfortunately 1 my Arabic and my French skills are "under all pig" (German proverb literally translated, meaning "beneath contempt") so I can't really communicate with them, and unfortunately 2 they train Muso Shinden Ryu. 
According to Wikipedia it's a sister ryu to Muso Jikiden Eishin, the main difference is the Furikaburi and the Noto... I, as nearly-layman, didn't notice the differences in Furikaburi that much; but Noto is obvious as they turn the Saya by 90 degree so that the Ha is horizontal. What I also noticed was that they emphasize that the high of the hips changes e.g. after O-chiburi and when falling back with one foot for Noto.
Their Katas appear to be mostly the same, at least those from Seiza no Bu, however, the names are totally different.
I couldn't tell other differences, but mainly because I'm not sure if what I see is part of the Ryu or just done wrong (e.g. they love like me to let - at first cut, I think "Nikitsuke" - the Kissaki fall below the high of the Kashira, ergo not cutting fully horizontal but slightly slanting).
Oh and they're rich-boys... in the Aikido training with the swords they corrected my blocking with the side of the blade to blocking with the Hasaki 
But no training anymore for me anyway because they closed the Dojo for restoration, so all I can do now is training in my hotel room with an empty plastic bottle (instead of a dodgy stick that used give me splinters)... it's just not the same... 
Anyway, I keep being stuck here for an undefined period of time, cu you maybe in July! In the meanwhile regards from the sunny, hot Rabat,
Klemens
I worry the knowledge I
I worry the knowledge I could bring with me from here is highly overestimated: it took me quite some time to make contact with the local fellas so there were before shutdown just 4 trainings:
- first one there was no instructor so I trained my katas while observing what the others two do
- 2nd and 3rd was an instructor there but not speaking English so it ended up me doing the same as the first day: training my katas and observing what the others got tought
- 4th training I was alone in front of closed gates so not even training my own katas nor observing anyone then the people on the street staring at me (was not a dodgy area but certainly one were people with my face and hair color are usually not seen)
so summarized, all I did was observing and not-forgetting what I've learned already..
Klemens
Searching for tabemono
Most honorable greetings
Most honorable greetings Klemens!!!!
You are much missed my friend and there is loads of cool stuff we have to show you on your return. It's great that you were able to train even for a short time. You should no underestimate bottle training either - a 2 bl bottle of water will certainly help strengthen the wrist and shoulders.
Not that we should be using strength though! Can't wait to see what you've learnt of these other styles.
All the best,
Paul
Searching for Heijoshin
Good to hear from you
Good to hear from you Klemens! Keep it up!
Muso Shinden and Muso Jikiden are indeed of the same family and the two styles split in the old times. Thus they are very similar and different in some ways.
Sad to hear that you had to stop. All training is good training in Iaido and even when it is difficult beging a beginner and learning different styles, it is always worth while exploring.
Hope to see you back again in July.
So long,
Björn