Traditionally, Iaido has been passed down from teacher to student in a heirarchical sequence going back through time
This lineage is the bedrock of our tradition and a great source of pride at Ren Shin Kan Iaido.
Ren Shin Kan Iaido began in 1991 under the founder Philip Smith Sensei. Smith Sensei studied Muso Shinden Ryu under the tutorlige of T.K. Chiba Sensei. Chiba sensei began his training in 1972 in Tokyo, Japan and was a direct student of Mitsuzuka Takeshi Sensei.
Mitsuzuka Sensei started his path in Iai in 1955 under the watchful eye of Nakayama Hakudo Sensei. Nakayama Sensei was 85 years old at the time but was still able to teach this wonderful art.
Nakayama Sensei was the founder of Muso Shinden Ryu Goto-ha lineage and commonly recognized as one of the foremost martial artists of the Meiji period (1868 - 1912)
In 1983, Smith Sensei was encouraged by Chiba Sensei to join the ZNKR via the British Kendo Association. This resulted in Smith Sensei meeting Fuji Okimitsu Sensei where he began his training under the then called Seiteigata Kata of the All Japanese Kendo Federation AJKF.
Fuji Sensei started his journey in Iaido at the age of 7 in 1945 in Saga prefecture (also known as the old province of Hizen) Fuji Sensei came to the UK in 1967 and was a key figure in the development of the British Kendo Association BKA. So much so that he holds the membership number 0001.
Philip Smith sensei continued to train under Chiba sensei along with Karl Gibbons sensei
In 2008 Karl Gibbons Sensei took over the role of Sensei within the Ren Shin Kan Iaido dojo and has been teaching ever since.