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.

(Photo Curtesy Guy Power Sensei)

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 Batto Jutsu. 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. Our  particular "style" is Seizan Kai Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu taught by Hataya Mitsuo Sensei, 9th dan Toyama Ryu and Kaicho of the Zen Nihon Toyama Ryu Iai Do Renmei.  Hataya Sensei has raised the standards and requirements in his school above all the other's in Japan to ensure his students rank among the best.  We follow his standards.

Tameshigiri The purpose of test cutting, tameshigiri, in Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu, is to test the cutting ability of the sword, gain experience in striking a solid object and improve timing, distance, angle and grip. The targets used consist of makiwari, tightly rolled straw mats called tatami mats, that have been soaked in water.  These offer uniform weight and thickness that best replicate the resistance of human flesh. Because a samurai lived or died by his ability with a sword, it is essential that he be able to perform a cut successfully.  No matter how good the sword or how sharp, it is only as effective as the person weilding it.  Hataya Sensei has pointed out to us repeatedly, that no matter how well you are able to perform

kata, if the cuts you make in the kata are light and ineffectual, you are only dancing. For this reason tameshigiri is a fundamental part of Toyama Ryu training.  While the kata teaches correct footwork and body movement, it is only by cutting an actual target that reveals whether or not proper cutting technique is being used.  Strength, speed and technique alone are not enough.  The correct swing technique and blade angle, hasuji, must combine with proper cutting distance, kirima, to make a successful cut.  The mind, body and spirit must fuse at the very instant of cutting.  This is the objective of Seizan Kai Toyama Ryu Batto Jutsu.

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