Nakamura Ryu
Encyclopedia
is a battō
style created by Nakamura Taizaburo (1912–2003).
prefecture. He resided in Tsurumi
, Yokohama
, where he presided over the International Iai-Battōdō Federation and taught battōdō for the Kakuseikai until his death in 2003.
Nakamura was awarded 10th dan hanshi battōdō by the International Martial Arts Federation
, 7th dan kyoshi by the All Japan Kendō Federation
, 8th dan hanshi, Jukendō
and 8th dan hanshi, Tankendō. In 1992, by Imperial Decree he was awarded Japan's highest cultural award, Living National Treasure
.
in northern China. He was inspired by the idea that the eiji happō
(the eight principles of writing kanji
) could be applied to swordsmanship. He began to organize his understandings into a system of practical swordsmanship in which non-martial techniques were discarded (much like the practical Toyama-ryū
of the early 20th century).
The system is based on Nakamura's studies whilst teaching Toyama-ryū: bringing the sword blade to a halt after a cut, parrying, progressing to the next combative posture using the sword's kinetic energy. It also makes use of what, through his researches, Nakamura found absent from many other schools of iaidō
, kendō
, and battōjutsu
: the kesagiri, a cut he thought extremely useful.
Eight chiburi
were then incorporated into the system. The basic chiburi used in both Toyama-ryū iaidō and Nakamura-ryū battōdō is actually an en garde position: the sword is snapped down, its point slightly elevated at knee level; from this position, one can maintain zanshin
as well as convert easily to a thrust, should the need arise. Nakamura added seven more chiburi, notably from Omori-ryū
and Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
kenjutsu.
The five kamae of kendō/iaidō were also incorporated into the style, to which were added the left-side versions of waki kamae and hasso kamae, and right jodan kamae, making eight kamae altogether.
Batto
Batto is a town in the Boussouma Department of Boulgou Province in south-eastern Burkina Faso. As of 2005, the town has a population of 1681....
style created by Nakamura Taizaburo (1912–2003).
Nakamura Taizaburo
Nakamura Taizaburo was born in 1912 in YamagataYamagata
-Places in Japan:*Yamagata Prefecture**Yamagata City, the capital city of Yamagata Prefecture**Yamagata Airport , an airport located in Yamagata**Yamagata Shinkansen, one of Shinkansen lines running between Tokyo Station and Shinjo Station...
prefecture. He resided in Tsurumi
Tsurumi
Tsurumi is a Japanese surname, placename, and the name of at least one business.Places :*Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama**Tsurumi Station**Tsurumi Line*Tsurumi River, Kanagawa*Tsurumi-ku, Osaka*Tsurumi, ŌitaPeople:*Atsuko Tsurumi , artist...
, Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, where he presided over the International Iai-Battōdō Federation and taught battōdō for the Kakuseikai until his death in 2003.
Nakamura was awarded 10th dan hanshi battōdō by the International Martial Arts Federation
International Martial Arts Federation
' is a Japanese Budō organization founded in 1952 to provide access to archives of historical information and sources of traditional instruction, as well as to promote Japanese martial arts. It is the civil successor organization of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai and a foundation of the Japanese...
, 7th dan kyoshi by the All Japan Kendō Federation
All Japan Kendo Federation
The All Japan Kendo Federation or Zen Nihon Kendō Renmei is a non-governmental organization to promote and popularize kendō, iaidō and jōdō. The federation was founded in 1952....
, 8th dan hanshi, Jukendō
Jukendo
is the Japanese martial art of bayonet fighting, and has been likened to kendo . Jukendo techniques are based on sojutsu or bayonet techniques from the 17th century, when firearms were introduced to Japan....
and 8th dan hanshi, Tankendō. In 1992, by Imperial Decree he was awarded Japan's highest cultural award, Living National Treasure
Living National Treasure (Japan)
is a Japanese popular term for those individuals certified as by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as based on Japan's...
.
History
Nakamura developed battōdō while teaching kenjutsuKenjutsu
, meaning "the method, or technique, of the sword." This is opposed to kendo, which means the way of the sword. Kenjutsu is the umbrella term for all traditional schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration...
in northern China. He was inspired by the idea that the eiji happō
Eight Principles of Yong
Stroke order animated and in color gradation from black to red The strokes numbered Where there are multiple numbers in an area, the strokes overlap briefly and continue from the previous number to the next....
(the eight principles of writing kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
) could be applied to swordsmanship. He began to organize his understandings into a system of practical swordsmanship in which non-martial techniques were discarded (much like the practical Toyama-ryū
Toyama-ryu
is Battōjutsu which refer to a combination of Iaijutsu, kata, and tameshigiri created by the Imperial Japanese Army. It is based on Gunto Soho forms developed in 1925 at the Rikugun Toyama Gakko, or "Toyama Army Academy" in Toyama, Tokyo, Japan. The original training and forms were established by...
of the early 20th century).
The system is based on Nakamura's studies whilst teaching Toyama-ryū: bringing the sword blade to a halt after a cut, parrying, progressing to the next combative posture using the sword's kinetic energy. It also makes use of what, through his researches, Nakamura found absent from many other schools of iaidō
Iaido
is a modern Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard...
, kendō
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
, and battōjutsu
Battojutsu
is a Japanese term meaning techniques for engaging a sword. It is often used interchangeably with the terms iaijutsu, battōdō, or iaidō, although each term does have nuances in the Japanese language and different schools of Japanese martial arts may use them to differentiate between techniques...
: the kesagiri, a cut he thought extremely useful.
The style
The cutting techniques of the Nakamura-ryū are effective in their simplicity: the thrust (either single- or double-handed), the downward vertical cut, left downward diagonal cut, right upward diagonal cut, right downward diagonal cut, left upward diagonal cut, left horizontal cut, and right horizontal cut. The eight cutting techniques are derived from the eiji happō.Eight chiburi
Chiburi
, also called chiburi , is the process by which one symbolically removes blood from a sword blade. The term chiburui can thus be translated as "shaking off the blood". In the Japanese martial art of iaidō, this is done before placing the blade back into the scabbard ....
were then incorporated into the system. The basic chiburi used in both Toyama-ryū iaidō and Nakamura-ryū battōdō is actually an en garde position: the sword is snapped down, its point slightly elevated at knee level; from this position, one can maintain zanshin
Zanshin
Zanshin is a term used in the Japanese martial arts. It refers to a state of awareness – of relaxed alertness. The literal translation of zanshin is "remaining mind"....
as well as convert easily to a thrust, should the need arise. Nakamura added seven more chiburi, notably from Omori-ryū
Omori-ryu
is a iaijutsu koryū founded by Ōmori Rokurōzaemon Masamitsu , probably in the latter half of the seventeenth century. The techniques developed by Masamitsu were later incorporated into Hasegawa Eishin-ryū and continue to be taught to this day as the first series of kata in Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū...
and Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū
Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu
is one of the oldest extant Japanese martial arts, and an exemplar of koryū bujutsu. The Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū was founded by Iizasa Ienao, born 1387 in Iizasa village , who was living near Katori Shrine at the time...
kenjutsu.
The five kamae of kendō/iaidō were also incorporated into the style, to which were added the left-side versions of waki kamae and hasso kamae, and right jodan kamae, making eight kamae altogether.
Related links
- International Batto-Do Federation (currently in Japanese only)
- Kenshinkan Dojo America
- Fudokan Dojo London
- SeiDoKan Dojo Sydney Australia
- Nakamura in his own words
- Video clip of Nakamura-sensei performing tameshigiri
- Another video clip of Nakamura-sensei performing tameshigiri
- Australian Battodo Association Inc.