Welcome to the
32nd European Iaido Championships
WELCOME WORD FROM THE ORGANIZER – EUROPEAN KENDO FEDERATION
Dieter HAUCK
European Kendo Federation, President
Dear Friends,
I welcome you to this 32nd European Iaido Championships 2025 in Prague, Czech Republic. We thank Czech Federation for organizing this event. They are a bit new to the business, but we are sure they will do well!
I welcome the delegation from the ZNKR and the many teachers from all over Europe, to support and guide our Iaido endeavours. The ongoing support by ZNKR is much appreciated and the tireless work of the European sensei is essential, as teachers in the home dojo and as referees in the competitions. Now is the time the competitors can show the quality of their technique and indeed of themselves – the stronger heart wins, and in trying, they win anyway.
Europe beyond Iaido today is in an increasingly difficult position and is managing it not too badly: While in 2022 Russia’s war against Ukraine – still ongoing! – seemed to be the main problem of our time, we recently learned that stupidity, greed and the deep corruption of persons and political institutions may do even more damage. The age for peaceful international cooperation seems to yield to an age of unproductive economic and military confrontation. In this situation, a united and strong Europe is our best chance for the future.
The lesson for the day is that the struggle for democracy, honest cooperation and the rule of law has never ended and never will. This corresponds to the values and traditions of the disciplines organized by our Federation. Those disciplines, although related to ancient weapons and originating from warfare, today aim to promote personal development and peace and prosperity among all peoples. To achieve this, we need to be strong at heart and act resolutely as needed. We have little chance but accept the task and, doing so, enjoy a meaningful life.
Following this way, I wish you all an interesting and fruitful gathering with your fellow practitioners, your Japanese and European teachers and may you meet old and make many new friends. Then the success in competition and eventually examinations is a most welcome but not essential add-on.
I hope you enjoy the championships and the days in this beautiful country. I look forward to high-level competitions, productive examinations, fruitful meetings, joyful celebrations, and all conducted in the true spirit of Iaido.
Ganbatte!
A WORD FROM THE ORGANIZER – CZECH KENDO FEDERATION
Lukáš LAIBRT
Czech Kendo Federation, President
Dear members of the national team delegations, dear officials and dear iaido friends,
It is a great honour and pleasure for me to welcome you to Prague for the 32nd European Iaido Championships. This championship is unique not only because it is taking place in the heart of Europe, but also because it is being hosted by the Czech Republic and organized by the Czech Kendo Federation for the first time in history.
This is the most important event we have ever held.
Our federation has been promoting the development of kendo, iaido, jodo and naginatado in the Czech Republic for almost three decades and next year marks a significant milestone—40 years since our budo was first practiced in our country.
This journey, that began thanks to the determination of a few enthusiasts in the mid-80s, has now culminated in the moment when we have the honour of hosting the best iaidoka from all over Europe.
This championship is not only a sporting event, but also a symbolic step on the threshold of our anniversary – a celebration of all those who helped shape this journey for all these years.
Iaido is not just a technique for drawing a sword. It is a path to understanding oneself – a discipline that teaches us humility, concentration, respect, and courage. It teaches us to seek calm in movement, strength in silence, and harmony in every moment. And it is precisely these values that unite everyone who has gathered here today – regardless of language, country, or experience.
Allow me to thank everyone who made this championship possible – the organizers, referees, volunteers, partners, and those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. My special thanks goes to the officials of the European Kendo Federation for their kind support and mentoring.
Thanks to you, the spirit of iaido can be fully expressed this weekend – in every detail, every gesture, every moment.
I wish all competitors not only success during this championship, but also inner peace, concentration, and joy along the way.
And for all of us—may these days be a celebration not only of skill, but also of the spirit of friendship, which unites us across generations and borders.
Thank you, and I wish you a wonderful championship!
A WORD FROM THE ORGANIZER – EVENT DIRECTOR
Tomáš KYNCL
EIC organizator director
Dear participants of EIC 2025,
It is my great pleasure to warmly welcome you to the 32nd European Iaido Championship, held for the very first time in the Czech Republic – in its heart, the capital city of Prague.
Prague is my hometown, and I hold it very dear. I hope you will have the opportunity to explore it and perhaps fall in love with it as I have. The name “Praha” means “threshold” – the kind you cross when stepping out of familiar doors into something new. By hosting the EIC, we have crossed such a threshold – embarking on a journey we are taking for the first time.
Organizing this championship is a great honor for me. I deeply appreciate the trust placed in me by the entire organizing team here in the Czech Republic, as well as by the leadership of the EKF and CKF. A strong impulse for this bold step came from my teacher, Yasumichi Ogino, who once told me: “A person should have dreams throughout life – and live them.”
Because no one achieves anything alone, I am grateful to all my friends and colleagues in the European budo community who are helping me live this dream. This is a major milestone in my life, where I bring together my experience as a manager of large business projects with nearly 40 years of dedication to martial arts – as a competitor, teacher, and referee.
At the same time, I am gaining new experiences. Today, I bow deeply to all organizers, because hosting the EIC is truly demanding. It is a project about people and with people – full of challenges and stress, but also joy.
Allow me to thank my life partner, Pavla Rajmanová, for her patience and emotional support, and my students at Kensei dojo for their cooperation.
Finally, I apologize for any shortcomings I was unable to eliminate in this project. I believe, however, that together we will create an unforgettable experience.