Batto Do / Toyama Ryu Kata

The eight Toyama Ryu kata were adapted from the original training kata from the Toyama Military Academy. Each Kata teach the student how to move, draw, defend, and attack efficiently with the sword. The Kata’s present scenarios where the enemy attacks from different directions and instructs the student how to deal with the situation. These katas are a training tool for Japanese Swordsmanship.

Each of the kata teaches a different lessons to the student. It is important to know the purpose of each detailed movement, but it may take the student time to understand the nuances. Basic movement must be learned first. It is through the understanding of the subtle details that we reach a true understanding of our art. There are lessons to be learned the first time a kata is done, and still lessons to be learned after doing that kata hundreds or even thousands of times. It is not about the memorization of many kata, it is about the true understanding of a few.

Ippon Me

Mea No Teki

Enemy to the front

  1. Right step while drawing
  2. Left step with Migi katate kiriage
  3. Right step with Hidari kesagiri
  4. Zanshin, adjust into Chudan, Chiburi, Noto
  5. Sagaru (step back)

Nihon Me

Migi No Teki

Enemy to the right

  1. Right step (look to the right)
  2. Left step while drawing
  3. Right step with Migi shohatto 90° Right
  4. Left step with Migi kesagiri
  5. Right step into Chudan
  6. Zanshin, Chiburi, Noto
  7. Sagaru (step back)

Sambon Me

Hidari No Teki

Enemy to the left

  1. Right step
  2. Left step (look to the left)
  3. Right step while drawing outward to the right hip
  4. Hidari Katate Tsuki 90° Left
  5. Withdraw with a small step back
  6. Ukenagashi
  7. Left step back with Hidari Kesagiri
  8. Zanshin, adjust into Chudan, Chiburi, Noto
  9. Sagaru (step back)

Yonhon Me

Ushiro No Teki

Enemy to the rear

  1. Right step (look behind, over right shoulder)
  2. Left step across Right foot to begin turn while drawing
  3. Pivot to the rear with Migi Katate Kesagiri
  4. Left step with Hidari Kesagiri
  5. Zanshin, adjust into Chudan, Chiburi, Noto
  6. Sagaru (step back)

Gohon Me

Chokuzen No Teki

Enemies just in front

  1. Katate Jodan No Kamae
  2. Right step
  3. Left step to Morote Jodan
  4. Right step with Hidari Kesagiri
  5. Left step with Migi Kesagiri
  6. Right step with Hidari Kesagiri
  7. Zanshin, adjust to Chudan, Chiburi, Noto
  8. Sagaru (step back)

Roppon Me

Ushiro Mae No Teki

Enemies to rear and front

  1. Right step
  2. Left step (look behind, over left shoulder)
  3. Right step across Left foot to begin turn
  4. pivot to the rear while drawing to Ukenagashi
  5. Left step back behind right foot with Hidari Kesagiri
  6. look forward, pivot back to the front
  7. Right step with Hidari Kesagiri
  8. Zanshin, adjust into Chudan, Chiburi, Noto
  9. Sagaru (step back)

Nanahon Me

Hidari Migi Mae No Teki

Enemies left, right, and front

  1. Right step while drawing (look to right before stepping)
  2. Left step with Migi Katate Kesagiri 90° Right
  3. Right step with Hidari Kesagiri 45° Left (look to left before stepping)
  4. Adjust to front, Morote Tsuki (look forward before stepping)
  5. withdraw with step back
  6. Zanshin, Right step adjustment, Left step into Jodan No Kamae
  7. Left step back into Chudan, Chiburi, Noto
  8. Sagaru (step back)

Happon Me

Itto Dodan

Single stoke execution

  1. draw, Furikaburi
  2. arch back
  3. Shinchoku Giri
  4. Zanshin, Chiburi, Noto