Dainihon Iaido Federation

Iai is a lifelong pursuit

The predecessor to the current Brisbane Branch, the Seishinkan Brisbane Dojo, was originally found in 2004 by Yasuhisa Watanabe, then 3rd Dan. From its earliest days, the dojo has been dedicated to the promotion and development of iaido in Queensland, actively participating in local multicultural festivals and visiting primary schools to give iaido demonstrations to share the art of Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu with the wider community.

Since 2020, the Brisbane Dojo has operated under a new structure as an independent branch of the Renmei, under the Branch leader Yasuhisa Watanabe and Dojo leader Ian Logan (6th dan). Logan sensei has been a member of the Brisbane Dojo since its very foundation, and his dedication to training embodies the spirit of a lifelong practitioner of martial arts. His unwavering commitment has earned the dep respect and admiration of Seishinkan members both within Brisbane and across other branches.

Currently, the Brisbane Branch has around 10 active members, ranging from their 20s to 80s. The training follows the traditional iaido training format; the leader demonstrate a waza, followed by the rest of the members working out how best to perform the waza. What differs from other dojos is that members observe and comment on each other’s waza to contribute to their improvement. Many members also bring experiences from other martial arts such as aikido, kendo, karate and kyudo, contributing valuable insights that enrich iaido practice within the dojo.

One of the dojo’s defining feature is its strong sense of camaraderie. After weekly training sessions, members often gather informally at the dojo, exchanging stories about iaido over a drink. This friendly, welcoming atmosphere fosters a community where practitioners of all generations learn and grow together.

Guided by our catch phrase “Iai is a lifelong pursuit”, members devote themselves to training each week despite Brisbane’s hot, subtropical climate, to ensure the tradition of Seishinkan iaido are faithfully transmitted to the future generations.

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