What is Jodo?

Jodo, is the way of the stick. "Jo" or tsue is from the character meaning stick. The character for "Do" or michi includes the meaning way or path which translates as "The way of the stick"—A path in life which is followed through the training of Jodo.

Origin of Jodo

The classical style of Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu was founded around 400 years ago by Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi who was a master swordsman in the line of the Katori Shinto Ryu.

Muso Gonnosuke combined the most important techniques of Kenjutsu (art of the sword), Sojutsu (art of the spear) and Naginatajutsu (art of the halberd) and incorporated them into a round stick (Jo) made of wood.

The Shindo Muso Ryu school remained a clan art for the Kuroda clan in northern Kyushu until it was eventually opened to the general public in the early 1900s.

All Japan Kendo Federation style Jodo (aka Seitei Jodo) was established in 1968, by a committee created by All Japan Kendo Federation and is practiced by around 20,000 people around the world. The All United States Kendo Federation Jodo committee was established in 2018.

Jodo Practice[SL1]

All Japan Kendo Federation style Jodo practice consists largely of paired kata (Seiteigata) between a jo-wielding practitioner (Shi) and a sword-wielding practitioner (Uchi). Jodo techniques are varied and include thrusting, parrying, and striking. Unlike Kendo and Iaido, Jodo techniques can be used to constrain and defeat an attacking swordsman without serious injury. Also unlike Kendo and Iaido, Jodo is almost completely right-left symmetrical, with equal handling of the jo on either side of the body. Practitioners wear kendogi and hakama as their uniform. Jo are made of white oak, 128 cm long and 2.4cm wide.

(Thanks to European Kendo Federation, Australian Kendo Federation, Jeff Broderick)

For question about Jodo in the USA, please contact jodo@auskf.org