|
Questions
1. What is the difference
between Bo-jutsu and Jo-jutsu?
2. Where can I learn Jodo?
3. What are kata? Why
does practice consist of kata?
4. Is there free-style
sparring in Jodo?
5. Is Jodo purely a
defensive martial art?
6. Does Jodo have techniques
to defend against a weaponless body attack?
7. Are there competitions?
8. Where can I see a
demonstration of Jodo?
9. Why is Jodo so obscure
and unknown today? Why have I never heard of it before?
10. Is it true that the
stick was just a simple peasants/farmers weapon?
11. How many Shindo Muso Ryu
members are there?
12. Why is there a kamae
called Ichiriki no Kamae, yet it does not appear in the Chudan Kata,
Ichiriki?
13. What is the name of
the style of Ken-jutsu in Shindo Muso Ryu?
14. Why do you describe the
final strike of Kasa no Shita (Omote kata series) as Gyakute Uchi?
15. Shindo Muso Ryu is Koryu,
right? If the curriculum has been preserved for the past 400 years, then
why do you contradict yourself on this website by saying that kata names
and techniques have changed?
16. I`m thinking about
starting Jodo. Do I really want to learn Jodo? What things should I
consider before I decide?
Answers
1. What is the difference
between Bo-jutsu and Jo-jutsu?
The Bo is the martial
art of the long stick. Although historically the Bo is 242.5cm -
257.5cm in length, the standard length used today is 180cm (6 "Shaku",
or 6 feet), whereas the Jo is a cut down stick of 128cm (4 "Shaku,
or 4 feet).
The Bo has a longer
history than the Jo. There are several schools of Bo Jutsu and Bo
techniques are incorporated into other martial arts like Okinawan
Karate, in which the Bo is called a Kon. BACK
2. Where can I learn Jodo?
My best recommendation
is to contact the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo at (03)3216-5100, or check
out the following URL (in Japanese only)
http://www.nipponbudokan.or.jp/soumu/index.html
. Ask for the
Jodo Bu or the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Seitei Jodo section. Someone
there should be able to put you in contact with Shindo Muso Ryu.
If you are not in Japan,
I suggest simply searching the Internet. Outside of Japan, you can
often find an Iaido Dojo that teaches some Jodo.
BACK
3. What are kata? Why
does practice consist of kata?
Kata is the principle
training and study method of most martial arts that use weapons.
Have you ever watched a
gymnast do a 2-minute floor routine? That routine is
prearranged - it was not made up on the spot. First the
routine is learned than repeated many times to perfect each part. We
could call that routine a Kata.
Some Kata are only a few
moves and take less than 30 seconds to complete. Some are very long
and complex taking several minutes to perform. They can be practiced
alone, but eventually they are done with a partner making them very
real training exercises.
Each kata has a unique
character and they emphasize some particular aspect of using the Jo
in actual fighting situations. BACK
4. Is there free-style
sparring (Kumite) in Jodo?
No, not as you would
imagine free-style. Why? Because it is too dangerous.
Free-style fighting (Kumite) would quickly result in death. Jodo is not a
sport. BACK
5. Is Jodo purely a
defensive martial art?
Jodo is both offensive
and defensive. Many Jo techniques are derived from the Yari (spear)
and Naginata (Halberd), which are both offensive weapons. Jodo
is a skill meant to be used by a skilled individual against an
unsuspecting person. BACK
6. Does Jodo have techniques
to defend against a weaponless body attack?
Atemi-jutsu, striking the opponent with
the hands, arms,
feet, is weakly incorporated within the training curriculum. Basics
techniques include punches and strikes (12) to vital points like the
kidneys, groin, and bridge of the nose, and well as some arm and
wrist locks (4-5). When Shimizu-sensei and Hiroi-sensei taught
Atemi-jutsu, there were also a few basic throws.
Atemi-jutsu is part of the police
training, but is NOT Taiho Jutsu.
A student will probably first encounter
Atemi-jutsu when learning
Tanjo-jutsu. If you have not
learned Tanjo-jutsu yet, try and get a copy of Matsui Kenji`s video,
and you will watch him punch his opponent during a kata.
Another example is the Omote kata, Sakan.
You don`t have to swing the Jo to block the Tachi. Rather, you can
hold the Jo and punch your opponent in the ear.
BACK
7. Are there competitions?
Yes, there are
competitions of performance of kata within the Zen Nippon
Kendo Renmei Seitei Jodo Bu. Periodically there are competitions, or
Taikai, in which two individuals will compete against other pairs in
their skill of performing kata. BACK
8. Where can I see a
demonstration of Jodo?
Again, my best
recommendation is to contact the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, and if you
are not in Japan, search the Internet as mentioned above.
If you are in Japan,
there are events and festivals about once a month at which various
martial arts are demonstrated, including Jodo. For example, the
Kagami Biraki Festival held at the Budokan in Tokyo at New Years,
and the Nippon Budo Festival held at the Budokan in Kyoto in May are
both good opportunities to see Jodo demonstrated.
BACK
9. Why is Jodo so obscure
and unknown today? Why have I never heard of it before?
Simply because Jodo is
so difficult to learn. It is one of the most difficult martial arts
to learn, and most people do not have the time or patience to stick
with it.
There is no merit in the
fact that it is hard to learn. We all have to prioritize and choose
the things in life that are most important to invest our time and
energy into.
BACK
10. Is it true that the
stick was just a simple peasants/farmers weapon?
No. It is a myth that
the stick is a poor peasants weapon.
