Iwakabe Sensei has had many opportunities to train with several instructors throughout the United States and Japan at AUSKF National Kendo & Iaido seminars, the Foreign Kendo Leaders’ Seminar, and many other venues. Iwakabe Sensei has successfully placed in several competitive tournaments on both the local and national levels. In 2007, she took second in the Nakanishi Cup for 3rd degree black belts and above held in Omaha, Nebraska. She currently holds the rank of 3rd degree black belt (san-dan) in Shotokan Karate, Kendo, and Iaido; and, continues to train in all three disciplines under the guidance of her instructor, Hideki Iwakabe Sensei. The style of Iaido she teaches is called Muso Shinden-Ryu.
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Iwakabe, Monica Sensei
(Chief Instructor)
3rd Degree Black Belt (San-dan)
Iwakabe, Monica Sensei began her martial arts study in 1991 while Germany serving in the United States Army. After two years training in Shotokan Karate, she was fortunate enough to be transferred to Colorado where she began her training at Rocky Mountain Budokan with Iwakabe, Hideki Sensei. There, she continued her study of Shotokan Karate in 1993, took up Kendo (the Japanese ‘way of the sword,’ a sword-fighting art) in 1998, and finally added Iaido (pronounced 'ee'-'eye'-'doh') to her martial arts resume in 2000.
* In Japanese culture, it is most formal to name a person first by their surname, followed by their given name, then lastly their title such as "sensei" or teacher.
Iwakabe, Monica Sensei was trained in Iaido, the art of drawing the samurai sword, by her spouse, 6th degree black belt, Iwakabe, Hideki Sensei (pictured above). He is the President of the Rocky Mountain Kendo/Iaido Federation (RMKIF).
Iwakabe Sensei demonstrates an Iai kata called Yonhonme-Tsukaate. It is one of twelve katas from Seitei Iai, the regulation Iai forms as dictated by the All Japan Kendo Federation.
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Pattarozzi, Mike Sensei
(Assistant Instructor)
3rd Degree Black Belt (San-dan)
Mike Pattarozzi is the Assistant Instructor for the Castle Rock Iaido program and has been practicing the art of Iaido for more than 9 years. He earned his rank in Iaido from 6th degree black belt, Iwakabe, Hideki Sensei.
Mike also has six years experience in the Japanese martial art of Aikido, where he earned the rank of Ni-dan (or 2nd degree black belt). He studied Judo while attending college in Texas and since then has also trained in the arts of Kendo and Karate..
Mike and his family live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado where he is currently the chief for the Englewood Fire Department. After he retires, he hopes to dedicate more time to his martial arts training.
Castle Rock IAIDO
