Training and education
Training Department and Instructor Training
The Training Department aims to identify opportunities for the pedagogical training and professional support of DIaiB instructors (or trainers). It provides resources for instructors to further their professional development. The goal is to equip instructors with the tools to design their training sessions in a contemporary, pedagogically sound, and didactically appropriate, safe, and sustainable manner. The Training Department draws on the experience of instructors as well as that of highly ranked teachers. Exchange of knowledge and experience is a crucial component of this process.
The objective is for instructors of all ranks to be able to design engaging training sessions, thereby raising the standard of German Iaido, increasing dojo membership, and ensuring that a broad range of didactic tools is available for use in dojos throughout Germany.
License Acquisition
Basic Training, every 3 years
License validity: 6 years
The basic training takes place every three years at the beginning of the year, alternating with examiner training and competition judge training. Total duration: 10 hours including breaks.
Sample content:
Theory:
- Overview of sports pedagogy
- General structure of training
- Safety / Health / Warm-up and stretching
- Structure of physical education lessons
- Group work on various training-related topics
Practical:
- First aid: Initial care and prevention
- Warm-up training (benefits, exercises, risks)
- Group work on various training-related topics
Further options
License renewal is possible either through the basic training mentioned above or as part of an annual training course held in the middle of the year. This training course is not only for instructors!
This course can be used for license renewal, but is also open to all Iaido practitioners. The advanced training course is offered free of charge.
- Learn from the instructors' training depth and Budo experience.
- Experience diverse, highly ranked teachers with different perspectives.
- The course includes both theory and practice. Broaden your horizons and grow together. Foster enthusiasm for diverse teachers and Europe-wide exchange, regardless of style (ZNKR-Iai is the same for everyone).
- The successes of the German Iaido Federation begin in the dojos of individual clubs. The instructor thus paves the way for the DIaiB's international successes.
Quality of Training
Through the cooperation of the DIaiB (German Iaido Federation) with the German Kendo Federation (DKenB), we are internationally represented in the European Kendo Federation (EKF) and the International Kendo Federation (FIK). All examinations held within the DIaiB's jurisdiction are internationally recognized. Through our acceptance as an associate member of the German Judo Federation, we are affiliated with the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).
National Team
National Team Training
Every year, from April to October, five national team training sessions are held at various locations in Germany, led by the national team coach. Each training session lasts the entire weekend (Saturday and Sunday).
The first four sessions are open to all registered, competition-oriented Iaido practitioners from mudan to rokudan who have a serious interest in participating in the European Championships. The final national team training session takes place shortly before the European Championships, and only selected Iaido practitioners from the national team are eligible to participate.
National Team Registration
Registration for the national team must be renewed every calendar year. Applications are made for the rank in which you will compete at the European Iaido Championships. There are three different ways to register for the national team.
- When registering for the German Iaido Championships (at www.iaido.de), the Google registration form asks if you are interested in the national team. All interested parties can answer "YES" there.
- Participants who discover the joy of competition during the German Iaido Championships and decide to join at the last minute can attend the team meeting on Saturday evening in the sports hall and express their interest.
- Even if you are not participating in the German Iaido Championships, you can still join the team. To do so, you must submit an application for the team via email. This must be sent to wettkampfreferat@iaido.de no later than Sunday of the German Iaido Championships (11:59 PM).
Applications received after this time will not be accepted for the current year. If you are undecided, we recommend accepting the offer.
Due to the current high level of interest in the team training sessions and the expected large number of participants, Iaido practitioners who are not currently on the team cannot attend as spectators.
The application deadline for the 2026 team is May 15, 2026 (11:59 PM).
If you are interested, please contact us by email at wettkampfreferat@iaido.de.
Registration Process for Team Training
The announcements for the team training sessions can be found here on the website. It is always assumed that all Iaido practitioners who have registered for the team will attend the respective training session. In case of non-attendance, a written cancellation must be sent by email to wettkampfreferat@iaido.de. Even in the case of short-notice absence, a written cancellation must be sent independently by email to wettkampfreferat@iaido.de.
Anyone who is absent from team training without prior cancellation will no longer be considered for selection for the national team for the corresponding training year. Anyone who wishes to withdraw their participation from the team completely for personal reasons must do so no later than one week before the fourth team training session, the selection training.
Commitment of Team Members
Team members have a special role model function for other Iaido practitioners. Each member commits to training with full dedication and to representing Germany at the European Iaido Championships. Furthermore, strict adherence to etiquette is essential.
