2025 East Coast Iaido Seminar

Date
Friday, March 7 – Sunday, March 9, 2025

We are pleased to announce the 2025 East Coast Iaido Seminar, Taikai and Shinsa on March 8-9, at the Weehawken High School 53 Liberty Place, Weehawken NJ 07086.

A seminar, taikai and shinsa will be held on Saturday and Sunday in Weehawken NJ.

HEAD INSTRUCTOR AND TAIKAI SHINPANCHO

Masato Nakamura Iaido Hanshi 8 Dan from Kanazawa Japan

INSTRUCTORS

Shozo Kato, Iaido Kyoshi 7-dan, Kendo Kyoshi 8-dan (New York)

Tatsuhiko Konno, Iaido Kyoshi 7-dan, Kendo Kyoshi 7-dan (Seattle, WA)

Pam Parker, Iaido Kyoshi 7th dan (New York)

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS

Susan Sekreta, Iaido Renshi 7-dan (New York)

Debi Farmer, Iaido Renshi 6-dan (New York)

LUNCHES

There will be a lunch break during the seminar.

Lunches are available for pre-order on Saturday and Sunday. The cost is $11 per person, including a can of soda or bottled water. The options are:

• General Tso's Tofu w. White Rice
  
• Mixed Salad with Grilled Chicken
  
• Chicken Finger w. Fries

KODANSHA SESSION

There will also be a Kodansha-only (5 Dan and above) session on Friday March 7, at Shidokan Shidogakuin, in the Westchester Table Tennis Center, 175 Tompkins Avenue, Pleasantville NY 10570.

Lunch is available for pre-order on Friday. The cost is $17, including a bottle of Japanese tea. The menu will be the below:

• Chicken (Chicken Namban)
  
• Salmon (Shio-Jyake)

PAYMENTS

Payments are to be made by check payable to Shidogakuin and sent to Pam Parker at 24 Fifth Avenue, Apt 426, New York NY 10011.

Foreign visitors can pay in cash at the door.

HOTELS

As far as we are aware, there are no hotels/motels within walking distance of Weehawken High School. Airbnb might be another matter.

A couple lodging options we have used for past events:

• Best Western Premier NYC Gateway 2650 Paterson Plank Rd, North Bergen, NJ
  
• Envue/Marriott, 550 Ave at Port Imperial, Weehawken, NJ
  
• Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel, 500 Harbor Blvd, Weehawken, NJ
  
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Secaucus Meadowlands
  
• Airbnb. (Usually a group of students will share an apt/house.)

We recommend that the attendees avoid any hotels/motels that are on the lower budget side that are in the general area of the Weehawken venue. (Particularly any options along route 1 & 9 Tonnelle ave.) Some of them are low budget for a reason, so please read their online review before booking if not staying at recommended hotels

PUBLIC TRANSIT

The closest stop on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is the Port Imperial Station stop. See the Light Rail schedule for more information.

NY Waterway ferries run to Port Imperial from three locations in NYC (Midtown, Wall Street and Brookfield Place). See the Port Imperial / Weehawken ferry schedule for more information.

PARKING

Street parking is enforced even during the weekends. It's 4 hours street parking, so we recommend moving your car during lunch to avoid a ticket. (About $80 last year.)

Weehawken High School has a limited number of parking spaces. They will be reserved for the Sensei.

There is a pay parking lot at 518 41st ($0.50/hr), which is about 1/2 mile or 11 minutes walk from the School.

There is a parking building at the Port Imperial Ferry Terminal, which is about 20 minutes walk from the School.

DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION

The registration deadline is Saturday, Feb 22, 2025.

If you are planning to test, your Shinsa application must be received by this deadline. Please read carefully and follow the instructions.

For questions about online registration, please contact info@shinken.cc.

SHINSA APPLICATION

SEMINAR

Seminar, taikai and shinsa will be held on Saturday and Sunday March 8-9, 2025 at Weekawken High School 53 Liberty Place, Weehawken NJ 07086.

Seminar schedule: 9:00am to 5:00pm Satruday,.
Taikai: 9:00am to 3:00pm Sunday
Shinsa:n3:00pm to 5 pm Sunday.

Seminar fee: $120

TAIKAI

There will Taikai on Sunday. Competition will be rank-by-rank, up to 5 dan.

IAIDO SHINSA

An Iaido promotion test for all Kyu and 1-4 Dan will be held after the seminar on Sunday, March 9.

You must attend the seminar to take the test. No exceptions!

Shinsa fee:
$50 payable by check to Shidogakuin, included in the seminar check.

Menjo fee:
A separate check, payable to Shidogakuin, in the amount indicated below, should be submitted. If the candidate does not pass, the check will be destroyed.

• Kyu under 18 = $20
  
• Kyu over 18 = $30
  
• 1 dan = $50
  
• 2 dan = $60
  
• 3 dan = $80
  
• 4 dan = $100

NEW APPROVAL PROCESS FOR SHINSA: All permissions and shinsa questions should be submitted by email.

If you are a member of GNEUSKF, AEUSKF or EUSKF you do NOT need separate permission to test.

Members of other regional federations should provide an email showing that your federation president is aware of, and approves of, your testing at this event.

Non-AUSKF members must be a member of a federation recognized by the International Kendo Federation, and provide an email showing that your federation president is aware of, and approves of, your testing at this event.

If you do not sit in seiza, and you have previously provided a doctor's note, it is not necessary to provide another. You do not need to let us know if you cannot sit in seiza, you will do standing versions of the first four AJKF kata..

KODANSHA SESSION

Friday March 7, 2025, at Shidokan Shidogakuin in the Westchester Table Tennis Center, 150 Thompkins Avenue, Westchester NY
Start 9:00; lunch 12:30-1:30; afternoon session until 5:00pm.

5 Dan and above are eligible for Kodansha session.

REGISTER