Canadian Iaido Association

Itoh Takeji Sensei, ZNIR Overseas Auditor and CIA Secretary General

Takeji Itoh Sensei holds the rank of ZNIR 7th Dan, Menkyo in Takeuchi Itto Ryu Kenjutsu, ZNKR Kendo 3rd Dan and Kyokushin Karate 2nd Dan.

Itoh Sensei has been a vital and important part of the Canadian Iaido Association’s continued relations with the Zen Nippon Iaido Renmei. Along with Kato Haruo Sensei and Tanida Hiroshi Sensei, Itoh Sensei has improved and protected the CIA in ways that words cannot express.

Takeuchi Itto Ryu
Takeuchi Itto Ryu is a highly traditional Japanese Combat Kobudo (Traditional Combat Martial Art). Takeji Itoh Sensei’s late grandfather was an ex-Japanese army officer who held Menkyo in Takeuchi Itto Ryu and 7th Dan Kyoshi in Kendo. Itoh Sensei was influenced and taught by his Grandfather to learn Kenjutsu (剣術) since he was a child. He started Kenjutsu in 1997, and he officially joined Takeuchi Itto Ryu by Keppanjyō (血判状 “Blood Oath Pledge”) in February 1998. Itoh Sensei received Kirigami (切紙) in 2001, Shoden (初伝) in 2002, Chuuden (中伝) in 2003, and Jyōden (上伝) in 2005, followed by Ko-Mokuroku (小目録) in 2006. With dedicated training, in 2009, Itoh Sensei received Mokuroku (目録). It is the fastest progression for Ko-Mokuroku and Mokuroku for a person to achieve in Takeuchi Itto Ryu. In 2013, Itoh Sensei received Menkyo (免許) Makimono (巻物 “Traditional Certificate Scroll”) in Kenjutsu (equivalent to ZNIR Hanshi), as recognition that Itoh Sensei is a fully realized Takeuchi Itto Ryu Kenjutsuka (剣術家 “swordsman”).

Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu
Itoh Sensei started Eishin Ryu in 2000. Itoh Sensei was already practicing with Seitokai, when he came to Canada in 2007 and began training in CIA Victoria Dojo (now Shoshinkai Victoria Dojo). After meeting CIA President Denton Hewgill Sensei, watching Theodore (Ted) Davis Sensei and seeing the number of dedicated foreign Iaido practitioners, Itoh Sensei realized the difficulty that a foreign Iaido group encounters and decided to support the Canadian Iaido Association wholeheartedly. Through separate ceremonies, in 2009, Itoh Sensei became a Seitokai Honbu member and a direct student of Kato Haruo Sensei, 10th Dan Hanshi, ZNIR Vice President and President of ZNIR Kantō region federation, and in 2012, Itoh Sensei also became a direct student of Tanida Hiroshi Sensei, 10th Dan Hanshi.

Pertinent History:
Iaido – 27 years
Kenjutsu – 27 years
Gotōjutsu – 15 years
Sōjutsu – 10 years
Hojōjutsu – 9 years
Karate – 7 years
Kendo – 5 years

Taikai History

13th year of Heisei (2001) 5th Takeuchi Itto Ryu Shinshun Taikai, Kenjutsu, Kirigami no Bu, 3rd Place 14th year of Heisei (2002) 6th Takeuchi Itto Ryu Shinshun Taikai, Kenjutsu, Shoden no Bu, 1st Place 15th year of Heisei (2003) 1st Maruoka Kenjutsu Taikai, Chuuden no Bu, 2nd Place 27th Hokuriku Eishin Ryu Iaido Taikai, Sandan no Bu, Top 16th Place 18th year of Heisei (2006) 4th Maruoka Kenjutsu Taikai, Ko-Mokuroku no Bu, 1st Place 30th Hokuriku Eishin Ryu Iaido Taikai, Yondan no Bu, Top 8th Place 19th year of Heisei (2007) 28th Hokushietsu Chihō Kendo Taikai, Sandan no Bu, 2nd Place 21st year of Heisei (2009) 8th Takeuchi Itto Ryu Kenjutsu Taikai, Kenjutsu, Mokuroku no Bu, 3rd Place 22nd year of Heisei (2010) 14th Takeuchi Itto Ryu Shinshun Taikai, Kenjutsu, Mokuroku no Bu, 4th Place 8th Maruoka Kenjutsu Taikai, Mokuroku no Bu, 1st Place 23rd year of Heisei (2011) 15th Takeuchi Itto Ryu Shinshun Taikai, Kenjutsu, Mokuroku no Bu, 2nd Place 26th Nippon Kobudo Iaido Taikai, Godan no Bu, 1st Place 24th year of Heisei (2012) 11th Takeuchi Itto Ryu Kenjutsu Taikai, Kenjutsu, Mokuroku no Bu, 1st Place 31st Kantō Eishin Ryu Iaido Taikai, Godan no Bu, 3rd Place

25th year of Heisei (2013) 12th Takeuchi Itto Ryu Kenjutsu Taikai, Kenjutsu, Menkyo no Bu, 1st Place 1st Matsuto Kenjutsu Taikai, Menkyo no Bu, 1st Place 21st Hamamatsu Iaido Kyōgi Taikai, Rokudan no Bu, Top 8th Place 26th year of Heisei (2014) 13th Takeuchi Itto Ryu Kenjutsu Taikai, Kenjutsu, Menkyo no Bu, 2nd Place 5th Kanazawa Eishin Ryu Iaido Kyōgi Taikai, Rokudan no Bu, 1st Place 27th year of Heisei (2015) 39th Hokuriku Eishin Ryu Iaido Taikai, Renshi no Bu, 2nd Place 23rd Hamamatsu Iaido Kyōgi Taikai, Renshi no Bu, 3rd Place 28th year of Heisei (2016) 40th Hokuriku Eishin Ryu Iaido Taikai, Renshi no Bu, 2nd Place 15th Takeuchi Itto Ryu Kenjutsu Taikai, Menkyo no Bu, 1st Place 29th year of Heisei (2017) 8th Kanazawa Eishin Ryu Iaido Kyōgi Taikai, Renshi no Bu, 2nd Place 5th Matsuto Kenjutsu Taikai, Menkyo no Bu, 1st Place 30th year of Heisei (2018) 42nd Hokuriku Eishin Ryu Iaido Taikai, Renshi no Bu, 1st Place 1st year of Reiwa (2019) 43rd Hokuriku Eishin Ryu Iaido Taikai, Shichidan no Bu, 1st Place

Last Edited: October 20, 2024