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Canadian Iaido Association

30th year
In order from left to right: Denton Hewgill Sensei, 7th Dan, President of the Canadian Iaido Association; Kato Haruo Sensei, 10th Dan Hanshi, ZNIR Vice President and President of the Kantō region federation; Tanida Hiroshi Sensei, 10th Dan Hanshi, Head of ZNIR Secretary Bureau of the Kantō region.

What is Iaido?

Iaido is the traditional Japanese martial art of drawing and cutting with the samurai sword. The purpose of Iaido is to develop awareness, centeredness, sincerity, a calm mind, and mental and physical harmony through the practice of traditional sword techniques. Iaido practitioners, or Iaidoka, perform predetermined techniques, or waza, to replicate a specific situation and the correct way to respond to these situations with defending or attacking techniques. It was derived from Iaijutsu, a specialization of Kenjutsu. It is the Japanese martial art that is most closely associated with the samurai class and Japanese nobility. It is not considered a sport, but rather a unique and ancient traditional art for the development of mind, body, and spirit.

Iai translates literally to “meeting in a place” but a deeper meaning is “flowing from peace, to conflict, then back to peace”. This transmission from peace to conflict and back again with an innate state, neither prepared nor unprepared of mind is the most difficult part to train, for a samurai or martial artist.

The Canadian Iaido Association (ZNIR/CIA) was established in 1993 to promote iaido in Canada, establish formal links with the All Japan Iaido Federation (ZNIR), to hold seminars on a regular basis with high-ranking teachers of the ZNIR, and to administer dan examinations in Canada in accordance with the standards and methods of the ZNIR.

The Association is a non-profit organization registered with the British Columbia Provincial Government. Instructors are volunteers and receive no pay.

Recent News

Happy New Year 2023!

Happy New Year 2023! 明けましておめでとうございます!

2022 was a year we were able to practice more frequently since the pandemic started. Things are starting to look up! The Canadian Iaido Association will continue to follow all precautions as necessary; hopefully we have some good news for a seminar this year, and we look forward to reconnecting with iaidoka if we can do so.
(more…)

Posted on: 02 Jan 23 | Read on

2022 Summer Seminar Cancelled due to Continued Pandemic Response

After a short discussion, we have decided to cancel the 2022 Canadian Iaido Association Summer Seminar due to the ongoing issues with respect to the pandemic.

(more…)

Posted on: 28 Jun 22 | Read on

Kato Haruo Sensei, 1931 – 2022

It is with a heavy heart we regret to inform that Kato Haruo Sensei has passed away in the morning of April 21, 2022 at the age of 91. Kato Sensei was a pillar of the Canadian Iaido Association, personally attending numerous summer seminars and offering his considerable support and knowledge in Canada and Japan.
(more…)

Posted on: 30 Apr 22 | Read on

Happy New Year 2022!

Happy New Year 2022! 明けましておめでとうございます!

2021 was a year for low-key maintenance! We hope everyone had a chance to practice whether in isolation or in well-ventilated and masked locations. With a new wave of the pandemic in swing locally, the Canadian Iaido Association will continue to follow all precautions as necessary – once again, we hope to be able to practice together in a post-pandemic world!
(more…)

Posted on: 01 Jan 22 | Read on

2021 Summer Seminar Cancelled due to continuing pandemic

After a short discussion, we have decided to cancel the 2021 Canadian Iaido Association Summer Seminar due to the continuing pandemic.

(more…)

Posted on: 10 Feb 21 | Read on
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