Iaido exam requirements

Content exams

iaido ikkyu

  • Five ZNKR kata of your choice (but in the correct order)

iaido shodan

  • Five shiteiwaza (mandatory kata, to be announced on the day) from the ZNKR kata
  • Written exam

iaido nidan

  • Five shiteiwaza from the ZNKR kata
  • Written exam

iaido sandan

  • Five shiteiwaza from the ZNKR kata
  • Written exam

iaido yondan

  • One kata (free choice) from the koryu practiced by the examiner, followed by four shiteiwaza from the ZNKR kata (in some countries that is koryu-kata, followed by four shiteiwaza)
  • Written exam

iaido godan

  • One kata (free choice) from the koryu practiced by the examiner, followed by four shiteiwaza from the ZNKR kata
  • Written exam

Iaido rokudan and nanadan

  • Two kata (free choice) from the koryu practiced by the examiner, followed by three shiteiwaza from the ZNKR kata
  • Written exam

Iaido hachidan

  • Two kata (free choice) from the koryu practiced by the examiner, followed by three shiteiwaza from the ZNKR kata
  • essay

Assessment criteria

The ZNKR kata, including points of interest, are described in the booklet ˜Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Iai. English Version Manual” (Tokyo, March 2014). It can be ordered through the ZNKR website. The assessment criteria below are more general in nature.

Iaido ikkyu to sandan

  1. Appropriate chakuso (way of dressing) and saho (etiquette)
  2. Correct nukitsuke and kiritsuke
  3. Correct (angle of) chiburi
  4. Correct note

Iaido yondan – godan

The following points in addition to those for shodan to sandan:

  1. calmness
  2. Metsuke (way of seeing)
  3. Mind power
  4. Ki-ken-tai-ichi (spirit, sword and body in harmony)

Iaido rokudan to hachidan

  1. In addition to the points up to and including godan, the following points are assessed in the jitsugi (practical exams) for rokudan up to and including hachidan. The final verdict is determined on the basis of the whole.
  2. Riai (logic, rational execution)
  3. Participant’s own distinctive style and dignity

Candidates from 1e dan : don’t forget your yellow registration card!

Other information
Age requirements and exam fees
General NKR Examination Requirements