U.S. Federation of Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu Tai Kai 2000                                          Page 2.

In Dodan Cutting, which is the cutting of double rolled mats stacked one on top of another with a single downward Gedan cut,  1st Place went to Tom Smyth, who later went on to be awarded Overall Tai Kai Champion, with a score of 2.3 mats cut;  2nd Place to Tim Wilmot with 2.1;  3rd Place to Carl McClafferty with 1.9;  4th Place to Hal Smith with 1.7; and 5th Place to Tony Alvarez with 1.6.  Unfortunately Team Cutting had to be cancelled due to time over-runs.

In Two-man Kumitachi 1st Place went to Tom Smyth and Mike Femal;  2nd Place to Jeff DeSantis and Joseph McDonald;  3rd Place to Matt Hunan and Mark Allen.

For many, the highlight of the tournament were the demonstrations.  This was the first time that many of us had the opportunity to see this number of high ranking Japanese swordsmen do what they do best.

Our teacher, Hataya Mitsuo, sensei  7th Dan and his son Daiskei, opened this section of the Tai Kai with a superb demonstration of two-man kumitachi.  Daiskei then went on to show his mastery of the sword by performing six of the advanced cuts found in Toyama Ryu.  They finished with father and son performing simultaneous cuts to the same wara.

They were followed by Hideo Mineu, sensei and Zenemon Sakaida, sensei who showed their own version of swordsmanship, Zanemon, sensei making a crowd pleasing Kesa cut thrugh a multiple-rolled mat. The Japanese demonstrations ended with Seiji Ueki, sensei, Kaicho of Zen Nihon Batto Do Renmei, showing the finer points of kata and taneshigiri.

The Americans put on a good show, too, with Russell McCartney, sensei demonstrating his Ishi Yama Ryu style and Carl McClafferty, sensei performing several kata from Sekiguchi Ryu.  The demo section of the event ended with a rousing Naginata demonstration by Leslee Williams, sensei and members of Florida Naginata.

Afterwards many of us went to the banquet at Charley's Steakhouse where we enjoyed marvelous food and drinks. Several special awards were given out culminating with the presentation of a mounted boar's head to Hataya, sensei during desert.  He had taken the boar with a bow and arrow during a hunt earlier this year.

And so the First Annual Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu Tai Kai came to an end.     We had a good crowd of spectators, many of whom stayed through the entire nine hour event.  there were unexpected problems but they have been noted.  It was a lesson in humility for many of us, but more importantly it now gives us a goal to strive for.  We now know what is expected and can train accordingly in preparation for next year's Tai Kai scheduled for November 2001.  Overall it was one helluva show.  Bob Elder and his Redneck Samurai had pulled it off.

Bio-

Robert Steele works as a sculptor at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida.  With previous background training in the western sword styles of fencing, saber, rapier and dagger as well as some kendo training, he now studies the Japanese Sword  style of Toyama Ryu under Bob Elder at the Orlando Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu Dojo where he has been a student since February 2000.  He can be contacted at:  rm_steele@hotmail.com.

For more information on Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu, the U.S. Federation of Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu, Inc., or the 2nd Annual Toyama Ryu Tai Kai in November 2001, contact Bob Elder at:  ecmas@ecmas.com or visit his web site at www.ecmas.com.

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