Canadian Iaido Association

Dan and Kyu Examinations

Rules Regarding Dan and Kyu Examinations

Students should be first given permission to test by their local Sensei and then they must be approved for testing by the CIA president or the CIA vice-president. The final testing is to be done at the annual seminar by the ZNIR and CIA representatives. Both the student and their Sensei should be confident that they will meet or exceed the required standard.

• Before testing for Ikkyu (1st Kyu), students should expect to practice for over 6 months, and will test with either: a Bokuto and Saya with Kurigata and Sageo, or an Iaito.
• Before testing for Shodan (1st Dan), students should expect to spend two years depending on their own progress in Iaido and be at least age 16.
• For Dan levels above Shodan there are no set time limits.

Examination Details

The examinations will consist of a practical and written examination.

After successful completion of the examination, Jyushinsha (examinees) testing for Dan will immediately receive a Temporary Certificate, followed within 6 months by the official ZNIR Dan certificate. Jyushinsha testing for Ikkyu are issued a Kyu Certificate by the Canadian Iaido Association, in recognition of their intent to test in the future with the ZNIR.

Section A: Practical Examination

The practical examination will be four waza for Ikkyu, five waza for Shodan to Sandan and six waza for Yondan to Godan.

Testing for	1st Waza	2nd Waza	3rd Waza	4th Waza	5th Waza	6th Waza
Ikkyu (1st Kyu)	Maegiri	Mae	Battōho	Battōho	–	–
Shodan (1st Dan)	Maegiri	Mae	Seiza no Bu	Battōho	Battōho	–
Nidan (2nd Dan)	Zengogiri	Mae	Seiza no Bu	Battōho	Battōho	–
Sandan (3rd Dan)	Kiriage	Mae	Seiza no Bu	Battōho	Battōho	–
Yondan (4th Dan)	Shihogiri	Mae	Seiza no Bu	Seiza no Bu	Battōho	Battōho
Godan (5th Dan)	Kissakigaeshi	Mae	Seiza no Bu	Seiza no Bu	Battōho	Battōho

The first waza must be the required Toho waza (i.e. Maegiri if you’re testing for Ikkyu or Shodan, Zengogiri if you’re testing for Nidan, etc). The second waza must be Mae from Seiza no Bu. Kaishaku is not permitted and Oikaze is not recommended.

The technique from Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei Toho will be as follows:

Dan Level	Technique
Ikkyu (1st Kyu)	Maegiri
Shodan (1st Dan)	Maegiri
Nidan (2nd Dan)	Zengogiri
Sandan (3rd Dan)	Kiriage
Yondan (4th Dan)	Shihōgiri
Godan (5th Dan)	Kissakigaeshi

Section B: Written Exam

The written exam may include questions about the parts of the sword, the names of waza, and the history and philosophy of Iaido. Questions will be selected from a pool of questions which you can find below.

These are the questions:

For Ikkyu (1st Kyu), questions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

For Shodan (1st Dan) to Sandan (3rd Dan), questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

For Yondan (4th Dan) and Godan (5th Dan), questions 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9.

1. Write down the distinctive features of the Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei (ZNIR):
   

   A: Our proud federation is the only Iaido specialist organization in Japan. Established in accordance with the bushido spirit, it aims to correctly transmit to future generations the time-honoured schools of kobudo Iaido.

2. What is the name of your school?
   

   Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu (unless from different school)

3. Write down the name and date of birth and death of the founder of Iaido, and the name of the location of the Iai Jinja (shrine)?
   

   Founder: Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu
   Date of Birth: 1542 AD
   Date of Death: 1621 AD
   Name of Iai Jinja: Hayashizaki Iai Jinja
   Location of Iai Jinja: Tateoka, Murayama City, Yamagata Prefecture

4. List the five waza in Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei Toho and the schools from which they originate:
   

   1. Maegiri (Eishin ryu)
   2. Zengogiri (Mugai ryu)
   3. Kiriage (Shindomunen ryu)
   4. Shihōgiri (Suio ryu)
   5. Kissakigaeshi (Hōki ryu)

5. Draw a diagram of a Japanese sword and its fittings, and name each part.
   Parts of the Sword:

   1. boshi
   2. fuchikane
   3. ha
   4. hamon
   5. ji
   6. kissaki
   7. koiguchi
   8. kojiri
   9. kurigata
   10. mei
   11. mekugi
   12. mekugi ana
   13. menuki
   14. monouchi
   15. mune
   16. nakago
   17. sageo
   18. saya
   19. seppa
   20. shinogi
   21. shinogi ji
   22. tsuba
   23. tsuka
   24. tsukagashira
   25. yokote

6. List the eleven waza in Seiza No Bu.
   

   1. Mae
   2. Migi
   3. Hidari
   4. Ushiro
   5. Yaegaki
   6. Ukenagashi
   7. Kaishaku
   8. Tsukekomi
   9. Tsukikage
   10. Oikaze
   11. Nukiuchi

7. List the eleven waza in Eishin-Ryu Battō Ho.
   

   Kihon no Kata

   1. 1. Junto sono ichi
      2. Junto sono ni
      3. Tsuigekito
      4. Shato
      5. Shihoto sono ichi
      6. Shihoto sono ni
      7. Zantotsuto

   Oku no Kata

   1. Zenteki gyakuto
   2. Tatekito
   3. Koteki gyakuto
   4. Koteki nukiuchi

8. List the ten waza in Tatehiza no bu:
   

   1. Yokogumo
   2. Toraissoku
   3. Inazuma
   4. Ukigumo
   5. Oroshi
   6. Iwanami
   7. Urokogaeshi
   8. Namigaeshi
   9. Takiotoshi
   10. Makko

9. Explain the meaning of “Saya no Uchi” with regards to Iaido
   

   The moment one releases the sword from the saya, with the unwavering intent to prevail, one defeats the opponent without hesitation. This, “saya no uchi”, is the heart of Iai.