Paul Chadburn - British Iaido Association Chairman

Paul Chadburn

I first started training at the age of 18 in the noble art of Boxing down at the Y.M.C.A. in Blackburn. I did this for some time then went on to our local Kick Boxing club, where I also got my first look at the empty hand martial art of Kempo Ju Jitsu which in 1989 I joined. My first introduction to sword, like many in the martial arts was through my empty hand training, this being Kempo Ju Jitsu training in about 1998, and it was just a year later that I started to walk my own path, and made the martial arts my living. I now coach professionally and run three clubs.

I decided that if I was going to do sword work, I would approach it in the same way that I had my empty hand, and in this manner started to try and find out which style I was going to do, and then a club that was near enough with a coach that was best suited to me, and also credible. So, in 1999 I found a great bloke called Stuart Sheriff who ran a club in Bury and was more than willing to share information, which is when I felt that I started to walk the right path. This is also where I met my dear friend Ernie Blackburn who became a rock in my life for sword, he trains every time I train and runs the Iaido section at the Burnley club for Ydachi. He is also the Treasurer and Licensing Officer for the British Iaido Association. I train three to four days a week for about 2 hours a day on my own personal Iai training, and coach for three sessions a week after my Ju Jitsu and self defense classes. I have trained in Japan and been there several times in the last five years.

I am a member of the British Kendo Association and graded to Sho Dan with them, but have found it through my work more and more difficult to get gradings. They are a great bunch of people and I would call a lot of them my friends, but I personally have no interest yet in Kendo.

This association to me is about having more training available to me personally and it being close enough so as not to interfere with my professional life . So I sought out some like minded people with good lineage, and friends all over the world including Japan and that is why I graded in front of Allan Tattersall Sensei 8th Dan D.N.B.K. and took my 4th Dan in Iaido, I still intend to remain a member of the British Kendo Association and go on as many seminars as possible, but yet don't see why that should limit my own personal training and natural progression.

My Qualifications are listed below:

  • 4th Dan Iaido B.I.A. (British Iaido Association)
  • 4th Dan Kempo Ju Jitsu Ydachi Schools.
  • 2nd Dan Kick Boxing
  • 1st Dan Iaido B.K.A. (British Kendo Association)
  • B.J.J.A. G.B. Registered level 4 coach.
  • Registered level 4 coach with U.K. sports coach.
  • A.B.A. Full coach.
  • A.B.A. Course qualified referee.
  • N.V.Q. equivalents in Self Defense .
  • N.V.Q. equivalents Response and Restraint techniques.

Thankyou for reading and I hope you have enjoyed. Also I hope that you walk your path in Budo and meet as many people and have as much fun as I am having.

Yours in Budo, Paul Chadburn.