I began my iaido journey in November of 2001 at what is now known as the Mumonkai Iaido Club at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Center in Toronto, Canada. My principal teacher is Goyo Ohmi, nanadan kyoshi. Presently my focus, through rigorous training, is to deepen my knowledge of my teacher’s iaido lineage and to continue to solidify my own personal style based on his teachings as I become eligible for my rokudan iaido rank in late 2019.

My favourite experiences in iaido involve travelling for the first time to foreign countries to attend seminars.

As someone who has experienced the bulk of his travelling later in life, my first substantial trip was for an iaido seminar in New Jersey via New York City approximately ten years ago. I have said that my first time landing in Manhattan from Toronto by bus, and taking the stairs from the city’s Port Authority to the street to be only to greeted by the iconic yellow taxis and the nighttime glow of Time’s Square was an experience I still consider transcendent. The experience of travelling prompt a very welcome self-reflection in me, since I believe one’s home is intricately woven into who we are as people and seeing new places creates a revitalizing spark in me -- I will likely never tire of the experience.

In the years following, I would regularly travel to other countries that include England and Belgium, to further my iaido studies.

As well, I am relatively new urban photographer of two years. I can be expected to be found around the city photographing the sites and sounds of New Jersey and New York while I am in town for the seminar.

(Michael will be competing in the 5-Dan division)