Happy New Year to all Budoka

Last year was one of great development for the Iaido Association of Ireland. Members of the association represented Ireland abroad at major Budo seminars, visited other dojo’s, demonstrated swordsmanship for the Lord Mayor and members of the Japanese embassy and even lectured on the subject of Japanese swordsmanship and armour in Dublin City University and on behalf of University College Dublin.

As we enter 2012 it is important to continue this trend of increased communication and participation in both the martial arts community and within the wider community in Ireland. I would encourage any martial art clubs interested in learning more about Japanese Swordsmanship to contact us. We are always willing to make ourselves available to demonstrate and teach other styles a little more about what we do and the traditions of how we do it.

Likewise we wish this year to reach out to other clubs and organisations ourselves, having seen what such co-operation between martial schools can bring when we attended the Buxton Budo Seminar in 2011. Creating a more open collaboration between all Budo, be it Iaido, Kendo, Aikido, Karate, Jujitsu and more allows each of us the opportunity to experience other arts and in turn improve our own practice.

Personally, having been given the opportunity to train in a number of different styles such as Aikido and other swords arts such as Kendo, Niten Ryu and Ona Ha Itto Ryu it has helped to improve my Iai substantially. It would be wonderful to have the opportunity to do the same here in Ireland.

We hope this year to do more public demonstrations and we have been invited to appear once again at the Experience Japan festival and to participate in international events such as the Buxton Budo Seminar. We will of course keep everyone posted on these developments.

In regard to that, this year the association hopes to update our current website, allowing us to create a greater interaction with the online community and to further showcase the benefits of Iaido and Budo. In keeping with this the Kenseikai Dojo has launched a facebook fan page that allows those interested in studying Iaido in Dublin to get a closer look at the club and keep updated on training schedules, events and more. You can check that out here – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kenseikai-Ireland-Iaido-Dojo/231033856965...

Finally, I and all members of the association would like to thank the current President of the association Björn O. Fehr for his contributions to Irish Iaido and Budo throughout the years. Bjorn leaves us this January to begin a new chapter in his life as he moves to Germany, where he intends to continue shaping and educating the future generations of Iaidoka. As such I shall be assuming the role of acting President of the Association from mid-January until such time as an AGM can be called.

We thank you for your continued support and friendship as we enter a new year and hope that you can join us in the development of Budo here in Ireland.

Yours,

Paul O’Brien

Secretary of the IAI.