Beginning Iai

I'm just wondering, what is the difference between an Iaido blade, and a live blade? I'm just starting out in practicing Iai, as is probably rather obvious.

A few other questions;
Since I work shifts, the only day I regularly get to myself is Saturday, but the only Iai classes in the area are on a Wednesday (I'd only make one in three, at best), are there any particular books/sites you'd recommend to help in starting out?

Ta muchly, Skit

 

Hi and welcome to MAP.

Many use a blunt blade (Iaito) for Iai - but my instructor would only let use use a regular live Katana.

 

Right, so an Iai blade is blunted for safety where a regular/live is sharpened?

Thanks.

 

The material they forge with is slightly different, iaito is made with zinc/alluminum which explains why it is so light. Iaito is made for beginnier for easy handling. A (shinken) live blade would be forge with different material thats made for cutting, and impact so it wont shatter when blocking.