Rather the stick is an
elegant weapon - more powerful than most people realize. It is a
difficult skill to learn and the nature of the Jo requires a long
period of training, but it is a master weapon: economical to produce
and deadly because of it is so versatile. It can overcome most other
weapons. The knowledge of the Jo was guarded for a long time by the
Kuroda Clan, a warrior family - not by peasants.
In
contrast, the sword is easy to learn and does not require much
training. There are many who would argue and say, "It takes many
many years to be skilled with a sword." This is not true. Four
hundred years ago, 13 year old children were sent to the
battlefield. Learning to fight with a sword was so easy it was
taught to kids. Anything the sword blade touches it is going to cut
and do damage and injury. Remember to distinguish between form and
function. A swordsman will spend many years mastering form, but
function only takes a few lessons.
BACK
11. How many Shindo Muso Ryu
members are there?
The numbers of members
has dwindled and it would be difficult to find more than 300
competent Shindo Muso Ryu members worldwide.
There are fewer than 20
Menkyo Kaiden, and the quality may not be what it used to be. Why?
Because in many dojos today it is sufficient to know form, rather
than both form and effective function.
The 1960`s was perhaps
SMR`s "Golden Period" with more than 3,000 regularly practicing
members. With the death of Shimizu Sensei, the insular nature
of the succeeding leaders like Otofuji Sensei separated the
foreigners from the mainstream. The increase in TV, computers, video
games, and other past-times give people more variety and choice in
how they spend their free time. The combination of these two facts
is the reason that Shindo Muso Ryu is a dying art.
BACK
12. Why is there a
kamae called Ichiriki no Kamae, yet it does not appear in the Chudan
Kata, Ichiriki?
According to both Shimizu-sensei and
Kuroda-sensei, there is NO CONNECTION between the name of the kamae
and the name of the kata. In fact, it is thought by some that the
name of the kata, Ichiriki, is not the original name or may be an
incorrect reading of the kanji characters.
BACK
13. What is the name
of the style of Ken-jutsu in Shindo Muso Ryu?
The style of Ken-jutsu has been called
both Kasumi Shinto Ryu and Shinto Ryu. During the period that
Shimizu sensei and Kuroda sensei taught it was called Kasumi Shinto
Ryu.
I was taught the name Kasumi Shinto Ryu
Kenjutsu, so that is the name I use on this website.
Both names have been
and are still used depending on where and with whom you practice. In
Japan, there exists a very small group in Hyogo prefecture that do a
style of Kenjutsu called Kasumi Shinto Ryu, but looks nothing like
the Ken-jutsu in Shindo Muso Ryu. To avoid confusion, Shinto Ryu is
used by some. Other groups continue to call it Kasumi Shinto Ryu.
BACK
14. Why do you describe the
final strike of Kasa no Shita (Omote kata series) as Gyakute Uchi?
The final strike of Kasa no Shita is
done reverse grip, Gyakute Uchi because that is the way Shimizu
sensei taught it the last few months he was alive. Yes, the final
strike was Honte Uchi. However, it was changed by Shimizu sensei.
Remember, nothing is wrong if it works!
BACK
15. Shindo Muso Ryu is Koryu, right? If the
curriculum has been preserved for the past 400 years, then why do you
contradict yourself on this website by saying that kata names and
techniques have changed?
Yes, Jodo is
Koryu.
However, if Muso Gonnosuke was alive today he probably would not
recognize Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo. A lot of changes have occurred....think
about it. Shimizu-sensei created the
Kihon and
ZNKR Seitei Jo kata. Kuroda-sensei added Oyogumite.
In addition, Shimizu-sensei taught Jodo
in a more loose and fluid style compared to many Dojos today. For
example, Shimizu-sensei would often ask, even during the middle of a kata, "What do you think the next move should be?" or "What feels
more natural?" It was taught that certain techniques
naturally followed
other techniques.
Jodo is DYNAMIC! Jodo is not
fixed... and that is what makes it good!
In reality, nothing that happened 400 years ago, or
even 40 years ago, can be proven or perfectly preserved. Not only in Jodo, but in any other
endeavor or activity in life, remember this:
The only truth and value is in what
you can do today.
People do not judge you by what you
know, but by what you can do.
BACK
16. I`m thinking about
starting Jodo. Do I really want to learn Jodo? What things should I
consider?
New
members are very welcome. Please be aware of and consider carefully
the following before you decide:
1.
Observe Jodo.
I
strongly recommend that you go and observe Jodo in action by a high
ranking Shinto Muso Ryu member first.
2.
Learn from a licensed Shinto Muso Ryu instructor.
If you
are still interested after observing Jodo, make sure you find an
authorized and knowledgeable instructor of Shinto Muso Ryu. (Be
careful to differentiate between Shinto Muso Ryu and Zen
Nippon Kendo Renmei Jodo.)
3.
Consider carefully how much time and energy you are willing
to spend.
Jodo
is complicated because there is so much to learn. Be aware that you
will not learn everything in 6 months or a year. It takes years to
be skilled at using the Jo, and you may find yourself frustrated if
you only practice 1 – 2 times per week. Also, Jodo is a
Koryu art and
requires a different attitude from sportive martial arts like Karate
or Judo.
4.
Consider whether you are willing to research, study and take
notes.
You
will be required to know the curriculum, and Japanese Kata,
application and technique names in the correct order. If you are not
adept at learning languages you may find it challenging to remember
everything. Are you willing to study and take notes?
5.
Invest in the proper equipment.
We
practiced in a traditional split skirt called a Hakama and a jacket.
(It is similar to a Kendo uniform without the protective gear.) You
will also need to purchase your own Jo, and long and short wooden
Tachi.
|
