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Canadian Iaido Association

30th year

Dan and Kyu Examinations

Rules Regarding Dan and Kyu Examinations

Students should be first given permission to test by their local Sensei and then they must be approved for testing by the CIA president or the CIA vice-president. The final testing is to be done at the annual seminar by the ZNIR and CIA representatives. Both the student and their Sensei should be confident that they will meet or exceed the required standard.

  • Before testing for Ikkyu (1st Kyu), students should expect to practice for over 6 months, and will test with either: a Bokuto and Saya with Kurigata and Sageo, or an Iaito.
  • Before testing for Shodan (1st Dan), students should expect to spend two years depending on their own progress in Iaido and be at least age 16.
  • For Dan levels above Shodan there are no set time limits.

Examination Details

The examinations will consist of a practical and written examination.

After successful completion of the examination, Jyushinsha (examinees) testing for Dan will immediately receive a Temporary Certificate, followed within 6 months by the official ZNIR Dan certificate. Jyushinsha testing for Ikkyu are issued a Kyu Certificate by the Canadian Iaido Association, in recognition of their intent to test in the future with the ZNIR.

Section A: Practical Examination

The practical examination will be four waza for Ikkyu, five waza for Shodan to Sandan and six waza for Yondan to Godan.

Testing for 1st Waza 2nd Waza 3rd Waza 4th Waza 5th Waza 6th Waza
Ikkyu (1st Kyu) Maegiri Mae Battōho Battōho – –
Shodan (1st Dan) Maegiri Mae Seiza no Bu Battōho Battōho –
Nidan (2nd Dan) Zengogiri Mae Seiza no Bu Battōho Battōho –
Sandan (3rd Dan) Kiriage Mae Seiza no Bu Battōho Battōho –
Yondan (4th Dan) Shihogiri Mae Seiza no Bu Seiza no Bu Battōho Battōho
Godan (5th Dan) Kissakigaeshi Mae Seiza no Bu Seiza no Bu Battōho Battōho

The first waza must be the required Toho waza (i.e. Maegiri if you’re testing for Ikkyu or Shodan, Zengogiri if you’re testing for Nidan, etc). The second waza must be Mae from Seiza no Bu. Kaishaku is not permitted and Oikaze is not recommended.

The technique from Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei Toho will be as follows:

Dan Level Technique
Ikkyu (1st Kyu) Maegiri
Shodan (1st Dan) Maegiri
Nidan (2nd Dan) Zengogiri
Sandan (3rd Dan) Kiriage
Yondan (4th Dan) Shihōgiri
Godan (5th Dan) Kissakigaeshi

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 which you can find below.

These are the questions:

For Ikkyu (1st Kyu), questions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

For Shodan (1st Dan) to Sandan (3rd Dan), questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

For Yondan (4th Dan) and Godan (5th Dan), questions 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9.

  1. Write down the distinctive features of the Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei (ZNIR):

    A: Our proud federation is the only Iaido specialist organization in Japan. Established in accordance with the bushido spirit, it aims to correctly transmit to future generations the time-honoured schools of kobudo Iaido.

  2. What is the name of your school?

    Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu (unless from different school)

  3. Write down the name and date of birth and death of the founder of Iaido, and the name of the location of the Iai Jinja (shrine)?

    Founder: Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu
    Date of Birth: 1542 AD
    Date of Death: 1621 AD
    Name of Iai Jinja: Hayashizaki Iai Jinja
    Location of Iai Jinja: Tateoka, Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture

  4. List the five waza in Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei Toho and the schools from which they originate:
    1. Maegiri (Eishin ryu)
    2. Zengogiri (Mugai ryu)
    3. Kiriage (Shindomunen ryu)
    4. Shihōgiri (Suio ryu)
    5. Kissakigaeshi (Hōki ryu)
  5. Draw a diagram of a Japanese sword and its fittings, and name each part.
    Parts of the Sword:

    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
  6. 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
  7. List the eleven waza in Eishin-Ryu Battō 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

    1. Zenteki gyakuto
    2. Tatekito
    3. Koteki gyakuto
    4. Koteki nukiuchi
  8. 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
  9. Explain the meaning of “Saya no Uchi” with regards to Iaido

    The moment one releases the sword from the saya, with the unwavering intent to prevail, one defeats the opponent without hesitation. This, “saya no uchi”, is the heart of Iai.

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