Ōmori-ryū

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Ōmori-ryū (大森流 : おおもりりゅう, Ōmori-ryū^?) is a set of twelve Battōjutsu techniques formulated in the seventeenth century by an expert in the Shinkage-ryū, Ōmori Rokurōzaemon.

Ōmori took several partner exercises (Katachi) of Kenjutsu and Iai/Battōjutsu, and combined them with the movements of formal tea ceremony etiquette (Ogasawara Ryū Seiza Reihō) to create a series of techniques initiated from the formal seiza seated position. Ōmori's objective was to create a curriculum that allowed the Iaidoka to practice techniques suited for the posture in which he most often found himself sitting during the peace of the Edo period.

Originally, Iai/Battōjutsu was practiced either from a standing position or from a seated posture called Tatehiza (standing knee) – a sitting posture designed for relaxing while fully armored. Since the Edo period called for little posing in armor, the techniques of Ōmori Rokurōzaemon were more practical, and since the movements of these exercises were very basic, the twelve seiza waza became the set taught first to beginners. These kata became part of the curriculum of the Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū when the ninth grandmaster, Hayashi Rokudayū, studied under Ōmori. He incorporated the seiza waza into Eishin Ryū, calling them Ōmori Ryū in honor of their creator. The Musō Shinden-ryū also uses the Seiza Waza as Shoden (Initial Level) exercises, since it is a branch-off of Eishin Ryū.