Getting Started

Japanese martial arts begin and end with proper manners, attitude, and decorum. We practice to instill habits of respect and gratitude for our equipment, our environment, and our fellow practitioners.

Topics include: Japanese greetings, Bowing, Behaviours inside spaces and around objects and people, etc.

Becoming an effective martial artist requires a solid foundation, starting with posture and stance. The structure we are able to create - aligning our bones, muscles, and joints - enable us move with strength and adaptability.

Topics include: How to sit and stand, Mental attitude, Balance etc.

In Iaido, there is no opponent - yet the practice is real. The ability to imagine and visualize a scenario and successful outcome is crucial to understanding this martial art, and immensely useful in your choice of occupation, hobby, partner, and countless other life choices.

Topics include: Visual and mental acuity, Defining intentions, Focus and discipline, etc.

Progress towards your goals can be manifested in the physical and mental realm. Are you moving efficiently? Are you able to adapt and change directions effectively? Superior strength and skill mean nothing if you aren’t able to reach your target.

Topics include: Lower body strength and flexibility, Walking & turning, Use of distance, etc.

Indecisiveness and hesitancy can be the difference between achieving your goals and missing the mark all together. Everything in life is a moving target. You can train to be ready to grasp the opportunity when it arrives, and before it disappears.

Topics include: Decisiveness, Timing, Awareness of opportunities, Use of the centre of gravity, etc.

The practice of Iaido helps us become better human behinds through the improving awareness. Awareness of our own thoughts and behaviours; awareness that we - and we alone - have agency over what we think, say, and do; and awareness that through intentional effort, we can shape our future.

Topics include: Deliberate practice, Interactions of body and mind, Situational awareness, etc.

Iaido is about etiquette and culture, posture and stability, mental acuity and focus, mobility and strength. It is also about using the Japanese sword, a tool designed to work optimally in partnership with the human body. When wielded properly, it should feel no different than an extension of your limbs.

Topics include: How a katana works, Use of the hands, Strategy and tactics, Standardized testing criteria, etc.