This includes not only reihō (respect) but also mutual respect. Particular attention is drawn to the code of conduct published by the European Kendo Federation (EKF), which applies to all Iaido practitioners of the German Iaido Federation (DIaiB):
- Show respect and fair play towards other Iaido practitioners.
- Practice and compete within the rules of Iaido.
- Encourage, support, and cooperate with your dōjō and teammates.
- Respect instructors, teachers, and referees, and accept their decisions.
- Refuse the use of any prohibited substances.
Furthermore, the instructions of the national team coach must be followed during squad training sessions. When tasks within the training are delegated to other Iaidōka, these instructions must be followed with the same seriousness as if they came directly from the national team coach.
Training of the National Team
Measures in Case of Misconduct
The national team coach is authorized to issue verbal or written warnings to squad members for inappropriate behavior. Furthermore, the national team coach has the discretion to exclude Iaido practitioners from a specific training session or even from all squad training for the season following a warning.
In cases of misconduct, it is also possible to prohibit a member already selected for the national team from participating in the European Iaido Championships or to suspend them for a specific period. Such a decision is final and rests solely with the national team coach.
National Team Selection
To be considered for selection, an Iaido practitioner must have participated in at least one of the four squad training weekends. At the fourth squad training weekend, the members who will represent Germany at the European Iaido Championships are selected. This typically takes place in August. For the individual competition, two Iaido practitioners per rank (mudadan to rokudan) will be selected for the national team. Additionally, a team of four (maximum 10 dan ranks) will be formed to represent Germany in the team competition. This team should preferably be comprised of the already nominated individual competitors. The three individuals selected to represent the team at the European Iaido Championships on Sunday will be announced by the national team coach no later than Saturday evening after the individual competitions. The fourth individual will be part of the team and will participate in all team activities.
The final selection of the national team will be announced verbally by the national team coach at the end of the third training session. The selected Iaido practitioners will then be notified of their nomination again via email by the competition office.
National Team Coach
The National Team Coach is elected for a three-year term by the board, the committee, and the long-standing members of the national team (4th dan and above). Their responsibilities include planning and leading national team training sessions, selecting the final national team roster, and participating in the European Championships as a coach. Dual roles as coach and competitor are also permitted.
German Iaido Championship
The German Iaido Championship (DIM) for the mudan to rokudan categories takes place annually, usually in March. It is open to all interested Iaido practitioners who possess a DIaiB membership card with a valid annual stamp. Nationality is not a factor in the DIM, and no prior qualification is required. Participation in the DIM is recommended for those interested in joining the national team to gain valuable competition experience.
The venues for the DIM vary each year. Clubs can apply to host the event through their state association at the members' meeting the year before.
European Iaido Championship
Since 1993, the European Iaido Championship (EIC) has been held annually, usually in November. The EIC venues vary each year. A seminar led by a Japanese instructor is always held on Friday. Individual competitions take place on Saturday, and team competitions on Sunday. The national team is expected to participate in the entire event, arriving on Thursday and departing on Monday.
Interested Iaido practitioners who were not selected for the national team can participate in the seminar on Friday.
Registration in advance by emailing wettkampfreferat@iaido.de is required.
Direct registration with the organizer is not possible. Supporters, such as family members, can also participate in the event and will be registered through the competition office.
The next European Championship will take place from November 6-8, 2026, in Oberhaching.
Competition Training
Even outside of national team training sessions, Iaido practitioners interested in competition should train regularly and diligently.
Due to the large geographical distances within Germany, regional competition training sessions are organized in addition to the national team training sessions organized by the DIaiB (German Iaido Federation).
These sessions are led by selected, long-standing national team members and aim to provide serious, focused training among like-minded individuals. These sessions are open to all Iaido practitioners interested in competition.
Weekday training sessions are offered in the following cities:
Essen (North Rhine-Westphalia), every last Friday of even-numbered months, Contact:
Lz17@gmx.de
Falkensee (Brandenburg), every first Wednesday of a month (beginning June 2026), Cost: €10, Contact: proeder74@gmail.com
Saturday training sessions are also offered regularly in the following cities.
Bad Homburg (Hesse)
Essen (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Huglfing (Bavaria)
Leipzig (Saxony)
The announcements for the Saturday sessions will be published here and contain all further details.
Participation in regional competition training sessions is not a prerequisite for participating in the national team's squad training.
The competition training sessions are intended as a supplement to the training of the national team.
