Iaido

The term “iaido” appears in 1932 and consists of the kanji 居 (i), 合 (ai), and 道 (dō). The origin of the first two characters, iai (居合), is believed to come from saying Tsune ni ite, kyū ni awasu (常に居て、急に合わす), which can be roughly translated as “being constantly (prepared), match/meet (the opposition) immediately”. Thus the primary emphasis in ‘iai’ is on the psychological state of being present (居). The secondary emphasis is on drawing the sword from the scabbard and responding to the sudden attack as quickly as possible (合).

The last character, 道, is generally translated into English as the way. The term “iaido” approximately translates into English as “the way of mental presence and immediate reaction”. The term emerged from iaijutsu and the general trend to replace the suffix -jutsu (術) (“the art of”) with -dō (道) in Japanese martial arts in order to emphasize the philosophical or spiritual aspects of the practice.

Iaido consists of four main components: the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard called saya, cutting an opponent, shaking blood from the blade, and replacing the sword in the scabbard. While beginning practitioners of iaido may start learning with a wooden sword (bokken) depending on the teaching style of a particular instructor, most of the practitioners use a replica sword called an iaito. More experienced iaido practitioners use Shinken (real japanese sword).Because iaido is practiced with a weapon, it is almost entirely practiced using solitary forms, or kata performed against one or more imaginary opponents. Iaido does include competition in the form of kata.

Kobayashi Sensei
8th Dan Hanshi Iaido

All Events Calendar

november

09nov12:0013:00BKR Kendo Regional TrainingOpen to ALL MEMBERS Yudansha and Kyusha wearing a BOGU12:00 - 13:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Kendo

10nov08:3018:00ABKF Belgian Kendo Kyu Championships 2024 + examinations08:30 - 18:00 ULB - Ixelles, Avenue Adeolphe Buyl 87A, 1000 IxellesEvent Type :Kendo

24nov09:0014:00BKR Iaido – Regional training09:00 - 14:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Iaido,Iaido Grading

december

01dec09:0013:00VKIJF Jodo – Regional training09:00 - 13:00 Sportcenter Horizon, Ternat, Bodegemstraat 12, 1740 Ternat, BelgiumEvent Type :Jodo

07dec09:0012:00ABKF Kendo National Team TrainingOpen from 3rd Dan09:00 - 12:00 ULB - Ixelles, Avenue Adeolphe Buyl 87A, 1000 IxellesEvent Type :Kendo

14dec12:0013:00BKR Kendo Regional TrainingOpen to ALL MEMBERS Yudansha and Kyusha wearing a BOGU12:00 - 13:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Kendo

15dec09:0013:00VKIJF Iaido – Regional training09:00 - 13:00 Sportcenter Horizon, Ternat, Bodegemstraat 12, 1740 Ternat, BelgiumEvent Type :Iaido

18dec(dec 18)09:0022(dec 22)18:00ABKF Winter Seminar 202409:00 - 18:00 (22) ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Kendo / Iaido / Jodo,Kendo / Iaido / Jodo Gradings

january

11jan12:0013:00BKR Kendo Regional TrainingOpen to ALL MEMBERS Yudansha and Kyusha wearing a BOGU12:00 - 13:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Kendo

26jan09:0013:00VKIJF Jodo – Regional training09:00 - 13:00 Sportcenter Horizon, Ternat, Bodegemstraat 12, 1740 Ternat, BelgiumEvent Type :Jodo

26jan09:0014:00BKR Iaido – Regional training09:00 - 14:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Iaido,Iaido Grading

february

08feb12:0013:00BKR Kendo Regional TrainingOpen to ALL MEMBERS Yudansha and Kyusha wearing a BOGU12:00 - 13:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Kendo

09feb09:0016:00Jodo Taikai09:00 - 16:00 Sportcenter Horizon, Ternat, Bodegemstraat 12, 1740 Ternat, BelgiumEvent Type :Jodo

23feb09:0013:00VKIJF Iaido – Regional training09:00 - 13:00 Sportcenter Horizon, Ternat, Bodegemstraat 12, 1740 Ternat, BelgiumEvent Type :Iaido

23feb09:0014:00BKR Iaido – Regional training09:00 - 14:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Iaido,Iaido Grading

march

08mar12:0013:00BKR Kendo Regional TrainingOpen to ALL MEMBERS Yudansha and Kyusha wearing a BOGU12:00 - 13:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Kendo

23mar09:0013:00ABKF Jodo – National training + EJC Selection09:00 - 13:00 Sportcenter Horizon, Ternat, Bodegemstraat 12, 1740 Ternat, BelgiumEvent Type :Jodo

april

06apr09:0013:00ABKF Iaido – National Training + Referee Seminar09:00 - 13:00 Sportcenter Horizon, Ternat, Bodegemstraat 12, 1740 Ternat, BelgiumEvent Type :Iaido

12apr12:0013:00BKR Kendo Regional TrainingOpen to ALL MEMBERS Yudansha and Kyusha wearing a BOGU12:00 - 13:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Kendo

may

10may12:0013:00BKR Kendo Regional TrainingOpen to ALL MEMBERS Yudansha and Kyusha wearing a BOGU12:00 - 13:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Kendo

25may09:0013:00ABKF Iaido – National Training + EIC Selection09:00 - 13:00 Sportcenter Horizon, Ternat, Bodegemstraat 12, 1740 Ternat, BelgiumEvent Type :Iaido

25may09:0018:00ABKF BIC 2025 - Belgian Iaido Championships09:00 - 18:00 Event Type :Iaido,Iaido Grading

june

08jun09:0018:00BKR Kendo ChampionshipsLocation and timing to be determined - Details will follow09:00 - 18:00 Event Type :Kendo

14jun12:0013:00BKR Kendo Regional TrainingOpen to ALL MEMBERS Yudansha and Kyusha wearing a BOGU12:00 - 13:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Kendo

21jun(jun 21)09:0022(jun 22)17:00Kendo Refereeing seminarThis seminar will be led by Jean-Pierre LABRU (Nanadan Kyoshi and Director of the EKF Technical Committee) and given in the framework of his personal initiative named Kendo Vision.09:00 - 17:00 (22) Stade Gaston Reiff, Rue Ernest Laurent 215, 1420 Braine L’AlleudEvent Type :Kendo

22jun09:0014:00BKR Iaido – Regional training09:00 - 14:00 ADEPS - Auderghem, Chaussée de Wavre 2057, 1160 Auderghem, BelgiumEvent Type :Iaido,Iaido Grading

28jun09:3018:00Futarigumi Trophy 2025 - Iaido Duo Taikai09:30 - 18:00 Sporthal De Klodde, Dendermondebaan 10 9240 ZeleEvent Type :Iaido

29jun09:0013:00VKIJF Jodo – Regional training09:00 - 13:00 Sportcenter Horizon, Ternat, Bodegemstraat 12, 1740 Ternat, BelgiumEvent Type :Jodo

october

24oct(oct 24)09:0026(oct 26)18:00El Classico 2025 - Iaido seminar Hungary09:00 - 18:00 (26) Event Type :Iaido

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