Feminist Eclectic/Five Element Martial Arts & Shifu Kore Grate: Wu Chien Pai, Iaido, Tai Chi (Minneapolis, MN)

Iaido (Sword)

Iaido: The Way of the Sword

Want to know more? Read the Iaido FAQ!

Iaido is a Japanese martial art associated with smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard.

Shifu Kore Grate

We train in and are affiliated with the Iaido styles of:
AIKI TOHO IAIDO Federation of Japan (founded by Shoji Nishio Sensei)
SOSHORYU IAIDO (under Sensei Michele Benzamin-Miki)

In class, we learn & practice:

KATA -- Pre-arranged movements against “imaginary” attackers with katana (metal practice sword) or bokken (wooden practice sword).

KUMIDACHI -- Partner-work with bokken/kodachi (wooden swords), with jo/handbo (wooden staffs)

PRINCIPLES of BUDO -- The Warrior’s path of code of honor and selflessness

MEDITATION -- The path to True Self

Sempai Aric Stewart

Getting Started

Iaido classes at FEMA are open to both women and men, ages 13 and older.

To get started, come to the beginner's class on Tuesday nights. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and arrive 15 minutes early to register.

Beginners - Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 PM
All Levels - Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30 PM
(except for the last Wednesday of the month)

You do not need to have any previous martial arts experience to join the Iaido class. Or you could be studying additional martial arts at FEMA or elsewhere. All are welcome!

Iaido Instructors

Sensei Kore Grate is a Nidan in Sosho Ryu and Shodan in Aikitoho Iaido (Nishio Style).

Sempai Aric Stewart is a Shodan in both Sosho Ryu and Aikitoho.

Shoji Nishio Sensei is the founder of Aiki Toho Iaido, one of the styles of Iaido that we study at FEMA. He died in March 2005 at the age of 77, and we honor his memory.

Shoji Nishio Sensei

Nishio Sensei was a direct student of O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. He was highly ranked in several other martial arts, which informed his innovations with Aikido and Iaido.

Aikido (8th Dan Aikido)
Judo (4th Dan Kodokan Judo)
Karate (4th Dan Shindo Jinen-Ryu
Iaido (7th Dan Nihon Zendoku Iaido)

In his style of Aikido, all techniques can be performed with the wooden sword bokken in hand as well as without weapons. And in Aiki Toho Iaido, the movements of Aikido are seen and the teachings use the sword to cut a path of non-harming, following in O'Sensei's desire to take the war out of our hearts in training.

In January 2003 in Tokyo Nishio Sensei received the Distinguished Martial Arts Award from the “Budokan” Japanese Martial Arts Organization for his lifetime contribution to development and worldwide propagation of Aikido.