September 2026 Newsletter
Training Recap
This September, our Toyama-ryu Battojutsu program marked two major structural milestones as our curriculum reset moves forward with exceptional momentum. We have progressed past basic mechanical instruction to challenge our practitioners to investigate the profound structural and philosophical anatomy of our movement.
First, we completed review of the foundational set of transmission kata, the Toyama-ryu Kata - Gunto Soho. As the original blueprint developed by the Toyama Military Academy of Japan, the Gunto Soho encapsulates the historical foundation of the martial art. In this review, students were shown how these traditional forms transition into practical, real-world application, specifically during active running and regular, everyday movement. By extracting the techniques from a static stance and forcing them into dynamic situations, we brought a critical reality to the surface: the non-negotiable necessity of absolute awareness of one’s own timing, as movement without timing is empty cadence and fumbling.
Furthermore, analyzing these historical forms under the pressures of a simulated attacker provided a firsthand experience of true combat engagement. Students were challenged to maintain total presence of mind, Zanshin (残心), and remain completely immovable in intent, Fudoshin (不動心), when facing the psychological stress of tachi-uchi. In high-speed swordwork, these states cannot remain abstract theories; they must emerge out of sheer necessity. True Zanshin demands a mind totally present in the moment so it can clearly perceive an opponent's shifting intent, while Fudoshin provides the inner anchor that refuses to waver when chaos rushes toward you. This training forced us all to confront a fundamental question: does your intention dictate your movement, or does the chaos around you dictate your mind?
Second, we learned and practiced the first four kata of Ichi-no-Tachi. As part of our systematic curriculum updates, this series has been intentionally moved from 3-Kyu down to 7-Kyu to ground our practitioners much earlier in their developmental journey. We broke down these four techniques with unprecedented depth, moving beyond superficial execution to fiercely interrogate the "why" behind each action alongside the many stances and forms that comprise them. Instruction focused heavily on the two distinct formats in which the kata must be practiced, demonstrating how a single root form branches into different modalities of execution. Practice also included exploring the various tactical formations these techniques can be deployed in, giving students a much clearer grasp of the military lineage of Toyama-ryu Battojutsu.
This structural shift reminds us that a technique is never a standalone trick or rote movement for repetition; it is part of a larger ecosystem of battlefield logic. By demanding this level of precision early in the ranks, we challenge our students to transition from mere memorization to deliberate, mindful action. We are building clarity in how one motion generates the next, forcing the body to organize itself entirely around center, balance, direction, and awareness.
Announcements
September brings an extraordinary opportunity for our community alongside critical schedule updates due to a special upcoming instructional visit. We are deeply honored to host the founder of Shikon Ryu Aikibudo and Haru-ha Toyama-Ryu Battojutsu, Professor Rowdy Hall, who will be visiting from 9/9 to 9/12. Professor Hall will lead an instructor meeting on 9/9 and will personally lead both classes at Renkishin Dojo South Bay on 9/10. To all our senior students at Renkishin Dojo South Bay, please take this as a signal to practice and prepare to proudly showcase the fruits of your training. A special dinner will be held by the dojo on 9/11, the specific location and timing details of which will be posted directly by Renkishin Dojo South Bay.
The following dates will be Open Training Sessions for our Toyama-ryu Battojutsu program at Renkishin Dojo South Bay rather than formal, instructor-led classes:
9/15, 9/17
Students are expected to utilize these sessions to refine current techniques and organize training notebooks under the guidance of their senpai.
Sunday Intro Classes will not be held on:
9/6, 9/20, 9/27
As a reminder, all students with active Core Membership receive one Technique Check-In per month, which requires formal scheduling with KIDAKAYA in advance. These check-ins are mandatory for completing rank curriculum cover sheets, which is a pre-requisite for all rank-up examinations. Notebook Check-In will take place on:
9/24
Please note that ongoing schedule updates for our Toyama-ryu program can always be found on the Renkishin Dojo South Bay website.
September is also home to a special Northern California martial arts gathering that will be held in Folsom. KIDAKAYA will be present at this gathering through its affiliation with the Kilohana Martial Arts Association, and full event details can be found here.
Finally, while the August promotion to prepay for the remainder of 2026 at a special rate has officially ended, we have exciting news. KIDAKAYA will be launching a special merch collaboration with Renkishin Dojo South Bay. Collaboration items will go live in our online store during the beginning of September, giving you an opportunity to snag custom gear that lets you represent the dojo and the martial arts. Be sure to grab some gear while you can!
Monthly Reflection
This month’s reflection focuses on understanding our limits. As we cross the midway point of our Toyama-ryu Battojutsu curriculum reset, much of September will focus heavily on pressure testing what we know. In martial arts, there is a vast difference between simply memorizing a sequence of movements and truly owning the material. True mastery is forged when our technique is challenged under stress, revealing where our structural and mental gaps lie.
The goal for the month is to look deeper into what it means to really know the material and to embrace the importance of pushing past one's comfort zone. Pushing your boundaries is not about finding failure, it is about expanding your capabilities and striving to achieve more.
Use this month to intentionally seek out those boundaries, lean into the discomfort of the unknown, and elevate your practice from mere physical repetition to profound, adaptive knowledge that honors lineage while driving the continuous evolution of our martial art.
Acknowledgments
Much has been accomplished in August, and once again we celebrate the collective effort and drive displayed across every training session.
We want to extend a special recognition to our student, Gavin Heredia, who successfully completed his examination in August for the rank of 3-Dan in Shikon Ryu Aikibudo at Renkishin Dojo South Bay. While Shikon Ryu Aikibudo is not currently a standalone KIDAKAYA program, we operate as a collective martial arts family whose shared paths continue to naturally weave closer together. As our programs evolve side by side, we proudly celebrate the successes of our students across both mats.
True dedication, grit, and growth ultimately transcend specific styles or boundary lines. Gavin's milestone is a powerful testament to what years of consistent, long-term discipline look like, and his achievement inspires our entire community to continue pushing the standard both on and off the mat.
KIDAKAYA Martial Arts & Fitness
Precision, Discipline, Intention
— We Gawin It™!
