ZNKR
The Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido – Seitei iaido
Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido is the iaidō forms practiced by the ZNKR/AJKF and FIK International Kendo Federation members. There are twelve kata, which form a common ground for examinations and matches.
Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iaido abbreviated into Zen Ken Ren Iaido (全剣連居合) is also known as seitei iai. It emerged in 1969 and was extended in 1980 and 2001. It was created when headmasters associated with the Z.N.K.R. were seeking a way to spread/develop Iaido in a common way and to confront kendoka with the roots of their sport.
Seitei simply means “Standard” or “Uniform” and in Japan it is most often referred as Zen Ken Ren Iaido.
1969 ZNKR Comitee (7 kata formed):
– Danzaki Tomoaki, 9 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Shinden Ryu
– Yamatsuta Jukichi, 9 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Shinden Ryu
– Yamamoto Harusuke, 9 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu
– Masaoka Kazumi, 9 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu
– Muto Shuzo, Hanshi, 9 th Dan Hanshi, Hasegawa Eishin Ryu
– Kamimoto Eichi, 9 th Dan Hanshi, Hasegawa Eishin Ryu
– Yoshizawa Ikki, 9 th Dan Hanshi, Hoki Ryu
– Tsumaki Seirin, 8 th Dan Kyoshi, Tamiya Ryu
– Suetsugo Tomezo 8 th Dan Kyoshi, Muso Shinden Ryu
– Nukada Hisashi, 8 th Dan Kyoshi, Muso Shinden Ryu
– Ohmura Tadaji, 8 th Dan Kyoshi, Muso Shinden Ryu
– Sawayama Shuzo 8 th Dan Kiyoshi, Hoki Ryu
1980 ZNKR Comitee (3 kata added):
– Danzaki Tomoaki, 9 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Shinden Ryu
– Kamimoto Eichi, 9 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Shinden Ryu
– Hashimoto Masatake, 9 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu
– Wada Hachiro, 8 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Shinden Ryu
– Mitani Yoshisato, 8 th Dan Hanshi, Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu
– Sawayama Shuzo, 8 th Dan Hanshi, Hoki Ryu
2001 ZNKR Comitee (2 kata added):
– Ikeda Teruo
– Ueno Sadanori
– Kawamura Yoshio
– Kishimoto Chihiro
– Fukuda Kazuo
– Fujita Tadashi
– Fujita Mitsuaki
2006 ZNKR Comitee (Partial updates):
– Kawaguchi Toshihiko
– Kishimoto Chihiro
– Takeda Kiyofusa
– Yasunaga Takeshi
– Yamasaki Takashige
– Yamazaki Masahiro
It is composed of four sitting and eight standing kata, featuring the most representative and effective sword techniques from various traditional shcools and including horizontal, vertical, diagonal and successive cuts, as well as thrusts and stabs.
The set is preceded and concluded by a saluting ritual (reiho). It is an expression of respect to the past (the gods or early headmasters), the present (the teacher and the sword) and the future (the students) of the discipline. Z.K.R. In its present form, Iaido is practiced world-wide.
With the advent of Z.K.R. iaido, the traditional schools (Ryu-Ha) were provided with a standard with which to compare their expertise among themselves. Apart from the appraisal within the various schools, a system well-known from other budo disciplines was introduced, featuring 7 kyu and 8 Dan grades with which one could judge the level of experience of candidates.
In the All Belgium Kendo Federation (A.B.K.F.), candidates must pass the exam for the 1st kyu grade, prior to being admitted to the exam for 1st dan. Examinations consist of a theoretical and a practical section. The Z.N.K.R. system also opens the road to matches, where two candidates with the same level of experience simultaneously show a number of free or prescribed kata to a jury. Of course, they will be judged by the technical perfection of their performance, measured by the depth of practice, but also by the sphere ( fighting spirit ) they are able to evoke with their kata.
It must be understood that the ZNR Iai is not static. Each year the highest ranked sensei review the forms and occasionally apply small changes, this enables the ZNR Iai to be a living art and to ensure that the standard is maintained and that its original purpose is not lost.