This seminar, hosted by Dublin Kendo Kobukai and supported by The Irish Kendo Federation, is suitable for both complete beginners and advanced students of Iaido, featuring the highest level of detailed training and practical application from one of the finest Iaidoka outside of Japan. 

West Sensei is the teacher of two of our Irish Instructors, Batman O'Brien and John Kennedy, so this is an extra special occasion for us.

Train hard, level up your skills and join us on the 7th & 8th of February 2026 in the Ballybough Community Centre and Rice Nagle Hall, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, and get 2026 off to a great start!

Iaido is the art of Japanese Swordsmanship. How to draw, cut and sheathe the Japanese Sword. It is also a highly detailed and involved study of military strategic thought and samurai philosophy in motion.

West Sensei is a technical wizard with a unique ability to explain deeply complicated body mechanics in an understandable way.

This is just the 2nd time in Irish Iaido history that we will have a shodan level grading in ZNKR Iaido, recognized by the European Kendo Federation!

This is only possible thanks to West Sensei, who has been incredibly supportive of Irish Iaido. He is both Batman and John's teacher and has supported them in all their gradings, international competitions and we are deeply honoured to have their  teacher join us in our home dojo here in Dublin. 

We are also deeply appreciative of our good friend and senior Martin Chambers who has been a fantastic support to Ireland in his own right, and of deep support to our sister dojo Ojika, in Northern Ireland.

This seminar is just €80 per person. Payment details are included in the registration form. 

Grading registration fees as follows:

Kyu Grade: €10

Dan Grade: €20

Please fill out the form - here

Hotels

• Dublin Skylon Hotel — https://www.dublinskylonhotel.com/
• The Croke Park Hotel — https://www.doylecollection.com/hotels/the-croke-park-hotel
• The Bonnington Dublin Hotel & Leisure Centre — https://www.bonningtondublin.com/

Bed & Breakfasts (B&Bs)

• Annandale Bed & Breakfast  — https://www.annandalebnb.com/
• Auburn Bed & Breakfast  — https://auburn.dublinhotelsweb.com/en/
• Applewood B&B  — TripAdvisor listing: https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Hotel_Review-g186605-d2314436-Reviews-Applewood_B_B-Dublin_County_Dublin.html

*Please be aware, that accommodation in Dublin generally exceeds €100 per night

1) Ballybough Community Youth & Sports Centre, 49 Ballybough Road, Ballybough, Dublin 3

Bus links

Several Dublin Bus routes stop on/very near Ballybough Road: e.g., routes 14, 15, 27, 27B, 73. 

Train/Commuter links

Closest major stations: Drumcondra railway station and Dublin Connolly railway station, each around ~15-20 minutes walk from the venue.

2) Marino Institute of Education (Rice Nagle Hall), Griffith Ave, Grace Park, D09 R232, Dublin

Bus links

The bus stop right outside the campus on Griffith Avenue is served by route 123. 

Other routes serving nearby Grace Park/Griffith Ave include: 14, 16, 73, N2, N4. 

From the airport: routes 16 & 41 go to city centre via Swords Road, then change to reach Griffith Avenue. 

Train/Commuter links

The closest major railway station: Dublin Connolly (~17 minutes walk) from the campus. 

Alternatively, take a bus from city centre/Connolly and disembark at Griffith Ave stop.

All participants agree that their names, gender, grading category, and pictures as filed or taken during the seminar may be stored, processed and published on the internet or in print media and that there may be videos taken during the seminar, stored and live streamed in connection with the event. All personal data will be handled according to Dublin Kendo and Kendo na hEireann's Privacy Policy.

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