Dejan Damnjanovic started training Kendo in 1985. As a member of national Kendo team of Yugoslavia, he participated in two European championships – 1990. in Berlin (our team took seventh place), and 1992. in Barcelona. Mr Damnjanovic started training Iaido in Paris in 1991. He has been practicing under Mr Philippe Sabatier Sensei (kyoshi, 7th dan) for two years. He participated on annual seminars of Esaka Seigen Sensei (hanshi, 10th dan) held in Europe (Touluse, Paris...). On these occasions, he received his yudansha grades in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai. After his return to Serbia in 1993, Dejan Damnjanovic established the first Iaido dojo in the country – "Dojo Sabatier".

Mr. Andrea Lupo Sinclair with Dejan Damnjanovic

From 1995. to 1998, besides Iaido, he was training sport fencing under Mr Ljuba Savic, one of the most famous Serbian fencing instructors. He participated in several competitions (epee) in Serbia. Several years later, Mr Damnjanovic became a member and competitor of Beogradski Macevalacki Klub, and focused on sabre as his main weapon. Mr Damnjanovic hosted two seminars of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido in Belgrade, held by Mr Philippe Sabatier as a representative of Kokusai Budoin (International Martial Arts Federation) – in 1994. and in 2000. At the end of the seminar of 2000. was held the examination that gave the first generation of Iaido yudanshas in Serbia – all of them were students of Mr Damnjanovic. In 2000 was published Mr Damnjanovic's book "Iaido – Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu". In 2001, on the initiative of Dejan Damnjanovic, was created Iaido Federation of Yugoslavia, later renamed to: Iaido and Battodo Federation of Serbia. Its first president was Mr Damnjanovic.

Dejan Damnjanovic with the Kakuseikai dojo teachers, Yokohama, 2006.

training in Kakuseikai dojo, Yokohama, 2006.

In 2003, this organisation hosted the first Battodo seminar in Serbia. The seminar was held by Mr Guy Power (renshi, 7th dan) from San Francisco, USA. Power Sensei is the direct student of Taizaburo Nakamura Sensei, the founder of Nakamura Ryu Battodo and one of the greatest figures of Japanese swordsmanship. After this seminar, Toyama and Nakamura Ryu Battodo were officially introduced and established in Serbia. The same year, Mr Damnjanovic established the first Battodo dojo in the country – "Taishukan Dojo" in Belgrade. In 2004, Dejan Damnjanovic participated in the ceremony of the first anniversary of Nakamura Sensei's death in Yokohama, Japan. On the same occasion, Mr Damnjanovic had the opportunity and honour to practice with the senior teachers of Kokusai Battodo Renmei (International Battodo Federation) during his two weeks stay in Yokohama. At the end of his stay, Iaido and Battodo Federation of Serbia became official members of International Battodo Federation, and Mr Damnjanovic received his Battodo 3rd dan. Currently, Dejan Damnjanovic has the following ranks: Kendo 2nd dan, Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iai 3rd dan, Nakamura Ryu Battodo 5th dan. Mr Damnjanovic is the president of Iaido and Battodo Federation of Serbia.
During 2003. and 2004, Dejan Damnjanovic defined his interpretation of fencing – Damnjanovic Fencing System. It is a result of years of his experience in both European and Asian sword traditions. Among these, the ones that influenced mostly the process of creation of Damnjanovic Fencing System are practically oriented military systems (Toyama Ryu Iaido and Nakamura Ryu Battodo, as well as certain European military sabre systems).

Aleksandar Vasin, Dejan Damnjanovic and Zoran Cankovic, Belgrade, 2007.

Dejan Damnjanovic