Shinkenkan Dojo
British Columbia, Canada
About Battodo
Nakamura Ryu Battodo is Japanese
martial art
created in
1953, by its founder Nakamura Taizaburo sensei (1912 - 2003).
Battodo, as a specific way of
Japanese
swordsmanship, was
based on traditional schools and teachings. It was part of the official
curriculum in Toyama Military Academy between two world wars and
represented a
way of using a sword in a "modern military combat". It is a pragmatic
and
efficient style.
Nakamura Ryu Battodo is a result of
Nakamura
sensei`s
experience in teaching Jissen Budo (battlefield martial arts of sword,
knife and bayonet) in Toyama Academy as
well as
experience in other martial art systems – Iaido, Kendo, Jukendo,
Tankendo,
Kyudo and Judo. Toyama Ryu is, in technical meaning, a foundation, a
base of
Nakamura Ryu Battodo, and is one out of four sets of kata. Along with
kihon
(fundamentals, basic techniques) and tameshigiri (target test cutting),
kata is the main part of training.
Nakamura
sensei made his ryu based on several prinicples. First of all, there
was a
concept of Eiji Happo. Nakamura Sensei was a master
in
calligraphy and
ideogram
“ei” (eternity) in Japanese language is containing all eight moves of
the
brush.
Therefore, In Nakamura Ryu Battodo there are eight stances (kamae),
eight cuts
and
thrusts and eight ways of returning swort to scabbard (nōtō). Also,
there are
eight katas in each Toyama Ryu, Seitei Toho and
Nakamura Ryu series.
Another important principle of Nakamura Ryu Battodo is seishin tanren – forging of the spirit through hard training. A hard and persistent training gives a disciple the opportunity to understand the difference between katsujin-ken (“life giving sword”) and satsujin-ken (“life taking sword”). Proper way of training should always be used as a way of improving as a person. Understanding relationship and contradiction between these two terms is probably the most important goal in all martial arts.
Essential Principles of Nakamura Ryu
