The Iaido Connection

In April of 2005 Phil became a member of the University of Kent at the Canterbury's Iai-jutsu club. The aim was to expand his knowledge of the martial arts.

The university club was practicing Dento Shoshin Ryu Iai jutsu; which is based on the Toyama Ryu Batto jutsu as taught at the Toyama academy in Japan for officers in the Japanese armed forces before and during the second world war.

Toyama Ryu was created by a committee of Koryu Iaido sword masters who codified eight kata containing the essence of using the Katana. It was designed for students to become reasonably adept with the Katana in a modern theatre of war, in the event an officer came face to face with the enemy without other means to dispatch them.

Through the University club it has been possible for Phil to received instruction in Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei - Iaido Kata (Seitei Iaido) and Muso jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido.

Through the study of Japanese swordsmanship Phil’s' Karate has been made stronger and vice-versa, Karate has helped his Iaido practice. This is no real surprise since the principles of Budo are common to both martial arts.