Bato Ho Iai

Bato Ho IAI, Battōjutsu (抜刀術 battō-jutsu?) (“the craft of drawing out the sword”) is an old term for iaijutsu. Battōjutsu is often used interchangeably with the terms iaijutsu and battō.

Generally, Bato Ho IAI, Battōjutsu is practiced as a part of a classical ryū and is closely integrated with the tradition of kenjutsu and is practice with the live-blade, katana, often as simply the sole, kata. The training is for combative effectiveness, through factors such as distancing, timing and targeting. As such, battōjutsu is not intended for sportslike or “spiritual” purposes as are modern budo like iaido and kendo.

List of Bato Ho IAI (Battōjutsu) Schools

Old school:

  • Batto-Jutsu Shimmei Muso Ryu, founded by Jinsuke Shigenobu (c1540-1621)
  • Hokushin Ittō-ryū Hyōhō, founded by Chiba Shusaku Narimasa
  • Sekiguchi Ryu Battojutsu, founded by Sekiguchi Ujinari (1636-1716)

    • Modern schools developed after the beginning of the Edo era:

  • Matsumata-ryū, founded in 1750 by Matsumata Keisuke
  • Toyama-ryū, founded in 1925 by Nakamura Taisaburo
  • Nakamura-ryū, founded by Nakamura Taizaburō in the mid-20th century, who had previously taught Toyama-ryū

    • Dento Kobudo Kai practice all the traditional forms of Bato Ho IAI under the direction of Sensei Dave Hart 6th Dan Renshi