Shintō Musō-ryū, most commonly known by its practice of jōdō, is a traditional school (koryū) of the Japanese martial art of jōjutsu, or the art of wielding the short staff (jō). The technical purpose of the art is to learn how to defeat a swordsman in combat using the jō, with an emphasis on proper combative distance, timing and concentration.
“maruki o motte suigetsu o shire” or “take a round stick, and find the solar plexus”
The original art created by Musō Gonnosuke has evolved and been added upon ever since its inception and up to modern times. The art was successfully brought outside of its original domain in Fukuoka and outside Japan itself in the 19th and 20th century. The spreading of Shintō Musō-ryū beyond Japan was largely the effort of Takaji Shimizu, (1896–1978), considered the 25th headmaster, who, unlike many other traditional martial arts teachers, wanted Jodo to be known and taught internationally.
Basic Techniques
The “basic techniques of striking and thrusting” (kihon no uchi tsuki waza, 基本の打ち突き技) form a system of twelve techniques drawn from the existing kata with minor modifications. The following are the twelve basic techniques:
- Honte uchi (本手打main strike)
- Gyakute uchi (逆手打 reverse-grip strike)
- Hikiotoshi uchi (引落打 downward-pulling strike)
- Kaeshi tsuki (返突 counter thrust)
- Gyakute tsuki (逆手突 reverse-grip thrust)
- Maki otoshi (巻落 downward twist)
- Kuri tsuke (繰付 spin and attach)
- Kuri hanashi (繰放 spin and release)
- Tai atari (体当 body strike)
- Tsuki hazushi uchi (突外打 thrust, release, strike)
- Dō barai uchi (胴払打 body-reaping strike)
- Tai hazushi uchi migi (体外打右 body-releasing strike, right side); tai hazushi uchi hidari (体外打左 body-releasing strike, left side)
Kata
The original Shintō Musō-ryū tradition is composed of around 59 jō kata and is divided into seven sets. (The “Gohon-no-midare” kata series and the 12 “kihon” are a modern invention.) Together with the 12 kenjutsu kata they compose the core of the SMR-tradition.
The Dojo practice the 12 kata of Seitei Jodo
- ipponme (Tsuki Zue)
- nihonme (Suigetsu)
- sanbonme (Hissage)
- yonhonme (Shamen)
- gohonme (Sakan)
- ropponme (Monomi)
- nanahonme (Kasumi)
- hachihonme (Tachi Otoshi)
- kyuhonme (Rai Uchi)
- jupponme (Seigan)
- jūipponme (Midare Dome)
- jūnihonme (Ran Ai)
Assimilated Arts
There are also a number of assimilated arts that form part of the current SMR Curriculum. These include:
- Uchida-ryu tanjojutsu (Short stick)
- Kasumi Shinto-ryu kenjutsu (Sword)
- Isshin-ryu kusarigamajutsu (Sickle with a chain)
- Ikkaku-ryu juttejutsu (Short single forked truncheon)
- Ittatsu-ryu hojo jutsu (Restricting rope)
