Byakkokan Dojo   

Toyama Ryu Battodo 

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 dropping 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 calligraphy, 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. Hataya Mitsuo Yoshitoki sensei 9th Dan Hanshi is the acting Kaicho of the "Zen Nippon Toyama Ryu Iaido Renmei"! Hataya sensei is based in Machida City just outside Tokyo and teaches Toyama Ryu at his Seizankai Dojo located above his sword shop Hataya Token. At the same time, Hataya Sensei is also acting as the Kaicho-Daiko of the Zen Nihon Batto Do Renmei since Ueki Seiji Sensei’s untimely retirement due to illness. The Zen Nippon Batto Do Renmei was originally formed by Nakamura sensei in 1980.

(this history was off of my sempai Robert Steele sensei's website and parts from Tony Alvarez sensei's dojo site)

 

Zen Nihon Battodo Renmei/ US Battodo Federation 

The Zen Nihon Battodo Renmei and US Battodo Federation is an umbrella group to help promote the art of Battodo. Because there are many different styles, sei tei (standardized) sets of kata and cutting patterns are used. This helps connect different styles of iai or batto so we can train together and help the art grow 

 

Seizan Kai

The Seizan kai is Hataya sensei's personal group. In it he promotes the elements of kata, cutting, and gekken. Also the testing standards a higher than the normal Toyama Ryu and Battodo Renmei standards. Although it is mainly Toyama Ryu, he brings into it his numerous other experiences with different styles as well.