Shinbukan Budo 神武館武道

https://youtu.be/OQ9Sf2B7XIk

Sensei calligraphy We had a unique opportunity to film Sensei practicing his calligraphy. 神武　means when all aspects of martial arts are in harmony with each other. This is our ...

“Tai sabaki (体捌き) beyond the ability to move in the 8 cardinal direction and the 2 vertical directions is the ability to give birth to infinite directions”

- Eduard Divantman

Baba Nobuharu, also known as Baba Nobufusa, one of the trusted 24 Generals of the great Takeda Shingen, was killed in action on this day, June 29, 1575.

Baba played a major role in the five battles known as the Kawanakajima Campaign, fought between the Takeda and their rivals the Uesugi clan between 1553~1564. Baba led the attack on the Uesugi’s strategically important Katsurayama Castle in March of 1557, when Baba and his men stormed the castle, killing most of the garrison inside and burning the castle while their families committed mass su***de.

He was awarded the position of castellan of Matsumoto Castle from 1550 while it was still known as Fukashi Castle, and was responsible for enlarging it considerably. He is believed to have had expertise in castle design and construction, rebuilding the above mentioned Fukashi (Matsumoto) Castle, and Makinoshima Castle (Nagano Prefecture) Ejiri Castle, Suwahara Castle, Tanaka Castle, Koyama Castle (Shizuoka Prefecture) amongst others.
Following the Battle of Mikatagahara in 1573, in which Tokugawa Ieyasu suffered his most humiliating defeat, it was Baba Nobuharu who chased the Tokugawa lord back to his castle at Hamamatsu. When they came across the castle gates wide open and the fires lit up, Baba suspected a trap, and quietly returned, allowing Ieyasu and the undermanned castle to survive.

In 1575, when Shingen’s son, Takeda Katsuyori steamrolled his way through Mikawa (Aichi Prefecture) and laid siege to Nagashino Castle. Baba was killed in action at the Battle of Nagashino, where he led the Takeda’s right wing attack forces. During the Takeda charge, it has been claimed he was impaled on the spears of two men, who then took his head. Baba was 59 or 60 years old. His grave can be found in Shinshiro City, Aichi Pref.

“What we aim for is integrating the teachings of Budo into our life for the purpose of success, happiness, balance and wellbeing. As well as avoiding a fixation on the violent aspects of Budo for the maintenance of peace and harmony.”
- Soke Masaaki Hatsumi