O-sensei Hisao Hamamoto - Hachimanryu Battojutsu

The 14th successor of Okinawa Mugairyu Iaido and Koden Hachimanryu Jissen Battojutsu Hamamoto-den was born at 11 of May 1936 in Kumamoto prefecture, Kyoshu Island in Japan.

Kenjutsu borning in Kyushu area was the most strongest Kenjutsu against former Tokugawa forces at the last domestic war (Boshin war) in 1868-1869.

When he was only 6 years old his grandfather, Hamamoto Kyogoro, started to learn him the warrior traditions of Hamamoto family, from father to son, since 800 years. When his grandfather died, his father Hamamoto Goichi, continues to learn him Hachimanryu iaido and battojutsu.

Originating from the mariners who roamed the East China Sea around Kyushu from the 13th century, the family tradition called Hachiman-ryu battojutsu was handed down to soke Hamamoto from his ancestors.

Soke Hamamoto was very talented student and train hard every day with a great support from his family. Also his mother from famous family Fujihara helped him with his training. During the time he was a schoolboy he also trains karate, aikido, kendo and sumo and some kind of fighting like in kickboxing.

Later he worked at the Japanese Navy and when he 1979 returned from the Navy as the stab master, he moved to Okinawa. He was now looking after some old Koryu style of swordsmanship that was similar for his family style Hachimanryu with realistic techniques that are not elegant or formal but rather wild, strong and brutal as in Hachimanryu.

At the Kannon temple In Okinawa he found a Buddhist monk called Motoyama Shodo who was a master of Mugairyu iaido from 15th century and he now at the age of 42 also started to learn Mugairyu.

There are totally 93 kata in Hamamoto senseis iaido and battojutsu ryuha, both multiple person fighting techniques Kumitachi with wooden sword (bokken) like Kempo no kata and Iaijutsu no kata from Mugairyu, as well as kata with wakizashi, tanto and katana of course.

Some of the kata with katana are Suwari Waza, that means the kata should start in seiza, kneeling position, but all the kata can be done as Tachi Waza, standing techniques, in case of problem with knees. Tameshigiri, straw target cutting techniques, are also an important part of Hamamoto senseis training.

Some Kata from Itto-ryu, Niten-ryu, Omori-ryu, Eishin-ryu, Shindo Munen-ryu, Suiho-ryu and Hoki-ryu are also included in Hamamoto senseis ryu-ha.

Hamamoto senseis lineage in iaido and battojutsu:

Hachimanryu: Hamamoto Kyogoro (grandfather), Hamamoto Goichi (father), Hamamoto Keymo (great grandfather), Hamamoto Tokuzo (great, great grandfather).

Mugairyu: Motoyama Shodo, Nakatani Toshiyoki, Nakatani Senkyo (from Osaka).