Nakamura Sensei taught in a number of Dojo in Japan. One of these was the Dojo of Sakagami Ryusho. In addition to his expertise in Shito-Ryu Karate, Sakagami Sensei was an expert practitioner in Kendo and Iaido. At Sakagami Sensei's Dojo, Nakamura Sensei taught Kendo and Iaido including the techniques of Toyama-Ryu Iaido. It was during this time that Nakamura Sensei began to teach the president and founder of the International Batto-Do Rengo-Kai (Alliance) in the United States, Sensei Fumio Demura. Demura Sensei continued his studies in Kendo and Iaido with Nakamura Sensei until Nakamura Sensei passed away on May 13th, 2003, at the age of 92.
In the 1980's, Demura Sensei began to invite senior Batto-Do instructors to the United States to help provide proper instruction in the techniques of Toyama-Ryu Iaido. In 1989, Nakamura Taizaburo Sensei came to the United States to see the progress that had been made. After this visit, Nakamura Sensei formally recognized Demura Sensei as a Senior Instruction for Toyama-Ryu. After his death in 2003, the Kaicho (president) of the All Japan Batto-Do Federation, Ueki Seiji, began to make regular visits to the United States and Demura Sensei's Dojo to help promote the correct study of Toyama-Ryu Batto-Do.
After Nakamura Sensei's visit in 1989, Demura Sensei formed the International Batto-Do Rengo-Kai (Alliance). This Alliance maintains the teachings of the Toyama-Ryu and the All Japan Batto-Do Federation in Dojos around the world. Visiting instructors from the All Japan Batto-Do Federation continue to make regular visits to Dojo within the Federation to ensure quality instruction.
It is the desire of the members International Batto-Do Rengo-Kai (Alliance) that these techniques, with their century’s old tradition of battlefield effectiveness not be lost. It was the desire of Nakamura Sensei, and is the desire of Demura Sensei, that the study of these techniques, along with the moral correctness that pervades them makes the practitioner a better person. For it is in this training that we learn to "cut" away the actions and attitudes that are detrimental to ourselves, our family, and our society. These are the goals of a true practitioner of Batto-Do.
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