Jodo - The Art of the Staff

Jodo

Jodo is the way of the staff. Originally called Jojutsu, the name change to Jodo in 1940.

This way of using the staff was devised by one master swordsman in the early 1600s. Gonnosuke Katsukichi was a swordsman who held a teaching licence in Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. Gonnosuke, like others of his time, developed his skills by engaging in many duels around the country.

To the outsider it appears that the purpose of the art is for the stick to beat the sword; nothing could be further from the truth. Someone who starts training in the art of Jodo quickly finds that development of sword skills are just as important as competence with the jo. To this end, the development of people doing Jodo comes about through the mutual challenge of the Uchidachi (swordsman) against the Shijo (staff wielding person). This interrelation between the two provides mutual progression in physical health, mental versatility and emotional strength.

The role of Uchidachi is usually taken up by the senior of the pair i.e. the teacher with the Shijo role being filled by the student. The Uchidachi attacks and provokes the Shijo who must respond in such a way to defeat the Uchidachi without allowing danger to themselves. The Shijo must try their hardest to beat the Uchidachi, the Uchidachi must test and push the Shijo. Both sides develop skill, control and restraint.

Katas - Jodo Training and Techniques

Because Jodo originated out of the conglomeration of several weapons styles the curriculum is quite broad both in technical diversity as well as number of forms. Techniques taken from the sword, the spear, the staff and the halberd are combined into Jodo to create movements of striking, thrusting, catching, trapping, throwing, blocking, sweeping, locking and subduing. Furthermore, the role of the Uchidachi is one of learning and improving their kenpo (sword methodology) and as such they learn the techniques of cutting (from a variety of positions and angles), thrusting and blocking.

Jodo at a practical level teaches versatility and flexibility with the various weapons within the curriculum.

Jodo consists of several different set of katas:

Seitei Jodo Kata

12 representative forms were taken from the Shindo Muso Ryu to form The All Japan Kendo Federations standard Jodo forms called Seitei Kata.

Koryu

Koryu are older techniques from which the 12 Seitei Kata were chosen. The koryu schools are Omote, Chudan, Kage, Samidare, Gohon No Midare, and Okuden And also various other weapons which include The use of the short stick (Uchida Ryu Tanjo Jutsu), the metal truncheon (Ikkaku Ryu Jitte Jutsu), the sword (Shinto Ryu Kenjutsu) sickle and chain (Isshin Ryu Kusarigama Jutsu) and rope tying (Ittatsu Ryu Hojo Jutsu), although some of these Ryuha (schools) are rarely seen outside of Japan.

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