Nakamura-ryū
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Nakamura-ryū Happōgiri Battōdō (中村流八方切り抜刀道?) is a modern battōjutsu style created by Nakamura Taizaburo.
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[edit] History
Nakamura developed battōdō while teaching kenjutsu in northern China. He was inspired by the idea that eiji happo (the eight rules of calligraphy) could be applied to swordsmanship. He began to organize his understandings into a system of practical swordsmanship where 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, in bringing the sword blade to a halt after a cut, parrying and how to progress to the next combative posture using the sword's kinetic energy. It also adds to what Nakamura found during his research into many other schools of iaidō, kendō, battōjutsu, etc. Namely, that they did not use the kesagiri (downward diagonal cut) - a cut he thought most useful.
[edit] The Style
The cutting techniques 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 derived from the eiji happo.
Eight chiburi were then incorporated into the system. The basic chiburi used in Toyama-ryū iaidō and Nakamura-ryū battōdō is actually an en garde position; the sword is snapped down, point slightly elevated at knee level. From this position one can maintain zanshin, as well as convert easily to a thrust should you need to. Additional to this, he added seven more (notably from Omori-ryū and Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū kenjutsu).
From there, the five kamae of kendō/iaidō were incorporated, but also including left sided versions of waki and hasso kamae and right jodan kamae to make eight.
[edit] Nakamura Taizaburo
Nakamura Taizaburo was born in 1912 in Yamagata prefecture. He resided in Tsurumi, Yokahama, 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. He was awarded the highest cultural award in Japan of National Living Treasure by Imperial decree in 1992.
Iai to wa, hito ni kirarezu,
hito kirazu
Jiko no renma ni,
shugi no michi.
Iai: not killing others;
not being killed by others.
Self-training and polishing, the
road to discipline and cultivation.
