Nintai Kai Battodo - The Art of the Japanese Sword

Nintai Kai Battodo - The Art of the Japanese Sword Battodo - loosely translated is 'the drawing and cutting with the sword in a single motion'.

We work with a systematic approach to the coordination of movement through the body centre and the cultivation of Zanshin (mental stability) with the sword.

31/07/2026

One kata. Three targets.

Traditional kata aren't just sequences to memorise—they're methods of developing timing, distance, movement and cutting under changing conditions.

Here, the same kata is performed against three different target positions while keeping the principles of the kata intact.

Which target position do you think is the most challenging?

Tameshigiri isn't just about cutting.Every successful cut begins long before the blade reaches the target.Monday's sessi...
30/07/2026

Tameshigiri isn't just about cutting.

Every successful cut begins long before the blade reaches the target.

Monday's session focused on the fundamentals - correct hasuji (edge alignment), body movement, distance and control. We spent as much time observing, discussing and refining technique as we did cutting.

One of the key points was maintaining a consistent cutting angle. In our approach to Battōdō, precision comes before power, and every target provides feedback on the quality of the technique.

It was another enjoyable evening of learning, supporting one another and gradually improving, one cut at a time.

29/07/2026

If you’re based around London and looking to start Battōdō, our friends at Walthamstow Battōdō have a beginners’ course coming up. Bogdan and the team run a welcoming club, so if you’re in that area it’s well worth a look.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EDPgn6if4/?mibextid=WC7FNe

24/07/2026

A Sword Is Only Part of Battōdō

A sharp blade doesn't make a swordsman.

Every successful cut begins long before the sword meets the target—with discipline, repetition, respect and attention to detail.

From preparing equipment and caring for our swords to refining technique and supporting one another in the dojo, every part of training has a purpose.

The cut is simply the final result.

Train with purpose.

Nintai Kai Battōdō
Bicester, Oxfordshire

22/07/2026

Four kata. Four different approaches. One type of finishing cut.

The destination may be the same, but the tactical problem each kata solves is different. That's one reason kata remains such a valuable training method in traditional Japanese sword arts.

17/07/2026

Can kata cut a real target?

In Battōdō, kata isn’t just choreography. The same mechanics practised in kata are applied during tameshigiri (test cutting), allowing students to verify edge alignment, posture, timing and control.

This short shows how kata and cutting complement one another in training.

Nintai Kai Battōdō – Bicester, Oxfordshire

Adult Japanese sword training (18+).

10/07/2026

Safe training. Effective training.

Before a blade is ever drawn for tameshigiri, we develop good habits through briefing, preparation, discipline and respect.

Safety isn't an obstacle to progress—it's what makes progress possible.

At Nintai Kai, we train both skill and responsibility.

Train with purpose.

Bicester, Oxfordshire

08/07/2026

Training doesn't always begin with a sword.

On Tuesday evening we stepped into heat, embraced the cold, then carried that calm into movement through Tanren.

Misogi is not about proving how long you can stay in cold water. It's about learning to remain composed under physical and mental stress—and bringing that composure into everything that follows.

Training begins where comfort ends.

03/07/2026

Godan Giri – Five Cuts. One Target.

Godan Giri is more than simply cutting a tatami mat.

It is a practice of precision, edge alignment, control and consistency. Every clean cut reflects countless hours of disciplined training and attention to detail.

In Battōdō, success isn't measured by power alone, but by the ability to repeat the same technique accurately, time after time.

Train with purpose.

Nintai Kai Battōdo Bicester, Oxfordshire

A great weekend spent in Jarrow at the ZNBDR Battōdō and Toyama Ryū seminar.Many thanks to Eiichi Matsumoto Sensei for ...
29/06/2026

A great weekend spent in Jarrow at the ZNBDR Battōdō and Toyama Ryū seminar.

Many thanks to Eiichi Matsumoto Sensei for travelling to the UK and sharing his knowledge and experience. It was a real privilege to train under his instruction and to see some different perspectives on both tameshigiri and the Toyama Ryū kata.

A big thank you as well to Simon Weaver and everyone at Jarrow Kempo Jujitsu for all the hard work involved in organising the weekend. Events like this don't happen without a huge amount of effort behind the scenes, and it was very much appreciated.

It was also great to meet practitioners from around the country. The atmosphere throughout the weekend was welcoming, friendly and full of a shared enthusiasm for Japanese sword arts.

I've come away with plenty to think about and a few ideas that I'll be bringing back into our own training at Nintai Kai.

Thank you everyone.

Address

Kingsmere Community Centre
Bicester
OX261EG

Telephone

+447944165511

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