Instructors are volunteers and receive no pay. The Association is a non-profit organization registered with the British Columbia Provincial Government. 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. 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. Iai translates literally to “meeting in a place” but a deeper meaning is “flowing from peace, to conflict, then back to peace”. It is not considered a sport, but rather a unique and ancient traditional art for the development of mind, body, and spirit.
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It is the Japanese martial art that is most closely associated with the samurai class and Japanese nobility. It was derived from Iaijutsu, a specialization of Kenjutsu.
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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. 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.
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Iaido is the traditional Japanese martial art of drawing and cutting with the samurai sword. In addition to exploring the basic movements, this site contains often overlooked information such as the cultural and historical background of the art and equipment used. 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. Iaido literally translates to the Way of Iai, and is a Japanese martial art of swordsmanship focused on unsheathing techniques.