Richmond Jodo is affiliated with Baltimore Jodo under the direction of David Pitard, Menkyo.

ABOUT SHINTO MUSO-RYU JO

The ryu (school) was founded sometime around 1605 by Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi, a warrior of the Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto Ryu and Kashima Jikishinkage Shinto Ryu.

The original martial art has evolved and been added upon ever since its inception and up to modern times - mainly as a closely guarded secret (otome-waza) martial art of the military police of the Kuroda-han in Fukuoka, Kyushu.

Today the rich curriculum of Shinto Muso Ryu includes approximately 64 sword/staff kata. As well as almost 80 related weapons kata. All of these are divided into specific sets designed to highlight specific lessons and guide an exponent towards a comprehensive understanding of this weapons system.

Shinto Muso Ryu Jo was successfully brought outside of its original domain in Fukuoka, and outside of Japan itself in the 19th and 20th century. Mainly through the efforts of Shimizu Takaji.

Legend tells us that Jojutsu was created as the result of a duel with the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Gonnosuke, as a  swordsman, was participating in ‘musha shugyo’. This involved traveling around Japan studying various martial arts and engaging in duels in an effort to improve his technique. Gonnosuke was reputed to be a very skilled swordsman and never defeated until he met Musashi. His first duel with Musashi ended in defeat, but luckily Musashi spared his life.

In an effort to understand his weaknesses, he retreated to a shrine, Kamado Jinja on Mount Homan near Dazaifu in Kyushu, to engage in meditation and austere training. Finally he had a vision that laid before him the use of a short staff  (about 4 shaku 2 bu 1 sun: 128 cm) as a remarkably flexible weapon. Jojutsu combines the striking motions of the Sword, the thrusting motions of the Spear and the sweeping motions of the Naginata

OTHER ARTS

Although the jo is at the core of Shinto Muso-ryu, throughout its history the style has collected around it a number of other combat systems. Some of the systems associated with Shinto Muso-ryu are:

• Shinto-ryu kenjutsu (Japanese sword)

• Uchida-ryu tanjojutsu (short staff)

• Isshin-ryu kusari-gamajutsu (chain and sickle)

• Ikkaku-ryu juttejutsu (truncheon)