Jōdō
杖道道
Shindō Musō-ryū
神道夢想流
Jōdō is the study of the application of a 4 foot wooden staff using effective body positioning and techniques to defend against an attack from a sword and controlling the opponent in response to their movements.
Practise involves the study of Kihon (basic movements) both Tandoku (solo) and Sotai (paired) and then applying those Kata (prescribed forms) comprising both attack and defence movements.
Ongoing practice brings a focus and fierceness to the practitioners training which is mirrored in all old school weapons traditions, due to the life and death nature of their beginnings. These together with combative distancing, cultural understanding and upper body strength are the reasons practitioners of other styles seek out traditional weapons training.
Shindō Musō-ryū Jōdō origins & background
Jōdō has its origins in 17th century Japan with the founder, Musō Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi, a practitioner of Kasumi Shintō-ryū kenjutsu (sword) undertaking a period of reflection on Mount Hōman in Kyushu after his defeat by famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. It is said that during reflection he received a vision which led him to develop the Jō as a weapon and its associated Shindō Musō-ryū (SMR) forms.
SMR Jōdō subsequently became one of the combat arts of the Kuroda Clan based in present Fukuoka and became associated with some of the other weapon schools normally practiced by students of the school.
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Short stick - Uchida ryū tanjo jutsu
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Sword - Kasumi shinto ryū kenjutsu
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Sickle and chain - Isshin ryū kusarigama jutsu
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Jutte - Ikkaku ryū jutte jutsu
Jōdō was relatively unknown outside of the Fukuoka region until the 20th century when it was transmitted throughout Japan, and more recently the world. SMR has a more open and inclusive approach to teaching and has permitted indiscriminate transmission allowing anyone in possession of full-transmission (menkyo kaiden) to award licenses to any number of students. As a result SMR has a number of branches globally with legitimate lineage.
Shindō Musō-ryū Jōdō training at Kuroyama Budokai.
At Kuroyama Budokai some study of Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei Seitei Jōdō is NOT required as a pre-requisite before commencing study of SMR.
Study of SMR Jōdō at Kuroyama Budokai involves the progressive practise of sets of Kata –
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Omote 表 – a set of 12 fundamental techniques establishing correct body movement, distance, timing and handling of the jō upon which the deeper teachings SMR are built.
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Chudan 中段 - a set of 12 techniques which embed the fundamentals learned in Omote through vigorous, continuous and increasingly pre-emptive movement, developing fluidity, confidence and the unity of attack and defence.
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Ran’ai 乱合 - a set of 2 techniques which bring the full range of SMR’s fundamental methods together in one sustained encounter, demanding initiative, exploitation of openings and harmony through constantly changing tempo and pressure
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Kage 影 - a set of 12 techniques which turns the visible forms inward, cultivating calm and unreadable intent through close ma-ai, broken rhythm, controlled breathing and explosive action arising from stillness
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Samidare 五月雨 - a set of 6 techniques which trains wholehearted commitment as both practitioners close the distance, using intuition, sustained pressure, kiai and sutemi to seize the decisive instant before the opponent
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Gohon no Midare 五本の乱れ - a set of 5 techniques which recombine familiar material into deliberately complex and disordered sequences to develop continuous flow, adaptability and versatility
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Okuden 奥伝 - a set of 12 techniques that integrates the preceding curriculum into encounters between equals, refining the gaining of initiative, intuitive perception, synchronization and entry at the decisive opening.
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Gokui 極意 - returns the practitioner to the traditionally understood primordial core of SMR, revealing the compact principles from which the broader curriculum unfolds and completing the technical transmission.
The study of these Kata is the Kaminoda Tsunemori sensei teachings via transmission Bill Fettes, Menkyo Kaiden, of the Adelaide Koryu Kenkyukai.
Shindō Musō-ryū Instructing Team.
Shindō Musō-ryū Jōdō study at Kuroyama Budokai is lead by the following instructor cohort:
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Nathan Turk - Go Mokuroku