Located on the far north coast of NSW, Byron Bay is one of Australia's most beautiful areas, both environmentally and culturally. It is the land of the Bundjalung (Arakwal) people, it's origininal name being Cavvanba, meaning "meeting place." This page is dedicated to the rights and heritage of the original inhabitants, both human and otherwise.

The town itself is still a meeting place with visitors from around the world yearly topping the million mark as the unique attitude of inherent spirituality, creativity, fun and diversity calls to many.

Byron Bay is rich in its acceptance of many cultures and its people delight in the unusual and the flamboyant although over the years it has attracted the greedy investor and developer who has sought to cash in on this uniqueness.

The new student to Iaido learns firstly to value themselves; is taught that for the duration of their time within the dojo all day-to-day worries or demands - even importances or necessary forms of behaviour - are to be put away; that the time in the dojo is for themselves alone - a gift; a dignity; a space in life. One of the first things a student of Iaido is taught is to relax, to drop the shoulders of care, to not try too hard, to take their time, to not be afraid to initially feel silly or inept (they are assured that we have all felt this). They are reassured that all self-doubt will pass . . .

And so it does.

The student of Iaido comes to understand that only by going slowly and calmly will they become swift and clear in their intentions and their actions.

There are only two true judges in Iaido: one is the self - the body, mind and spirit in accord . . . and the other is the sword with which they train.

The student of Iaido comes to understand that respect for the self, as well as respect for others - particularly those with greater experience - will be reciprocated; that willingness to learn will be admired whereas demand to be taught will be ignored; that etiquette and politeness - becoming rare and precious in a more-than-often deceitful world - are therefore to be embraced.

The new student to Iaido will come to understand that humility is never about debasement but all about true pride and dignity with absolutely nothing to prove.

These are life skills.

The student of Iaido experiences great joy when the minute principles that exist in each waza unfold and become absorbed into a deeper understanding.

The development of peace, in exquisite compliment to acute awareness, is the greatest thing the student of Iaido grasps in an unfolding and blossoming way and because the student of Iaido is taught to realise the philosophy of "The Body and the Sword in Accord" they also realise that the principles of Iai-Do are inherently peaceful and balanced.

The student of Iaido learns the calm mind, and understands that violence is ultimately an expression of cowardice and fear; that power is an altogether different energy that is achieved through discipline and wisdom and all of the above.

Iaido is a way of moving through the world; a constant presence; an earned self-trust. The knowledge of just how deadly is the weapon with which we train - the consequences of its use in a real-life scenario - means that we also develop deep-mind; the skill of necessary avoidance, the ability to always seek alternatives to confrontation and aggressive behaviour, courage, core-strength and both a sense of humour and a deeply profound regard for all that is majestic and worthy of defending within the world.

The longer the student of Iaido travels the path of learning, of deciding that the only person to whom we ultimately have to answer is ourselves, how effortless living well can be, how clear the intention and consequence of each thought and action, the lighter we become and the more capable of meeting and assessing each and every situation.