Learn Iaido at Doshinkenyukai Sheffield Dojo. Iaido Classes take place every Wednesday from 7:30-9:30pm and Sunday from 7:00-9:00pm - please see our location page for venue and more details.

If you are coming to one of the sessions please check the events page to make sure there is a class that night.

The dojo is about 67' x 36' (or about 22m x 12m) with a very high ceiling so there is plenty of room for everyone.

The session costs £6, lasts for approximately two hours and follows roughly this format:

Starting out

All of our classes are suitable for beginners so if you are interested in trying Iaido just come along to one of the sessions. We can lend you all the necessary equipment such as bokken and belt so that you can give it a try.

Beginners should wear loose comfortable clothing or if you have an existing martial arts gi or clothing ask the instructor about its suitability for practice.

Unless you are an experienced Iaidoka you will be expected to practice with a bokken (wooden sword) until you become proficient enough to progress to an actual sword.

During a session all levels practice side-by-side usually starting with Seitei Kata which are the representative forms of many of the different schools of Iaido.

After this newcomers start and continue to learn certain of the Seitei Kata whilst more experienced students progress to the Koryu (old school) Kata of Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido as appropriate.

Everybody starts a session doing the same thing.

All members of Doshinkenyukai Sheffield must be members of the British Kendo Association (BKA).

If you want to continue to practice Iaido it will be necessary for insurance purposes to take out a BKA membership.

Click here for details of the different types of BKA membership that are available.

Click here to go to the BKA online membership system or Click here to download a membership form.

Click here for an explaination of the BKA Fee Structure and membership types.


Other Activities

We intend to have a number of activities in the future. These will include:
• Coaching courses.
• Seminars of Iaido and other related arts, especially Jodo.
• Attend international events such as seminars and gradings.
• Some members may enter the national and European Iaido competitions (Taikai).
• Other parts of the Muso Shinden Ryu curriculum such as Tanjo jutsu (short staff versus a swordsman) and Shinto Ryu Kenjutsu are occasionally practiced