Howdy Bob
I'd be careful about starting too many organizations ... they tend to take too much of your time, and they tend to grow their own politics, agendae, and heirarchies. Look at what happened in Japan. Nakamura sensei founded (1) the Zen Nihon Toyama Ryu Iaido Renmei, (2) the Zen Nihon Battodo Renmei, and (3) the Kokusai Battodo Renmei. He has influence in each, kinda-sorta (kaicho of #1 and #3 right now) -- but too many different pulls....And now the Zen Nihon Batto Do renmei wants me to start an American sister group, the Zen Beikoku Batto Do renmei here. Or would that just be All American Japanese sword Cutting Association?
I forgot who told me, but it is true. If you have 3 Japanese, you get a Renmei. When you get a fourth Japanese, you get two Renmei.
That sounds like the seitei-toho from Nakamura Ryu. I describe it as a "bridge" set that connects the Toyama Ryu waza to the Nakamura Ryu waza (and I've also referred to it as the "chuden" waza). If this is the set, there are 6 of them. Give this url a perusal: http://www.trifox.com/aux/kenshinkan/seitei.htmlI noticed at the last Machida tai kai that all the various competitors, ( speaking for the 4th dan and up division) , no matter what their style, did chuden kata. I was unable to decipher if that was the oficial chuden sei tei for the ZNBDR or some new Toyama Ryu thing. Maybe you know.
The gent that won, ( and you know he had to) was a 7th dan MJER sensei with (either) 35 yrs. in the arts or studied since he was 35.
Hmmmmmmm ... that couldn't be Sato Shimeo sensei, could it? He's the white-haired gentleman in the Nakamura Ryu video (and above)? If so, he's a high-ranker in MJER, as well as hanshi, 9th dan in Nakamura Ryu (he's *my* choice for the nidai-soke if it comes to a vote). I'm not sure, but I think Sato sensei is the one who developed the Seitei-toho. And if this is the gentleman, he's been with Nakamura sensei for about 35 years.
Usually you get a nice photo ID, a copy of the Regulations, and the opportunity to test each year. That's it. Some organizations are really squared away and have quarterly (or even monthly) magazines. "Ken Shin" used to be the magazine for the Zen Nihon Battodo Renmei, but I haven't seen a copy in years....as soon as I find out what is required for an American Batto assocition ( which would not be an American TOYAMA thing) like what members get for their dues, etc.,....
Regards,
Guy