08/03/2026
2026 All United States Kendo Federation (AUSKF) National Iaido Seminar/Taikai/Shinsa Report:
The AUSKF Iaido community had a fantastic National Iaido summer camp on Thursday, 7/25 to Sunday, 7/26, at Linfield University in McMinnville, OR. The event was very well organized and run by the Pacific Northwest Kendo Federation (PNKF), Aishinkai Dojo and Jonathan Bannister Sensei. The University event staff showed a warm hospitality and PNKF organizers provided incredible service to the participants at the event. There was a large turn-out (~130 participants) bringing Iaidoka from all over the US! The Budo fellowship and camaraderie were fantastic as folks came together to learn, train, compete and re-connect.
AUSKF 2026 Seminar: Thurs-7/23 to Fri-7/24
The Ittokai was represented by Kevin Thibedeau Sensei and Tak Furuta Sensei at the AUSKF Iaido seminar held at Linfield University in the Ted Wilson Gym. At the seminar the Ittokai practiced and learned from the ZNKR Japanese Delegation as follows:
• Yamazaki Akimasa Sensei, Iaido Hanshi 8 Dan (Ibaraki-Japan)
• Shirai Keiko Sensei, Iaido Kyoshi 8 Dan (Hyogo Japan)
• Ono Jun Sensei, Iaido Kyoshi 8 Dan (Iwate Japan)
On Thursday and Friday, Yamazaki Sensei, the Chair of the All Japan Kendo Federation Iaido Committee, taught the main ZNKR Iaido Seminar and the Friday PM Taikai and Shinpan seminar. Yamazaki Sensei also taught the 4D-6D Kodansha group along with Shirai Sensei and Ono Sensei who each taught a group from the Kyu-3D participants.
Tak Furuta Sensei learned from and translated for Yamazaki Sensei during the seminar lectures and at the Kodansha break-out group. Kevin Thibedeau Sensei provided assistance to Susan Sekreta Sensei during the Friday afternoon Taikai practice for the competitors (Kyu to 3D).
AUSKF 2026 Taikai: Sat-07/25
The AUSKF National Taikai was on Saturday and was well represented by the Ittokai this year. The Taikai had over 95 competitors of all different levels and abilities demonstrating their Iai Waza and Budo spirit on three courts with inspiring performances!
Notable Ittokai Highlights:
• Thibedeau Sensei was on the Friday Taikai court setup team.
• Furuta Sensei assisted in the coordination of the Taikai lead by Sekreta Sensei
• Thibedeau Sensei returned the Murakami Cup for the 4D Division
• Furuta Sensei returned the Yamaguchi Cup for the 6D Division
• Thibedeau Sensei was a Shinpan on Court B for the Mudan A and Yondan A-B Divisions as Shushin and Fukushin
• Thibedeau Sensei participated in a competitive 5-Dan (Godan) division with 10 competitors, making his debut at Nationals as a Godan -
• He progressed through three fierce matches with an "East Coast replay" semifinal match with Ni Sensei
• Furuta Sensei was a Shinpan on Court B serving as Shushin and Fukushin for all the morning matches
• Furuta Sensei participated in a competitive 6-Dan (Rokudan) division with 10 competitors in his second year in the Rokudan division
• He made it through the matches against very high level and experienced Iaidoka with his first time semifinal match facing Bressler Sensei
• For the Kodansha group the Taikai Kata were Koryu, ZNKR #3,5,7,11 in 6mins.
AUSKF 2026 Taikai Finals: Sat-07/25
The 5-Dan and 6-Dan finals in the afternoon were the culmination of a fast-paced and efficiently run Taikai. Participants and Sensei watched in serene silence when...
5-Dan Finals
• Kevin Thibedeau Sensei faced Katherine "Roo" Heins Sensei (Mitsubachi Dojo) in a highly competitive match demonstrating inspiring and strong Iai.
• When the "Hantei" (Judgement) was called, Thibedeau Sensei prevailed over Heins Sensei in a very close and thrilling 5D division championship match! (2 Flags-Thibedeau, 1 Flag-Heins)
• Thibedeau Sensei for the first time holds the Murosako Cup as the 2026 AUSKF Godan Champion!
6-Dan Finals
• The Rokudan final match was the last match of AUSKF National Taikai
• Tak Furuta Sensei faced Gordon Hall Sensei! (Ken-Zen) in an exciting and extremely close match as both competitors demonstrated their Iai at the highest levels.
• As the final "Hantei" call of the day echoed through the gym, Furuta Sensei prevailed over Hall Sensei in the 6D division championship! (3 Flags-Furuta, 0 Flag-Hall)
• Furuta Sensei retains the Yamaguchi Cup as the 2026 AUSKF Rokudan Champion!
AUSKF 2026 Taikai Recognition and Congratulations to GLIC members:
• Tak Furuta Sensei: 1st place 6-Dan Division
• Gordon Hall Sensei: 2nd place 6-Dan Division
• Kevin Thibedeau Sensei: 1st place 5-Dan Division
• Roo Heins Sensei: 2rd Place 5-Dan Division
• Orsolya Kiss Sensei: 3rd Place 5-Dan Division
• Hiroyuki (Paul) Maeda Sensei: 1st place 4-Dan Division
The GLIC Iai Community was well represented at the 2026 AUSKF Taikai.
AUSKF 2026 Shinsa (Up to 7D): Sun-07/26
At the Sunday AUSKF National Shinsa there were two judging panels, a lower board from Kyu to 3-Dan (Court-B) and an upper board from 4-Dan to 7-Dan (Court-A). There was also a Shogo (teaching title) Enbu for AUSKF Iaidoka to challenge their AUSKF Renshi Shogo examination.
Notable Highlights:
• There were nine AUSKF Kodansha Iaidoka consisting of 5 Rokudan and 4 Nandan Sensei
• Tak Furuta Sensei along with friend of the Dojo Gordon Hall Sensei were in the first wave of the Enbu
• The Enbu consisted of 6 ZNKR Kata ( #1,4,6,7,9,11) with 7mins
• All candidates PASSED with thrilling Enbu and demonstrating some of the highest level of Iaido at the event!!
CONGRATULATIONS to Furuta Sensei for attaining his AUSKF Renshi Shogo!! The Ittokai was well represented at the 2026 AUSKF Shinsa.
