Welcome to Dublin Kendo Kobukai
Learn Authentic Japanese Weapon Arts
Learn to Use the Sword of the Samurai in our 8-Week Beginners Course Starting Monday October 20th 2025!
IAIDO
The Art of the Samurai Sword
The Way of Preparation & Immediate Reaction
The Japanese Sword is the most refined, beautiful and efficient sword ever made. If someone is holding that sword in their hand they either have no idea what they are doing...or they know EXACTLY what they are doing. It's no co-incidence that the most popular warriors in fiction from the Netflix hit, "The Blue-Eyed Samurai", to Highlander, from Rouroni Kenshin to the Jedi (the recent Ahsoka series even referred to Bokken Jedi! - Bokken are the wooden training swords we use - just as Sabine did), from John Wick to Machione in The Walking Dead, and Jin Sakai of the mega hit computer game, "Ghosts of Tsuhima" are experts of the Samurai Sword. With films like the Last Samurai, the hit Age of the Samurai Netflix Series and the INCREDIBLE Shogun Series (9-mIllion people saw Iaido in the opening episode and the series went on to win 4 Golden Globes, and an all-time record breaking 14 Emmy's!), it's easy to understand our fascination with the historical samurai and the weapon that defined them.
Up until quite recently the secrets of using the samurai sword were locked away in small provinces in Japan. Certain classical styles of using the samurai sword kept a closely guarded secret in domains such as Tosa until as recently as the early 1900's. And finding genuine instruction (or there were plenty of people making up awfully silly ninja stuff!) in Japanese Swordsmanship in Ireland...well you could forget that, until now.
Iaido - The Way of the Samurai Sword
Iaido is the art of Japanese Samurai Swordsmanship. How to draw, cut and sheathe the Japanese Samurai Sword in a fluid combination. It is a highly detailed, specialized art that also involves the study of military strategic thought and samurai philosophy. In virtually all schools of Iai, the kata/waza are composed of four essential elements. These are:
- Nukitsuke – The initial draw and simultaneous cut.
- Kiritsuke – The decisive finishing cut.
- Chiburui – A symbolic shaking of blood from the blade.
- Noto – Sheathing the sword.
Practically all kata have these fundamental parts in some combination or other, but may also include blocks, deflections, thrusts, and multiple cuts, depending on the scenario. Iai kata are usually performed solitary against imaginary opponents, called kassoteki, or teki. (There are also partner kata at more advanced levels).
Your instructor in this Beginners Course is Emmanuel Clarke, 3rd Dan in Iaido, a multiple time European Iaido Championship Competitor and member of Team Ireland. In addition, Clarke is also a former European Championship Gold and Silver medalist in Korean Swordsmanship.
In our 8-Week Iaido Beginners Course you'll learn:
All to prepare you for your first grading!
Join Now and Get These Exclusive Bonuses!
When you sign up to our 8-Week Beginners Course Now you'll also get:
DKK Iaido Training Manual
A complete 60+ page training manual covering the full 8-week syllabus, history, terminology techniques and more written for Dublin Kendo by one of our chief instructors, Batman O'Brien.
The Sensei's Sword
A 240 page master textbook on analyzing and deciding on your first sword, written by one of our chief instructors, Batman O'Brien. This retails on his site for €29.00, and you'll get it for free.
The 8-Week IAIDO Beginners, Starts Monday October 20th, 2025
Classes take place each Monday:
19:10 - 20:25
St. John Bosco Youth Centre,
Davitt Road,
Drimnagh,
Dublin 12
If attending the 8-Week Beginners course you will also have the option of attending a repeat class (if you miss or cannot make the primary Monday class) on Saturday's 10:15-11:30 in The Ballybough Community Youth & Sports Centre, 49 Ballybough Road, Ballybough, Dublin 3.
Preparation and Equipment
The Beginners Course requires no prior preparation, but we encourage you to read our Iaido beginners manual in advance of your first class, well send that on to you in PDF upon registration. Please be aware that while this course is directed at beginners, Iaido is still a physical activity, and therefore you should inform yourself of the risks involved (particularly if you have any existing medical conditions).
Dublin Kendo Kobukai will provide you with all the equipment needed for the Beginners Course, and we recommend that you attend practice in comfortable sports clothing. There are changing facilities at all of our training locations.
Registration & Fees
There are limited spaces in our Beginners Course, and registrations will close on Friday 17th October 2025 at 11pm, or when all places have been filled. You can sign-up for the course by submitting the form below and paying the registration fee upfront:
Ordinary price: €80
Discounted price (students or unwaged): €60
Payment instructions are provided in the registration form. You will receive confirmation of your registration prior to the start of the course, in addition to a complete outline of the course.
Check out some our Dojo Videos!
The following are some recent clips from our seminars and public demonstrations.
Irish Kendo: 20 Years in the Making
Taking a behind the scenes look at the recent Kendo Seminar, part of the 20 year anniversary celebrations. You'll see some great Kendo, great instruction, and even greater friendships.
Dublin Kendo at Shurikon 2020
A short fun video showing the members of Dublin Kendo Demonstrating Iaido, Jodo and Kendo. And some general fun behind the scenes moments as we enjoyed the 'con.
Check Our Media Section for Articles & Videos
Which group of warriors will display the can-do (or should that be Kendo?) attitude needed to triumph in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday morning? With thanks to @dublinKendo and @kendoeireann. #RWC2019 #ENGvRSA pic.twitter.com/ONGW2wvzmn
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 1, 2019
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