Canadian Iaido Association

Dan Rules

Rules Regarding Dan Examinations

You must have your local sensei’s permission to take the examination. The point of this examination is to show your level of accomplishment and not to challenge the examination. Both you and your sensei should be confident that you will meet or exceed the required standard.

The minimum requirements before an individual can advance to the next degree:

• Shodan: Age 16 and 1 year of practice.
• Nidan: 1 year since shodan
• Sandan: 2 years since nidan
• Yondan: 2 years since sandan
• Godan: 3 years since yondan

Examination Details

The examinations will consist of a practical and written examination.

Section A: Practical Examination

One waza from Zen Nihon Iaido Toho (see below)

followed by

Four waza from Seiza-no-bu and Batto ho.

Toho should be done first, followed by four other waza, in any order, provided at least two of them are from Seiza-no-bu (except kaishaku) and at least one from Batto ho.

The technique from Zen Nihon Iaido Toho will be as follows:

Dan Level	Technique
Shodan	Maegiri
Nidan	Zengogiri
Sandan and Above:	Kiriage

Section B: Written Exam

The written exam may include questions about the parts of the sword, the names of waza, and the history and philosophy of iaido. Questions will be selected from a pool of questions that will be made available at least two months before the examination date.

These are the questions:

For Shodan and Nidan, questions 1, 2, 3, and 4.

For Sandan and above, questions 1, 5, 6 and 7.

1. Draw a diagram of a Japanese sword and its fittings, and name each part.
   1. boshi
   2. fuchikane
   3. ha
   4. hamon
   5. ji
   6. kissaki
   7. koiguchi
   8. kojiri
   9. kurigata
   10. mei
   11. mekugi
   12. mekugi ana
   13. menuki
   14. monouchi
   15. mune
   16. nakago
   17. sageo
   18. saya
   19. seppa
   20. shinogi
   21. shinogi ji
   22. tsuba
   23. tsuka
   24. tsukagashira
   25. yokote

Parts of the Sword:

2. List the eleven waza in Seiza No Bu.
   1. mae
   2. migi
   3. hidari
   4. ushiro
   5. yaegaki
   6. ukenagashi
   7. kaishaku
   8. tsukekomi
   9. tsukikage
   10. oikaze
   11. nukiuchi
3. List the eleven waza in Eishin-Ryu Batto Ho.
   Kihon no Kata
   1. junto sono ichi
   2. junto sono ni
   3. tsuigekito
   4. shato
   5. shihoto sono ichi
   6. shihoto sono ni
   7. zantotsuto

   Oku no Kata

   8. zenteki gyakuto
   9. tatekito
   10. koteki gyakuto
   11. koteki nukiuchi
4. What is the name of your school?

Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu (unless from different school)

5. List the ten waza in Tatehiza no bu:
   1. yokogumo
   2. toraissoku
   3. inazuma
   4. ukigumo
   5. oroshi
   6. iwanami
   7. urokogaeshi
   8. namigaeshi
   9. takiotoshi
   10. makko
6. List the five waza in Zen Nihon Iaido Toho and the schools from which they originate:
   1. maegiri (Eishin-ryu)
   2. zengogiri (Mugai-ryu)
   3. kiriage (Shindomunen-ryu)
   4. shihogiri (Suio-ryu)
   5. kisakigaeshi (Hoki-ryu)
7. A) Who was the founder of Iaido?
   B) When did he live?
   C) Where is his shrine?

A) Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu
B) 1546 – 1621 AD
C) The Hayashizaki Myojin Shrine in Tateoka ( Yamagata Prefecture) – also called the ‘Tenshinsho Hayashizaki Myojin Shrine’, located about 1 km north of Taeoka Station, Hayashizaki Ou line, City of Murayama, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.