At the beginning of November, we travelled to Munich, Germany, where the 33rd European Iaido Championships took place. Representatives from 26 countries gathered to test their skills, exchange experiences and demonstrate what years of training, discipline and perseverance had brought them. For our dojo, it was an intense three-day experience filled with high-level iaido, new insights, competitive excitement, the joy of success and valuable lessons that will help us continue to grow.
The weekend began on Friday with a seminar led by the Japanese delegation. Takahiro Kumeda and Akihito Maruoka, both holders of the 8th Dan Kyoshi, shared their knowledge and experience with us. During the seminar, they focused on all the important aspects of ZNKR Iaido, highlighting the technical details, principles and nuances that often make the difference in the quality of each technique. In the afternoon, participants were divided into groups according to their technical grades and continued training under the direct guidance of the Japanese sensei. It was an excellent opportunity not only to refine our techniques but also to gain a fresh perspective on our own practice and remind ourselves that there is always room for improvement, even in techniques we believe we have already mastered.
On Saturday, the European Championships officially began with the opening ceremony at exactly 9:00 AM. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation and competitive spirit. Our dojo was represented by four members: Vincent (shodan), Tomáš (nidan), Adriana (godan) and Marián (rokudan). Vincent and Tomáš were the first to step onto the competition floor. Both delivered excellent performances and qualified from their respective pools in first place. Adriana followed their example and also secured her place in the elimination rounds. Unfortunately, despite a very strong performance, Marián did not manage to qualify this time.
Vincent progressed the furthest in the elimination rounds. Through focused performances and determination, he fought his way onto the podium, securing a fantastic 3rd place. His bronze medal was also the only medal won by the Slovak team at this championship. Tomáš and Adriana finished their individual campaigns just before the semifinals. Adriana, however, returned home from Munich with another significant recognition. She received the Fighting spirit award in the godan category, a wonderful acknowledgment of her fighting spirit, determination and attitude on the competition floor.
Sunday morning was dedicated to the team competition. Vincent and Adriana represented our dojo as members of the Slovak team. In the group stage, we faced the host nation, Germany, and Italy. We managed to secure a comfortable victory against Germany, but Italy proved to be a stronger opponent on this occasion. The group ultimately turned out to be extremely competitive, with each country recording one victory. Qualification for the elimination rounds was therefore decided by the total number of flags awarded across all matches. Unfortunately, we did not manage to secure enough flags, and our team competition journey came to an end in the group stage.
However, the Sunday programme was far from over. Following the team competition, grading examinations took place, bringing another reason for celebration to our dojo! Vincent successfully achieved his 2nd Dan, while Adriana passed her examination for 6th Dan! Congratulations to both of them. These achievements represent countless hours of training, discipline, patience and determination. Their new grades are a well-deserved recognition of their hard work so far, but also the beginning of another chapter in their iaido journey.
Every championship brings victories and defeats, moments of joy and moments that encourage us to reflect on what we can do better next time. We are returning from Munich with a bronze medal, a Fighting spirit award, two new Dan grades and a wealth of valuable experience. Above all, however, we are reminded that behind every achievement lies a great deal of hard work, support and people who help us move forward. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all our competitors for their effort, commitment, determination and willingness to keep improving. Each of them contributed in their own way to representing our dojo and the Slovak Federation. We are proud of what they have achieved and appreciate all the hard work that made these results possible.
Our special and heartfelt thanks go to our teacher, Marián. His role throughout the entire championship was incredibly important to us. He was there not only as our instructor and coach during the competition matches, but also as someone we could rely on in every situation. With great dedication, patience and willingness to help, he guided our preparation, encouraged us, offered advice and supported us through both the demanding competition matches and the examinations for higher Dan grades.
We deeply appreciate the time and energy he devotes to us, his continuous support, his willingness to share his knowledge and the encouragement he gives to every one of us. His guidance is not driven solely by the ambition to achieve sporting results, but above all by a genuine interest in our personal development and technical progress. It is precisely this kind of support that helps us push our own boundaries and continue our journey with greater confidence.
Munich is now behind us, but our iaido journey continues. New training sessions, new challenges, further competitions and countless opportunities for improvement lie ahead. We understand that true progress does not happen overnight. It is built through consistent practice, patience, humility and a willingness to learn even from our mistakes. A medal is a wonderful reward and a new Dan grade is a significant milestone, but neither represents the ultimate destination. Every achievement opens the door to further discovery and reminds us of how much more there is still to learn. There is still a long road ahead of us. And that is precisely the beauty of iaido: never stop searching, learning and moving forward. Step by step, training by training. Together.
We would like to thank all our competitors, our Marián sensei and everyone who supports us along the way. Munich has given us wonderful memories. We are taking home the motivation to keep moving forward!
