Jodo means the way of the stick. Training in jodo centres around kata performed against an opponent with a wooden sword.

As with iaido, there are many different schools of jodo in Japan. At Eimeikan Dojo, we study Shinto Muso-ryu jodo. Tradition has it that the school was founded in the 17th century by Muso Gonnosuke, who first used a jo in a duel with the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Originally practised only in the Fukuoka region of Japan and traditionally taught in one-on-one classes, Shinto Muso-ryu became popular across Japan in the 20th century. This was thanks in large part to the efforts of Shimizu Takaji sensei (bottom left), who created new methods to teach jodo to large classes. Jodo has since spread across the world.

All students start by learning the kihon, which are basic moves performed without an opponent. These twelve moves comprise the essentials for progression to more advanced techniques. Students move on to pair work between a jo and a bokken, or wooden sword. While kata are sets of fixed moves, the goal of training is to turn them into effective techniques with the timing of a real fight. This takes many years of effort.

The first twelve kata to be learned are the seitei forms as laid down by the All Japan Kendo Federation. These kata form the basis of all gradings and competitions, and students return to them throughout their careers. However, dozens more kata exist within the Shinto Muso-ryu syllabus, which includes sets using tanjo (short jo) and kenjutsu (sword against sword). The school also incorporates the use of jutte (a weapon for disarming a swordsman) and kusarigama (chain and sickle), although we do not teach these arts at Eimeikan. We have not had time to learn them yet! Shinto Muso-ryu truly is a lifetime’s worth of study.