Toyama Iai Batto Do

[Ren Blade]

I just learned the stances and cuts from a teacher that was in town for the weekend. I will be practicing what he taught me til I can drive out for a private lesson in at his school (6 hour drive) and get corrections at the sametime.

Just wondering if anyone else is training this style? It's a Japanese military sword art. This is a wonderful sword style. I am enjoying it immensely.

[R A Sosnowski]

I just learned the stances and cuts from a teacher that was in town for the weekend. I will be practicing what he taught me til I can drive out for a private lesson in at his school (6 hour drive) and get corrections at the sametime.

Just wondering if anyone else is training this style? It's a Japanese military sword art. This is a wonderful sword style. I am enjoying it immensely.

Yes. There is a small network of Batto-do/Batto-jutsu practitioners in the US.

Nakamura Ryu is taught in Fredericksburg and Arlington, VA, Ken Shin Kai (http://www.swordspirit.com/index.html). Nakamura Ryu uses the Toyama Ryu Kata as its first set of Kata; there are two additional sets of Kata, a set of Kumitachi (paired forms), and of course, Tameshigiri.

I was unaware that anyone in the Northeast was teaching Toyama Ryu. Would you mind telling us who you are studying with and where is he located?

[Ren Blade]

His name is Kevin Hufford. This is the website of the school he teaches at in upstate New York. www.goshindo.us (http://www.goshindo.us/)

I forgot the name of his sensei, but he and his sensei put together a book called Cutting Through The Mystery.

I train Chinese Martial Arts for the past 8 years and help out as a student teacher in Boston under Dr. Yang Jwing Ming. I have some background in Tae Kwon Do and Kempo Karate. I started training Martial Arts when I was 14. I just turned 28. But my background in sword training is mainly in Chinese arts with straight sword and broadsword. I have always loved Japanese swords and wanted to learn but due to schedule problems I was unable to. I would learn bits from here an there from other people exposed to Iaido and friends who used to train Kendo. But how I met Kevin is that my master holds seminars semi annually at our school and people from all over the country and sometimes other countries come to train. Kevin was one of those people. I was really happy I could meet him so I can begin to learn Japanese sword art. He was really giving and taught me anything I wanted. But I mainly focused on the basics and can't remember the katas he showed me. So I will just practice the basics til I have the chance to drive out to his school.

[R A Sosnowski]

His name is Kevin Hufford. This is the website of the school he teaches at in upstate New York. www.goshindo.us (http://www.goshindo.us/)

I forgot the name of his sensei, but he and his sensei put together a book called Cutting Through The Mystery.

So he is part of the Goshindo/Sports-Chambara group. I had heavily researched them on the web a couple of years ago. Interesting, but not for me. You can send me a PM if you what to know my opinions on this.



I train Chinese Martial Arts for the past 8 years and help out as a student teacher in Boston under Dr. Yang Jwing Ming. I have some background in Tae Kwon Do and Kempo Karate. I started training Martial Arts when I was 14. I just turned 28. But my background in sword training is mainly in Chinese arts with straight sword and broadsword. I have always loved Japanese swords and wanted to learn but due to schedule problems I was unable to. I would learn bits from here an there from other people exposed to Iaido and friends who used to train Kendo. But how I met Kevin is that my master holds seminars semi annually at our school and people from all over the country and sometimes other countries come to train. Kevin was one of those people. I was really happy I could meet him so I can begin to learn Japanese sword art. He was really giving and taught me anything I wanted. But I mainly focused on the basics and can't remember the katas he showed me. So I will just practice the basics til I have the chance to drive out to his school.

Yes, I know Dr. Yang. I used to live in southern NH and did T'ai Chi and some Shaolin Ch'uan locally. We would see Dr. Yang at the now-defunct T'ai-Chi Farm in Warwick, NY, for the annual San Chan Feng Festivals in the 1990's. We always made it a point to take at least one T'ai-Chi or Ch'i Kung workshop with him.

For something closer to you, you might consider checking out the Doshikai Kendo & Iaido Dojo (http://www.doshikai.org/) in Acton, MA, just off Route 2 between Rt. 128 and I-495, where I formerly trained until I moved to the Washingto [DC] Metro Area.

For sketches of the Toyama Ryu Kata, go to http://www.webdiva4hire.com/kenshinkan/toyama_ryu.html. It might help jog your memory.

[Ren Blade]

I seen that website for Iaido training. Unfortunately the classes are only on week nights. I have to be at Dr. Yang's to help as a student teacher week nights after work. I only have free time on weekends. Maybe one of these Mondays I can drive out to Acton to meet Barry and check out his class.