History
The Canadian Iaido Association (CIA) was established in consultation with the All-Japan Iaido Federation (ZNIR) for the primary purposes of administering dan examinations in Canada in accordance with the standards and methods of the ZNIR and to promote Iaido in Canada. The CIA was accepted as a registered society under the British Columbia Societies Act on March 2, 1993.
To initiate the Canadian Iaido Association, the Chief Director of the ZNIR, Mr. Seigen Esaka, 10th Dan, Hanshi, came to Victoria, B.C. to hold a three-day seminar and direct dan examinations on April 2, 3 and 4, 1993. This seminar, the first CIA function, was hosted by the University of Victoria Kendo Club and was limited to members of the kendo club and Shisui-kai Canada.
Esaka Sensei is a magnificent teacher; the participants were eager and the seminar was a great success. On Sunday, April 4, 1993, about 250 people attended public ceremonies with demonstrations of Iaido by Esaka Sensei and seminar participants. Esaka Sensei formally awarded the Letters of Attorney (above) to Ted Davis Sensei, and eight participants were awarded Shodan from both the ZNIR and CIA.
The relationship between the ZNIR and iaido in Canada goes back to 1976 when Hiroshi Oyanagi sensei (Renshi dan, ZNIR) came to Vancouver BC to establish iaido in Canada. He was greatly helped in this regard by Ara sensei of Renbu (Kendo) Dojo (Vancouver, BC), who provided dojo space, as well as financial and moral support. In 1980, T. Davis (then 3nd dan) returned from Japan to Canada and continued studying Iaido under Oyanagi sensei. In 1982, a special dan examination was held in Vancouver, BC with Oyanagi sensei and Suzuki sensei (from Japan) as examiners. This was authorized by Kawakubo sensei (deceased), hanshi 10th dan, as an official of the ZNIR, and the certificates issued were ZNIR certificates.
After Oyanagi sensei returned to Japan, there was no established method by which dan that would be recognized by the ZNIR could be given in Canada. For the benefit of Canadians, Oyanagi sensei lobbied the senior officials of the ZNIR for several years for the establishment of a system of dan examinations in Canada. This eventually led to the founding of the CIA. Ted Davis, in consultation with Oyanagi sensei, Ara sensei and Peter Owen, were the primary architects of the CIA. Denton Hewgill and Martin White also made significant contributions during the initial planning stages. The final effort to establish formal ties with the ZNIR was almost entirely due to the efforts of Oyanagi sensei in Japan and Ara sensei in Vancouver.
Once the CIA was established and recognized by the ZNIR, Esaka sensei was invited to Canada as a representative of the ZNIR. On April 4, 1993, he presented certificates authorizing Davis sensei to give dan examinations in Canada. Esaka sensei introduced to Canada the main line of Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu, following Fukui soke. This is somewhat different from the Yamanouchi-ha (branch) taught by Oyanagi sensei, who was a student of Kawakubo sensei. At the present time, the only style taught in Canada by Davis sensei’s students is the main line of Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu as taught by Esaka sensei.
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