How to Find Upcoming Kendo, Iaido, or Jodo Gradings in Canada
The Canadian Kendo Federation (CKF) publishes its grading information on kendo-canada.com under an Upcoming Gradings section, which lists scheduled Kendo and Iaido gradings across the country with dates and locations. The site notes that you should check back frequently, because additional dates and locations are added over time. If you want the current list, go directly to that section rather than relying on news posts, which mix gradings with tournament and administrative announcements.
Where the schedule lives on the site
The grading schedule is not a single fixed calendar page with permanent dates. It appears as an Upcoming Gradings block, currently describing Spring–Summer gradings for Kendo and Iaido held across Canada, with a prompt to return for more dates and locations.
Practical implications:
- Season-based, not year-round. The posted block covers a specific grading season (Spring–Summer in the current listing), so expect the page to change as new seasons are announced.
- Kendo and Iaido are listed together. The schedule text names both arts; Jodo is one of the three martial arts the CKF governs, so check the same area and the federation news for Jodo-specific notices rather than assuming a separate page.
- Locations vary nationally. Gradings are described as taking place "across the country," so you need to read each entry for its city rather than expecting one national venue.
What else on the site points to grading details
Beyond the schedule block, grading information surfaces through federation news and FAQ links:
| Source on the site | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Upcoming Gradings block | Season, arts covered, and the instruction to check back for added dates/locations |
| Federation News posts | Dated announcements, e.g. "2024 Spring/Summer Gradings" (Jan 19, 2024) and "2026 Kendo/Iaido/Jodo Gradings" (Jan 14, 2026), the latter pointing to an FAQ |
| FAQ link attached to a grading post | Referenced for grading questions — the site directs readers to "check this FAQ" for the 2026 gradings |
| Member's Login | A members' area exists; the site does not state that grading registration is handled there, so treat login and registration as separate questions until you confirm |
The pattern to note: grading announcements are dated news items, and at least one of them explicitly routes readers to an FAQ. That FAQ is the place to look for procedural questions the schedule itself doesn't answer.
A workable routine for finding your grading
- Open the Upcoming Gradings section on kendo-canada.com and read the current season's entries for date and city.
- Scan Federation News for the most recent post with "Gradings" in the title — these carry the announcement date and often link to an FAQ.
- Follow the FAQ link in that post for the questions the schedule doesn't cover.
- Re-check periodically. The site's own instruction is to check back frequently for additional dates and locations, which means a single visit may not show your region yet.
- If your dojo or provincial body is affiliated, ask them directly — local organizers often know about a grading before or alongside the national posting.
Common sticking points
- Assuming one national date. The listing is explicitly multi-location, so a grading near you may appear later than others.
- Treating news posts as the schedule. News items are dated snapshots; the Upcoming Gradings block is the standing reference.
- Expecting registration details in the schedule. The site shows dates and locations and points to an FAQ, but does not state fees, deadlines, or a registration platform in the material available. Confirm those with the organizing body or your dojo.
- Confusing gradings with tournaments. The same news feed carries championships (e.g. the Canadian National Kendo Championships, August 7–10, 2026, in Burnaby, BC) and team announcements; filter for "Gradings" specifically.
If you are also trying to understand what the CKF is and what it governs, that is covered separately — the federation is Canada's national governing body for Kendo, Iaido, and Jodo.