Battōjutsu

Battōjutsu (抜刀術^?) 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 (e.g. standing or sitting techniques). The emphasis of training in battōjutsu is on cutting with the sword. All terms are somewhat more specific than kenjutsu (sword techniques) or kendō (the Way of the sword), as the latter two refer mostly to techniques where the sword is already out of its scabbard (saya) and is therefore engaged in combat.

Battōjutsu usually incorporates multiple cuts after drawing the sword. The emphasis of training in iaidō is on reaction to unknown situations, or reacting to sudden attack.

It is unclear when the term battōjutsu first originated. A notable early practitioner was Hayashizaki Jinsuke (c.1546–c.1621), the founder of the Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū and Musō Shinden-ryū schools. His remains are enshrined at Hayashizaki Jinja in the Tōhoku region of Japan.

Ryūha, or Japanese martial traditions, which teach battōjutsu are relatively uncommon in Japan, and less common in America and other countries. This is in contrast to the relatively high degree of availability of open hand training, such as karate and aikido. Here is a partial list of ryūha which include what could be called battōjutsu in the broad sense of drawing and cutting from the saya, although some of them more often use the terms iaidō, iaijutsu, or battōdō.

List of schools

Listed in the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten (武芸流派大辞典, the Encyclopedia of Martial Arts Traditions) as koryū, or arts developed before the Meiji era.

• Musō Jikiden Eishin-ryū -- Traces back to the Hayashizaki-ryū Iai of Hayashizaki Jinsuke (Late 15th century)
• Musō Shinden-ryū -- Traces back to the Hayashizaki-ryū Iai of Hayashizaki Jinsuke (Late 15th century)
• Suiō-ryū Iai Kenpō -- Founded around 1600 by Mima Yoichizaemon Kagenobu
• Shin Shin Sekiguchi-ryū — Sekiguchi-ryū was founded by Sekiguchi Yorokuuemon Ujimune.
• Mugai-ryū -- Founded in 1693 by Tsuji Gettan Sukemochi, who had previously learned Yamaguchi-ryū kenjutsu.
• Jigen-ryū -- Founded by Tōgō Hizen-no-kami Shigetada, its lineage traces back to the Shintō-ryū of Iizasa Chōisai Ienao.
• Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū -- Founded in the 15th Century by Iizasa Chōisai Ienao.
• Yagyū Shinkage-ryū -- From the Shinkage-ryū of Yagyū Muneyoshi, who studied under Kamiizumi Nobutsuna in the 16th Century.
• Yoshin-ryū -- from the Yoshin-ryū founded by Akiyama Shirobei Yoshitoki in the mid 17th Century.

Listed in the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten as arts developed after the beginning of the Meiji era.

• Toyama-ryū -- Founded in the late 19th, early 20th century to instruct officers at the Toyama Military Academy.
• Nakamura-ryū -- Founded by Nakamura Taizaburō in the mid-20th century, who had taught Toyama-ryū at the Toyama Military Academy.

Battōjutsu in popular culture

• In the Japanese series and films of Zatoichi, the protagonist mainly uses Iaidō techniques when fighting with his shikomi-zue.
• The character Ukyo Tachibana in Samurai Shodown fights with his sword sheathed, drawing it in a style similar to battōjutsu.
• The character Setsuka in Soulcalibur III uses a Shikomi-zue style katana concealed in the shaft of an umbrella, in a manner similar to battōjutsu. Also, the character Mitsurugi has several stance techniques resembling battōjutsu.
• In Samurai Warriors 2, some of Akechi Mitsuhide's attacks came out from his scabbard. One happens as a charge attack, one occurs during his normal attack, and two come from his special stance: a super-fast forward cut that leaves a shadow for a brief moment, and a counter.
• In Dynasty Warriors 4 and 5 Extreme Legends, Zhou Tai uses it in his normal, charge and musou attacks.
• In Bushido Blade 2, Gengoro, when equipped with the katana, has a series of attacks and stances from battojutsu.
• Future Hiro Nakamura in Heroes reveals that he trained in Tōhoku in battōjutsu.
• In Rurouni Kenshin, the protagonist Himura Kenshin is a practitioner of the fictional Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū (飛天御剣流, lit. "Flying Heaven Honourable Sword Style"), which utilizes superhumanly-fast Battōjutsu-oriented techniques. This skill earns him the title of "Battōsai" ("Master of Sword Drawing") during the Meiji Restoration.
• In the video game series Fire Emblem, the Sword Master class uses a form of Battōjutsu as his or her attack. Specifically in the seventh installment, Lord character Lyn uses Battōjutsu-like attacks when battling.
• In Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, Vergil's attacks with Yamato resemble Battōjutsu as well as Iaidō.
• In 9 Dragons, members of the Wu Tang Blue Dragon class can acquire a Battōjutsu special attack at higher levels.
• In the anime and video game series Sakura Taisen, Sakura Shinguji wields the same method of fighting with her Arataka.
• In the Guilty Gear video game series, Johnny and Baiken uses stances and attacks from battōjutsu.
• In No More Heroes, the protagonist Travis Touchdown performs movements resembling Battōjutsu during the pre-battle animation while equipped with the Tsubaki MkIII. He does not, however, actually strike an opponent in such a manner.
• In Bleach the anime exclusive character Patros uses a style reminiscent of iaidō.
• In Lupin the Third Goemon Ishikawa XIII wields his zantetsuken (katana sword) in a style resembling Iaido and battojutsu. In one of Lupin's movies Goemon Ishikawa XIII even gives credit to Hayashizaki Jinsuke Minamoto no Shigenobu (林崎甚助重信) for creating this style.
• In Samurai Deeper Kyo Jimon uses hienken which resembles battoujutsu.
• Takamichi T. Takahata of Mahou Sensei Negima! uses the fictional art, the iaiken (drawing of the fist), which replaces the sword scabbard with his pockets and the sword with his fist. this allows him to deliver super fast punches that can knock out his opponents with just the fist air pressure.
• Jin Kisaragi of The Blazblue series fights using techniques similar to Battōjutsu.

References

• Wagner, Gordon, Donn F. Draeger. Japanese Swordsmanship: Technique and Practice. New York and Tokyo: Weatherhill Inc., 2001.
• Friday, Karl. Legacies of the Sword: The Kashima-Shinryu and Samurai Martial Culture. Honolulu, US: University of Hawai'i Press, 1997.
• Obata, Toshishiro. Crimson Steel. Essex, UK: Dragon Books, 1987.
• Obata, Toshishiro. Naked Blade. Essex, UK: Dragon Books, 1985.
• Yamada, Tadashi and Watatani Kiyoshi. Bugei Ryuha Daijiten. Tokyo, Japan: Tokyo Koppi Shuppanbu, 1979.

External links

History - Video Documentary about BATTOJUTSU - Kaze no ryu Ogawa ha

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