Jonathan Bannister (Photo provided by AiShinKai Dojo)
Local martial arts instructor Jonathan Bannister, Ph.D., was promoted to fifth degree black belt in Iaido, Japanese quick draw swordsmanship, on Sept. 19 in Tokyo.
Bannister was one of only 14 of 80 candidates who successfully passed the examination. The promotion places Bannister among only a handful of Americans who have attained this rank according to the rigorous standards set by the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei, the Japanese organization sponsoring the examination.
Bannister has trained in the Japanese martial disciplines of Aikido and Iaido for more than 30 years in both Japan and the United States. He is currently headmaster of AiShinKai Dojo, headquartered in Edmonds. (end)
