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Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo

Nishioka T. doing Osame (with P. Krieger)

Jodo is a Japanese martial art that teaches the use of a jo, a wooden stick. There are several systems concentrating on this weapon. The Shindo Muso Ryu is a koryu (old school) system, which was founded just after the turn of the sixteenth century.

Legend tells how the founder, Muso Gonnosuke Katsukichi engaged in various duels. One time he was defeated, but his opponent, the famous swordsman Musashi Miamoto spared Gonnosuke's life. Because of that defeat, he travelled around Japan and studied many different weapons and systems.
Some years later, he retreated on a mountain and after 37 days of meditation had a revelation that subsequently led him to develop the jo and the system around it.

The jo of Shindo Muso Ryu is 128cm long and 2,6cm thick.

The Shomen of the FEJ Summercamp 1998

The main concern of the Shindo Muso Ryu is to teach how to use the jo against a sword-wielding attacker. In training a bokken, a wooden sword is used, but in reality the techniques were meant to be used against a shinken (real sword).

The jo comprises various techniques found also in other weapons:
The strike of the ken (sword) and bo (long staff), the thrust of the lance (yari) and the sweep of the naginata (blade-on-stick).

The main advantage against the sword is the jo's greater length. The jo is about 30cm longer than an average ken.

P. Krieger and A. Robert at the beginning of Ran-ai

The training of Shindo Muso Ryu is almost entirely done through kata, two-partner forms. There is no protecting clothes in Jodo and therefore the techniques must be precise and trained with a concentrated mind.

The shidachi wields the jo and the uchidachi the bokken.
Ideally, the uchidachi is more advanced than the shidachi. A good uchidachi is essential for the shidachi to learn the kata correctly.

The kata are systemized in various series, each series concentrating on some principles according to the advancement level of the student.

The series are as follows:

• Omote - 12 kata (+2)
• Chudan - 13 kata
• Ran-ai - 2 variations of the kata
• Kage - 12 kata (+2)
• Samidare - 6 kata
• Gohon-no-midare - 5 kata
• Okuden - 12 kata

P. Brandl and B. Prasek demonstrating Samidare

However, before learning the first kata the student is introduced to jodo through the kihon, the twelve basic techniques, which can be performed tandoku (alone) or sotei (with a partner using a sword.)

These basic techniques or variations of them can be found in the kata. In fact, they were derived from various kata and formulated in the early twentieth century.

Today, a usual training session is started with the kihon tandoku, as the kihon are not only for the beginner. Correct basic techniques are important for students of all advancement levels.

Associated weapons

As the student advances through the system, he is also introduced to other weapons. Several associated ryu are incorporated into the over-all teachings of Shindo Muso Ryu.

Shinto Ryu Kenjutsu

Kenjutsu training

The roots of the ryu can be found in the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu. Muso Gonnosuke had a licence from the latter ryu.
It is impossible to say how the kenjutsu techniques taught alongside Shindo Muso Ryu evolved. However, they are different from the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu forms.

Shinto Ryu is taught in twelve kata. Shidachi uses the bokken for the first eight and the kodachi, a shorter, one-handed sword for the four last. Uchidachi uses only the bokken, except for one kata, where he attacks with bokken and kodachi.

Uchida Ryu Tanjojutsu

The Uchida Ryu was founded in the nineteenth century.
The tanjo is a walking stick and its length depends on the height of the user. It is about 90cm long.
The series comprises twelve kata, tanjo against bokken.

Isshin Ryu Kusarigamajutsu

A. Robert and L. Subila demonstrating Kusarigamajutsu

The Isshin Ryu can be traced back to the turn of the fourteenth century.

The kusarigama is a combination of a sickle and a chain with a weight at its end. The kusarigama of the Isshin Ryu differs from the more common ones of other ryu. Its blade is about 30cm long, straight and double-edged. It has a wooden handle attached at 90 degrees to the blade and an iron hand-guard. The steel chain is 3,6m long and connected to a metal Fundo (weight) which weighs about 110g.
For training the sickle is made from wood and a rope with a stuffed leather ball substitute for the chain and weight.

Isshin Ryu comprises 3 series, two consisting of twelve, one of six kata. The forms are performed against bokken. The ryu also contains 8 kata for a long-handled sickle.

Ikkaku Ryu Juttejutsu

P. Krieger and S. Dieci demonstrating Juttejutsu

The Ikkaku Ryu was founded by the third headmaster of Shindo Muso Ryu.
The Jutte is a metal truncheon, 45,5cm of lenght and weighs about 500g. The Jutte of the Ikkaku Ryu has a hexagonal cross-section and a small tine is attached above the handle.

Two series of each twelve kata exist within Ikkaku Ryu. Sometimes the Jutte is used in combination with a tessen (iron fan).

Ittatsu Ryu Hojojutsu

The Ittatsu Ryu was founded by a direct student of Gonnosuke.
The Hojo is a rope used to tie prisoners. The Hojo of the Ittatsu Ryu is 5m long.
The ryu includes 25 tying methods, which were used depending on the rank of the prisoner.