JOJUTSU
Japanese system of using the jo (long stick), practiced at Waseda
University in Tokyo and in lesser known dojo in Japan and abroad.
University in Tokyo and in lesser known dojo in Japan and abroad.
jojutsu is reputed to havebeen invented by the great swordsman
MIonuso Gunnosuke about 400 years ago, aftera bout with wooden ,words
won by the legendary Miyamoto Musashi. According to this tradition,
Gunnosuke withdrew to a Shinto shrineand after a period of purification,
meditation, and training with the staff, created the art of the jo
, blending techniques of spear-fighting and swordsmanship with those
of other,minor methods of combat. He named his style Shindo-Muso
ryu and challenged Musashi J again. This time, Gunnosuke mounted
an effective defense and penetrated Musashi's own two-sword strategy.
Gunnosuke is reputed to have trained continually until he had perfected the 12 basic
blows and blocks that are the technical patrimony of modern jojutsu, and which
he later combined into more , than 70 advanced techniques. These basic blows usually
are practiced in kata (formal exercises) performed with a wooden sword, bokken,
against the jo. These kata include straight (honto-uchi) and reverse (gyaku-uchi)
blows to the upper body; response to a block (hiki-otoshi); · switch-hand
(kaeshi-tsuki) and reverse (gyakute-tsuki); thrusts straight I (tsuki-hazushi)
and round (maki-otoshi) parries; body pressure ,. (kune-tsuke); body push
(kure-hanashi); body whirl (tai-atari); middle body parry and counter
(do-harai-uchi); and the spinning, evasion " and counter (tai-hazushi-uchi).
The modern study of the jo, known as jodo (way of the stick), usually leads
to other arts and weapons, such as the heavy club ,(tanjo), the chained sickle
(kusari-gama), the fast draw (iai), as well ' as to blows in karate and kempo
or throws in judo and aikido. --: Jojutsu, as adapted for modern police
purposes, is referred to as kelbo SOho, or police stick art. (Further reading:
Asian Fighting ArtsDonn F. Draeger and Robert W. Smith, 1969)
FORMS OF JOJUTSU
JODO Japanese art of stick fighting that grew out of jojutsu (art of the
long stick). Banned immediately after World War II, it was revived in
the 1950s. A staff about 4 feet 2 inches long. usually made of white
oak, its methods were created more than 400 years ago by a great .
swordsman, Muso Gunnosuke, and kept secret for centuries by the Kuroda
clan of Fukoda. Today the jo is studied as an art rather than self-defense,
since carrying the stick is illegal. According to legend the famous
swordsman, Muso Gonnosuke was defeated :and went into meditation,
during which time the idea of using a short stick came to him.
He practiced with the new weapon, then stick came to him.
He practiced with the new weapon, then _. challenged Musashi
to another match. Using the io, Gunnosuke defeated Musashi
who, up to that time, had never been beaten. Gnnosuke went
on to refine the JO techniques.
The 12 basic blows and blocks of jodo are: normal grip blow (honte uchi);
reverse grip blow (gyaku-uchi); back blocking blow .(hiki-otoshi);
switch hand thrust (kyashi-zuki); reverse grip thrust (gyakute-zuki);
wrapping drop block (maki-otoshi); pressing stick to the body (
kure-tsuke); pushing stick to the body (Kure-hanasn\)', body check
(tai-atari); blocking thrust (ts~ke-hazushi); middle body block
and counter (doh-harai-uchi); and shifting block and counter
tai - hazush i - uch i).
, Jodo techniques include striking, poking, blocking, parrying,
deflecting, intercepting, and sweeping. There are 12 basic blows
and blocks, and these can be mastered in .four to six months.
Students learn 70 more advanced techniques, mostly elaborations
',. of the basic moves. Jodo has no free-sparring like judo or karate:
student uses the bo while the other wields a sword. Advanced
students practice other weapons, such as tenjo jitsu (heavy dub)
And kuon-gama (chain). Technical supervision is by the All Japan :
Jado Federation.
During the Tokugawa period, jojutsu, the forerunner of jodo, was
,employed by the bushi particularly when no lethal results were wanted.
Jujutsu is a
Japanese martial art that utilizes a large variety of techniques in defense against
an opponent. Jujutsu exponents utilize the following different skill sets (sometimes
in combination, sometimes not) to tackle an aggressor: blocking, joint lock techniques,
strikes, throws and sweeps, as well as ground fighting/grappling skills.