Jodo

A brief history

Jodo has an interesting history, it was developed by Muso Gonnosuke about 400 or so years ago. The story goes that Muso Gonnosuke challenged the famous swordsman Miyamoto Mushasi to a duel (with wooden swords) and was defeated, but as was rare in those days (and even rarer for Mushasi) Gonnosuke was allowed to live after his defeat.

Gonnosuke retreated to a Shinto shrine and focussed his efforts on meditation and practice with the Jo (staff). After much practice and trial he developed a style of fighting that merged spear-fighting and swordsmanship (Kenjutsu), he named this combat form Shindo-Muso ryu and, when he was ready, Gonnosuke challenged Mushasi again.

This encounter went is Gonnosuke's favour. He was able to defeat Mushasi's Nito-ryu, two sword technique with blocks and penetrating strikes and at the end of the encounter he repaid his debt to Mushasi by letting him live.

Gonnosuke is reported to have developed only twelve or so basic techniques of blocking and striking initially and this number of techniques was grown to number over seventy. These techniques form the basis for modern day Jodo.

Jodo today is practiced through paired kata with one person using a Jo (staff) and the other a bokken (bokuto, or wooden sword). The set moves of the kata give the practitioner and education in focus, range, balance and grace, Jodo is also quite a good workout when doing the advanced forms.