Toyama Ryu Battodo
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The Toyama Ryu Battodo system stems from the “Gunto Soho” (military sword curriculum) of the Rikugun Toyama Gakko (Toyama Military Academy). The academy was formed in 1873 and officially adopted its sword curriculum in order to train officers in the Imperial Japanese Army in 1925.
Nakamura Taizaburo Sensei was one of the instructors at the Toyama academy and it is from his teachings that we derive our lineage. During the Second World War, he also was a member of the Nanpo Kirikomitai (Southern Special Attack Force) who was known for facing modern infantry carrying only their swords. His experiences using a sword in battle during the war caused him to make some significant changes to the original curriculum.
It is the above history which has made Toyama Ryu above all a simple and practical system of swordsmanship. Battodo training is made up of Suburi (sword cutting combinations), Kata (sword forms), Kumitaichi (paired training) and Tameshigiri (target cutting). In the beginning students practice using a Boken (wooden sword), then once basic proficiency is gained they move on to using a real sword. The name Battodo (sword drawing way) refers to the understanding that the benefits of training in Toyama Ryu should go far beyond the physical. Working with a blade should sharpen the practitioner’s mental focus and strengthen their spirit.
Aside from the Toyama Ryu, our system of Battodo has in recent years incorporated elements of two other schools of swordsmanship. The Kumitachi has been influenced by the Shinkage Ryu (Yagyu Ryu), a medieval school of kenjutsu rooted in the Samurai warrior tradition. Our Tameshigiri includes elements of the Ioriken Battojutsu.
It is important to mention that two other teachers aside from Nakamura Sensei carried the Toyama Ryu line forward, named Yamaguchi Yuuki Sensei and Morinaga Kiyoshi Sensei. Also over the years Nakamura Sensei made many changes to the system, while teaching thousands of students. Therefore there are many different versions of Toyama Ryu being practiced now. At different times they call themselves Toyama Ryu Battojutsu, Toyama Ryu Battodo, Gunto Soho, Toyama Ryu Iaido and Nakamura Ryu, but are all related to the original military system.