Stäfa. A charming Swiss town nestled on the shores of Lake Zurich and just under a half-hour train ride from the city of Zurich, carries a name inspired by the Scottish island of Stäfa. Historical records trace its roots back to the year 972, when Emperor Otto II confirmed that the lands around the lake, including Stäfa, belonged to a local monastery.
The town is connected to the cantonal capital not only by rail, but also much to the fascination of us landlocked visitors, by a scenic, regularly scheduled boat route across the lake. The quaint square near the boat dock, lined with cozy cafés, is the perfect spot to enjoy the first warm rays of spring sunshine, watch sailboats gliding across the water, and admire the snow-capped Alpine peaks on the horizon.
Twenty years ago, the Tsukuri Dojo was founded in Stäfa by Mirjam and Röbi Senn. To mark its anniversary, the dojo took on the honor of hosting the 25th Swiss Iaido Championships. As in previous years, our teacher Marián sensei, was once again invited by the Swiss Kendo Federation to participate as an international instructor and referee.
The pre-tournament seminar was led by Stefano Ferro sensei (7th dan Renshi), supported by Marián sensei and three 6th dan instructors from Switzerland: Robert, Matthew, and Maria. The training was physically demanding, with a focus on intensive practice following brief explanations of the key points for each kata. Special attention was given to the opening and closing reiho, which were practiced thoroughly for nearly half an hour as a separate part of the seminar.
Another important part of the seminar was dedicated to referee training, which also served as a refresher on competition etiquette for experienced practitioners and an introduction for newcomers. Instructors demonstrated how to enter and exit the shiaijo (match area), what judges look for in scoring, and how to present oneself correctly. The day concluded with practice matches involving volunteers, surprisingly, there was no shortage of eager participants.
The evening sayonara party, which also doubled as a celebration of Tsukuri Dojo's anniversary, revealed tired but happy faces, some satisfied from a full day of training, others simply glad the hard work was behind them.
Sunday’s tournament opened with the 5th dan category, after which those competitors transitioned into their roles as referees, allowing the rest of the event to run smoothly across two competition areas. One category followed another, match after match, culminating in the team division. The overall level of performance was high, and while only a few could leave with medals, everyone gained valuable experience and renewed motivation to continue their training.
