My first Batto jutsu course by Gordon Fong This was my first lesson on batto jutsu, apart from the few sessions I have had with Peter Edwards, so it was going to be an interesting weekend of three hours training a day. For clarification, please note that Sueyoshi Akeshi is not associated with Wado Academy. Some members attend or host courses with this instructor.  Warm Up
Standing in shizentai/yoi dachi we practiced straight cuts down the centreline but alternating between taking the swords around to the left and right hand sides of the body. The main point is to keep the hands simply going up and down along the centreline and not to swing the sword around to the sides. Also need to keep the arms and body relaxed and not to exert kime on the strike.
 Sueyoshi Akeshi We kept this practicing this movement for many times to the count.
The next set was to do the same movements but in a low stance in a kind of lunge position. As you alternative the sword movement you also alternate the stance by changing the lead foot whilst staying on the spot. All this is to be done without raising your height. Easier said than done especially to a seemingly never ending count. After a while it kills. You try to stay low but your legs are screaming back at you. They become heavier and heavier. You try to keep up to the count but it is always a beat away. The kiai on each technique can keep you going and total relief comes when the loud kiai is heard to signal the last last technique.
We quickly move onto holding basic postures such as saegan, mugamae, hasso and jodan kamae. This acts as a slight breather but we are still working on keeping the body relaxed, not to grab the bokken too tightly, shoulders down, legs bent and knees in the correct position.
After the warmup I joined the small group of other people who were also first timers. Jorge Rosa took his part.
We started off with training the basic cut of kesagiri which is very fundamental to Sueyoshi Akeshi's teachings. This is the 45 degree cut from shoulder to hip that is named after the lines of a robe when worn. The whole movement was broken down into 4 movements then 3, 2 and finally as one.
 Kesagiri
The first kata we learn was nuki tsuki. In simple terms this is drawing the sword from the sheath and then moving forward whilst stabbing. My words do let me down in describing this as there is a lot more to it and my writing here does not justify things. The key points I picked up on are when drawing the sword is not to add any unnecessary action by drawing the sword too far from the sheath (saya). The tip of the sword should ideally clear the saya's mouth by a millimetre. In fact it is not uncommon for beginners to catch the mouth and split or cut through it. There were a few incidents on the course.
This was also practised as an upward stab when falling into a squat position on the floor. This took a few goes to overcome the mental barrier or trying to draw a sword at speed whilst letting your front foot come away from you and drop down whilst the sword also goes up.
 Knut
Noto is performed with the mouth of the saya at an angle of 45 degrees and the saya goes to meet the sword and not the other way round. As the point of the sword (kissaki) enters the saya, then the saya is pushed forward to resheath.
Chiburi, clearing the sword of blood, is done with a larger body movement and not to use the wrist. Difficult to do at first as your arm is getting used to the weight of the sword, whilst being told not to grip and yet not to be too loose in this instance to end up flicking the wrist. Also during the resheathing it is important to involve body and feet movement to keep the process alive. To be too static will go against the flowing but always ready nature of batto jutsu.
2nd kata that we practiced was to draw from left stance and move forward into right stance cut upward kesagiri then forward into left stance and downward kesagiri. Without stopping.
The difference I found during the lesson was that we were shown the technique once, twice or maybe three times but then we had to start practicing what we were shown but at speed and without stopping. I think this is to instil the concept that speed is of upmost importance. Maybe slowly practicing the techniques has little benefit beyond the first few tries and it is better to just get on with it. Easier said than done when there is a long metal object being moved around close to your body and head, albeit blunt it will still smart a bit.
We also practiced the 2nd kata walking forward as 4 steps so that we could do cut-cut-chiburi-noto on each movement.
 Mawashi
 Jorge Rosa
To finish off the first day everyone lined up and we went through kihon together to the count.
It was a good days training and a good bruise near my thumb and index finger to prove it. Well, to prove that I was drawing with my hand too near the tsuba. At least we had a few beers that evening to make up for it as well as a bit of singing thrown in.
The second day started off in a similar way with slow cuts in shizentai and then dropping down into alternative front stances followed by some respite holding the various kamae positions.
I have some notes on the other kata we did on the second day but they are not really worth typing up as actually they wont do service to the training itself and you will all be better off coming next to take part anyway to understand what I have tried to put down.
The main thing I remembered about the second day was Jorge Rosa making me training with the suburi bokken for the last part of the day. The final group practice included kesagiri on the spot and moving up and down the hall. Then there was namigiri, a figure of 8 cut as if swiftly cutting both sides of an opponents wrists. There was also the 4 and 8 directional cuts thrown in. There was sweat and tears running down my face and I could hardly lift my pint up afterwards but using such a heavy bokken meant that you were forced to use better technique and just enough energy. A good lesson in itself. My personal and limited opinion on this training is that it seemed to suit or compliment the Wado approach and principles. There was a good mix of people from karate and sword backgrounds there. There are no grades, no real formalities, just training. It may not be for everybody as I can see why it could be outside the comfort zone for some people but I think it provides an expansion to your training that could be of benefit all round. Hopefully I have given readers a taste of what we did and and created enough interest for people to come along and try it out.
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