Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo

"The Way of the Stick" has a curriculum that takes the practitioner through a series of ever more complex steps of wielding the stick against the sword.  Eventually a very old style of kenjutsu or sword fighting is learned.  Jodo also incorporates the tanjo, a shorter stick, the jutte or truncheon, the kusarigama or sickle and chain and a rope tying art called hojojutsu.  Like Iaido there are forms or kata to be learned within the Koryu as well as practice sets for when diverse groups come together to train known as seiteigata.

Kihon:  This relatively new set of movements adopted into the SMRJ(Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo) was a reflection of the genius of it's principal author Shimizu Sensei. Twelve (really 13) kihon or basic movements isolate important repetitive movements found within kata for skills development.  The importance of kihon can not be overstated.  Typically every class at minimum starts with kihon. These movements also warm up the body and prepare the student for other exercises.  Paired drills called Sotai Renshu are also practiced.  The kihonare modified slightly to adjust to partnered training.

Sincere training in kihon pays big dividends as continued training reveals better or deeper understanding.  Many folks like to rush to kata and on to more and more kata but I suggest that it is best to slow down and view each kihon as a "mini" kata.  Kihon will not however replace the lessons learned in kata.

 

基本  KIHON
本手打     Honteuchi HON-Basic
逆手打     Gyakuteuchi GYAKU-Reverse
引落打      Hikiotoshi uchi HIKI-Pull
返突          Kaeshi Zuki KAESHI-Pull and draw
逆手突     Gyakutetsuki TSUKI-Thrust
巻落     Makiotoshi MAKI-Roll     繰付     Kuritsuke KURI-Coiling     繰放     Kurihanashi HANASHI-Release     体当     Taiatari TAI ATARI-Hit Body     突外打     Tsukihazushi uchi HAZUSHI-Reset
胴払打     Dobarai uchi BARAI-Sweep  体外打     右 Migi-right     Taihazushi uchi migi HAZUSHI -Reset     体外打   左 Hidari-left     Taihazushi uchi hidari TAI-- Body

(Partial translations are designed to help understand the basic meaning of the kanji.  To avoid redundantcy we haven't carried over the translation for each conjugation.  The operative kanji/tranlation is in bold font)  Revised for Rembukan Dojo 20th year anniversary  Aug. 6th, 2009

Kata:  There is little solid academic research to identify when various kata were introduced or incorporated into the SMRJ.  I would genuinely appreciate any valid information on this subject as well as the reasoning for the practice of some of the kata in which the mysteries of the lessons have yet to reveal themselves to this author.  Having confessed this I would add that every kata in the order presented has an uncanny way of reinforcing movements that are less than obvious but needed as a foundation for the next kata or series of kata. This is one of the reasons why I find the study of Jodo profound. I could not imagine tiring of the study of SMRJ.  One of the "gifts" that come from ongoing study is that advanced study compels the practitioner to go back and re-examine and re-learn the more basic kata that are first taught. 

Today there is discussion especially in the West about Jodo being a "kata-budo" which is true enough I guess.  For some the label seems slightly off or is used disparagingly as if something martial is lost in the absence of free sparing.  I won't jump into that discussion here though I have some strong thoughts on the subject - other than to caution that one should be very well skilled before forming any dismissive attitude about this particular budo learned thru the practice of kata.

As written earlier, the groups of kata increase in complexity and the demands on the practitioner increase accordingly.

Kata in Kanji

表  OMOTE

太刀落   Tachi Otoshi OTOSHI-Drop
鍔割       Tsubawari WARI-Shatter
着杖       Tsukizue ZUE-Jo
引提      Hissage SAGE-Lantern holding
左貫     Sakan -SA-Left
右貫     Ukan U-Right
霞          Kasumi KASUMI-Mist
物身      Monomi MI-Body
笠の下  Kasanoshita Kasa Umbrella
一礼      Ichirei REI-Bowing
寝屋ノ内 Neyanouchi NEYA-Bedroom
細道     Hosomichi HOSOMICHI-Narrow Road
水月    Suigetsu GETSU-Moon
斜面     Shyamen SHA-Angle

中段     CHUDAN
一力     Ichiriki RIKI-Power
押詰     Oshizume OSHI-Push
乱留     Midaredoe DOME-Stop, Control
後杖前     Ushirozue Mae MAE-Front
後杖後     Ushirozue Ushiro USHIRO-Back
待車     Taisya, SHYA-Wheel
間込     Kengome KEN-Ma, Distance
切懸     Kirikake KIRI-Cut
真進     Shinshin SHIN-Forward move
雷打     Raiuchi RAI-Thunder
横切留    Yokogiridome YOKO-Sideways
払留i     Haraidome HARAI-Sweep away
晴眼     Seigan SEI-Clear, Pure
乱合大太刀  Ranai Oodachi OO-Big  RAN- Stir to action  AI- To meet.
乱合小太刀  Ranai Kodachi KO-Small (kanji for midare & ran are identical)