History
Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu
In 1873, in the Toyama district of Tokyo, the Rikugan Toyama Gakko, or Toyama Military Academy, was established to train
the officers and non-commissioned officers of Japan's modern, western-style army. Part of the curriculum taught was
Japanese fencing and swordsmanship
In order to teach their military personnel the most effective method of swordsmanship, the Academy drew apon the
techniques of the then living master swordsmen. These techniques from various old schools were performed from a
standing position. One of the teachers brought in to develop this practical sword system was Nakayama Hakudo.
Nakayama sensei's background in Eishin Ryu became the basis for the original standing forms. Morinaga Kiyoshi, a
fencing instructor at the academy, reworked the kata and expanded them from five to seven by droping one of the original
and adding three. It was this combination of techniques as adopted by the army that became the foundation of the Toyama
School of swordsmanship.
In 1939, a twenty-seven year old kendo instructor by the name of Nakamura Taizburo, was selected to attend the Academy.
After six months he qualified to be an instructor of Jissen Budo, the combat martial arts of sword, knife and bayonet. This
marked a major turning point in the evolution of Toyama Ryu.
While teaching kenjutsu in China, Nakamura sensei, who also studied caligraphy, was inspired with the thought that eiji
happo, the eight rules of caligraphy, might also apply to swordsmanship. While practicing the ei character, he saw that the
eight brush strokes traced the trajectory of the sword while cutting. From this came the realization that there were only eight
distinct cuts possible with the sword, all others just variations of the theme. He began to organize his realizations and
ideas into a system of practical swordsmanship devoid of meaningless techniques.
The particular "style" of Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu that we study is taught by Hataya Mitsuo Sensei, 9th dan Toyama Ryu and
Kaicho of the Zen Nihon Toyama Ryu Iai Do Renmei.
(this history was off of my sempai
Robert Steele sensei's website)
In 1873, in the Toyama district of Tokyo, the Rikugan Toyama Gakko, or Toyama Military Academy, was established to train
the officers and non-commissioned officers of Japan's modern, western-style army. Part of the curriculum taught was
Japanese fencing and swordsmanship
In order to teach their military personnel the most effective method of swordsmanship, the Academy drew apon the
techniques of the then living master swordsmen. These techniques from various old schools were performed from a
standing position. One of the teachers brought in to develop this practical sword system was Nakayama Hakudo.
Nakayama sensei's background in Eishin Ryu became the basis for the original standing forms. Morinaga Kiyoshi, a
fencing instructor at the academy, reworked the kata and expanded them from five to seven by droping one of the original
and adding three. It was this combination of techniques as adopted by the army that became the foundation of the Toyama
School of swordsmanship.
In 1939, a twenty-seven year old kendo instructor by the name of Nakamura Taizburo, was selected to attend the Academy.
After six months he qualified to be an instructor of Jissen Budo, the combat martial arts of sword, knife and bayonet. This
marked a major turning point in the evolution of Toyama Ryu.
While teaching kenjutsu in China, Nakamura sensei, who also studied caligraphy, was inspired with the thought that eiji
happo, the eight rules of caligraphy, might also apply to swordsmanship. While practicing the ei character, he saw that the
eight brush strokes traced the trajectory of the sword while cutting. From this came the realization that there were only eight
distinct cuts possible with the sword, all others just variations of the theme. He began to organize his realizations and
ideas into a system of practical swordsmanship devoid of meaningless techniques.
The particular "style" of Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu that we study is taught by Hataya Mitsuo Sensei, 9th dan Toyama Ryu and
Kaicho of the Zen Nihon Toyama Ryu Iai Do Renmei.
(this history was off of my sempai
Robert Steele sensei's website)
(Photo Courtesy Guy
Power Sensei)
Power Sensei)
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ByakoKan Dojo