Budo DVD Reviews

38min, 6000YEN ORDER

Founded by Chiba Shusaku, Hokushin Itto Ryu is one of the biggest schools during the Edo, Bakumatsu Period, producing many famous swordsmen. The Tokyo Genbukan dojo practices Kendo as well, and even has a place to put the name-tags of all the famous persons trained in Hokushin Itto Ryu.

Starting off with Battojutsu Shoden (beginning level), we’re introduced to concepts in Hokushin Itto Ryu’s Battojutsu:
- Posture
- Chudan-no-Kamae
- Katana no nigiri-kata (gripping the sword)
- Sayabiki
- Noto

Battojutsu Kata in the Shoden series, seated and standing:
1) Ippon-me, Nukitsuke
2) Nihon-me, Nukiuchi
3) Sanbon-me, Ukenagashi
4) Yonhon-me, Nukitsuki
Each kata appears to have a very simple concept and straightforward.

Battojutsu Chuden (middle series) was done without any Kata titles nor descriptive background narration. Resheathing the sword seems to be a more complex process now and an advanced version of the Shoden.

For Hokushin Itto Ryu’s Kumitachi, we are introduced to Gogyo no Kata (Kata of the 5 elements).
1) Ten (Heaven)
2) Chi (Earth)
3) Jin (Man)
4) In
5) Yo
We are first shown the demonstration of each of the Kata, followed by important pointers and concepts.
Following up, we are shown 2 Kata of the Wakizashi vs Katana.

Soke then demonstrates for us Battojutsu Okuden, and Kumitachi Gogyo no Kata.
In Okuden, it’s interesting to note that, for Noto, Soke actually wipes the blade with his Hakama.
Kumitachi is done with metal swords (Habiki I believe), honorably by the 5th Soke and 6th Soke!

And last but not least, we’re treated with some Kendo training footage in Tokyo Genbukan and a final speech by the 5th Soke.

Order this DVD