What Are Kenjutsu & Battojutsu? (Iaido, Iaijutsu & Batto)
Junsei Ryu Sakura Battojutsu 淳精流桜抜刀術
Kenjutsu: 剣術 "The Sword Fighting Art"
Battojutsu: 抜刀術 "The Sword Drawing Art"
Battojutsu:
ばっと術 "The Fast Sword Art"
Kenjutsu & Battojutsu Training
By Approximate Percentage:
80% Weapons (Including Weapons Kata)
10% Locks (Joint Manipulation)
5% Strikes
3%
Throws
2% Groundwork & Grappling
Basic Training Kit:
Keikogi - Both white and black Kimono are permitted for Batto/Kenjutsu students
Hakama
- Black Only
Bokken / Bokuto - Wooden Long Sword
Bo-Shoto - Wooden Short Sword
Bo-Tanto - Wooden Knife
In adition to the basic list the following additions are recommended
purchases within the first 12 months of training.
Iaito - Blunted Training Sword
Shinken
Katana - Sharp Folded/Forged Steel Sword
Wakizashi - Short sword (Either Iaito or Shinken)
Tanto - Knife (Either Iaito or Shinken)
Tessen - Folding Steel Fan
Kusari
- Weighted Chain / Rope
New students can be supplied with "Club Equipment" in the short term, however
it is generally recommended that students purchase their own equipment as soon as possible.
Batto-Jutsu (Batou Jutsu, Battojutsu)
BattoJutsu is an ancient Japanese
term translating roughly as “Fast Sword Art” and is the study of traditional sword drawing and manipulation. Batto,
unlike Iaido concentrates of the immediate killing or disablement of an enemy as opposed to slow and unrealistic aesthetic
sword movements practiced by many modern styles.
Kenjutsu
Kenjutsu is the term used to describe the movements and use of the sword once it has been drawn. Kenjutsu utilises technique,
speed, focus and misdirection in order to land an effective strike. Unlike Kendo the art of Kenjutsu largely stresses striking
at the weak and unarmoured parts of the human body, and as such takes a great deal of practice to execute safely and at speed.
Style & System:
The sword system taught within the Junsei
Ryu is generically referred to as "Junsei Ryu Sakura Battojutsu" and is itself a synthesis of various sword
schools combined in the training of the late great Brian Wrightson Kancho. Whilst we make no claims to being a Koryu
(Old School) dedicated to a single doctrine of the sword, the vast majority of our teachings come from the tried and
tested sword schools of Fuedal japan.
The Sakura Battojutsu school has for at least the last 30 years incorporated
techniques and Kata from a number of Japanese sword schools thanks to the extensive training offered to Brian Wrightson
Kancho and in turn his Son Dr ash McKee Shihan.
Our system is in essence roughly formed from two distinct methodologies:
Muso Shinden Ryu and Sakura Ryu Kenjutsu.
Muso Shinden Ryu:
A practical combative sword
system dating back to the battlefields of mid 16th century Japan.
Sakura Ryu Kenjutsu:
Sakura
Ryu Kenjutsu is a school of swordsmanship which combines its own methods and techniques with those from a number of other
medieval schools most notably those from the Sakura region of Chiba, Japan. Sakura Ryu Kenjutsu is commonly used to describe
all other methedologies incorporated within our sword system. Junsei Ryu Sakura Battojutsu has also previously been known
by the names "Hankyo Sakura Ryu" and Hankyo Sakura Battojutsu" and were renamed to Junsei Ryu Sakura Battojutsu
in 2005 by Dr Ash McKee Shihan following the death of his father Brian Wrightson Kancho.
Kenjutsu, Battojutsu And The Bugei Juhappan:
It should be the final goal of
every Junsei Ryu student to master every aspect of the Bugei Juhappan 武芸十八般 However for
students of Kenjutsu and Battojutsu the following aspects are of primary importance.
剣術
Kenjutsu (Swordsmanship)
抜刀術
Battojutsu (Combative Sword Drawing)
武器防衛 Buki-Dori (Unarmed Defence Against
Assorted Weaponry)
馬術 Bajutsu
(Horsemanship)
水泳術 Suijutsu
(Swimming & Fighting In And Out Of Armour)
治癒
Kappo (Healing Arts)
兵法
Heiho (Military Strategy)
"It is difficult to realise the true
Way through just studying the art of the sword. Know the smallest things and the biggest things, the shallowest things and
the deepest things"
Go Rin No Sho (The Book
of Five Rings)
Miyamoto Musashi
宮本 武蔵 (1584-1645)
