Enshin Itto Ryu Battojutsu

Enshin Itto-ryu Battojutsu is a traditional sword art of Japan. The founder and the director is Machida Kenshinsai – Soke at the Enbukan Headquarters in Japan, and the chief instructor at USA Headquarters is Julio Toribio – Menkyo Kaiden Okuden.

The mother of Machida Kenshisai Soke is from a prestigious samurai clan in Aizu area of Tokugawa era. Machida Soke was born in 1932, and was taught martial arts since he was 3 years old from his father and grandfather.

Enshin means the center of a circle, and Battojutsu means draw and cut sword art. As Enshin means, the emphasis of the art is to place yourself in the core of a circle by being aware of the surroundings and the energy flow. Also in this art, the speed of drawing and cutting the opponent is another emphasis. Machida Soke trained himself to draw, cut and put the sword back in the scabbard within 2 seconds, and that horned skill is expected to attain among the higher ranked students.

This art consists of the three basic practical skills: 1) Kata, set of solo pre-arranged movements using a Iaito (practice sword), 2) Kumitachi, practical application against an attacker (a training partner) using a bokken (wooden sword), 3) Tameshi giri, cutting a target using a Shinken (a real sword) to perfect the cutting skills and develop the mental focus.

In Tameshigiri, to practice the dynamic cutting, practitioners cut rolls of Tatami, straw mats, and Machida Soke holds the record of cutting 10 layers of Tatami mats. To practice the gentle way of cutting and develop the control of how to use the sword, they practice cutting cucumbers or white radish placed on someone’s hand, or held in the mouth or on the back of the neck, and not to hurt the holder’s body.

The philosophy of the art includes: relaxation, distance, timing, focus, concentration, confidence, presence, intention, accuracy and intensive energy.

Machida Soke believes that practicing martial arts is completely different from doing sports. The true martial art is to attain the level of skills that could instantly kill the opponent. To reach that level, in Enbukan philosophy you must not be afraid of anything but train harder than anybody else, and subdue an attacker before you are attacked.

Besides his teaching of martial arts, Machida Soke is a priest in Shingon-shu Buddhism and runs a temple by his residence and Dojo. He carefully chooses students whom he teaches his martial arts, and his art has been kept within the Machida family and several chosen students. The art will be succeeded by his son Machida Fudoshin Soshihan as the 3rd grandmaster.