JODO

Legend has it that Muso Gonnosuke invented the first set of forms for using a jo (a wooden staff of approximately 4-foot length) in order to defeat the famous swordsman Miamoto Musashi. Musashi had beaten Gonnosuke in a sword duel and uncharacteristically spared his life, enabling the latter to return sometime later and repay the compliment, courtesy of his jo technique. "Muso" means "dream", as Gonnosuke had the techniques revealed to him in one, after meditating. The jo became part of the Muso Shinden Ryu syllabus along with its’ smaller cousin the tanjo.

Jo practice has become refined and systemized by the ZNKR as Seitei Jodo, which is taught at Hagakure Iai Dojo as an addition to our iai syllabus. Jo practice is split into two main sections: individual/paired kihon waza (technique) and paired kata (forms) simulating actual combat between jo and bokuto (wooden sword).

KIHON NO UCHI WAZA

1      Honte uchi

2      Gyakute uchi

3      Hikiotoshi uchi

4      Kaeshi tsuki

5      Gyakute tsuki

6      Maki otoshi

7      Kuritsuke

8      Kuri hanashi

9      Taiatari

10    Tsuki hazushi uchi

11    Dobari uchi

12    Migi taihazushiuchi

13    Hidari taihazushi uchi

SEITEI JODO KATA

1      Tsuki Zue

2      Suigetsu

3      Hissage

4      Shamen

5      Sakan

6      Monomi

7      Kasumi

8      Tachi otoshi

9      Raiuchi

10    Seigan

11    Midaredome

12    Ranai

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