Jo and Ken: The Relationship

By Brett Denison, Mizukan Dojo

I had discussion with a friend of mine the other day, who was asking why Jojutsu is frequently associated with Kenjutsu, when the weapon appears to be so similar to bojutsu. This article is my attempt to answer that question.

Japanese method of using the jo (long stick), Jojutsu is reputed to have been invented by the great swordsman Muso Gonosuke, after a bout with wooden swords won by the legendary Miyamoto Musashi. 

Jojutsu is a powerful art, in which a jo is used against a swordsman. 

The jo could be used to strike like a sword, sweep like a naginata, thrust like a yari (spear). Its two ends could be used, unlike the single point of a sword, and its ma-ai (fighting distance) could be varied according to the handgrip you take. Because of its speed and changeable ma-ai, it is a formidable weapon in the hands of a skilled practitioner. 

According to this tradition Muso Gonosuke created Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo over 350 years ago. In those days the arts of war began with the sword and included the spear, staff, halberd, quick draw of the sword, throwing knives, grappling and other arts of all kinds. Gonosuke had first learned the secrets of the Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto School. After earning his certification in this style he went on to study the “one sword” of the Kashima Jikishinkage School. He went to Edo (the old name for Tokyo) and had matches with many famous swordsmen and was never defeated. Then, one day in June 1606, he fought the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. One of the secrets of Musashi's Niten Ichi Style was the cross-block, against which Gonosuke could do nothing and so he was defeated. Gonosuke went on a pilgrimage traveling through various parts of the country and suffering many hardships, always searching for a means to defeat the cross-block of Musashi's Niten Ichi Ryu. Several years later, in Chikuzen (modern Fukuoka Prefecture), he came to the precincts of the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. Climbing sacred Mount Homan he retired to pray. After the 37th day and the fulfillment of his vow, a boy came to him in a dream during the night and said, “With a round stick know the solar plexus.” Keeping this divine message in mind, Gonosuke fashioned a white oak stick of 50” long, and 1” in diameter (128 cm. - 27 cm). longer than the average sword (about 40” [101 cm]). Combining the strong points of the spear, halberd, and sword with other weapons he created Jojutsu. With this he was finally able, in a return match, to frustrate the cross-block of Miyamoto Musashi. Gonosuke was summoned to Kuroda (Fukuoka) where he taught the use of the Jo to ten or so fencing instructors. After this time Jojutsu was forbidden to be taught outside the Kuroda domain. But, during the late 1800's when the feudal “han” were restructured into modern “prefectures”, it was necessary to lift this rule and, for the first time, Jojutsu was open to everyone. Then, following the period of confusion after the Second World War, in 1955 came an opportunity to organize the All Japan Jodo Federation. A year later Jodo became associated with the All Japan Kendo Federation. 

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 throws in judo and aikido. 

Jojutsu, as adapted for modern police purposes, is referred to as Keibo Soho, or police stick art. 

Though bojutsu is not exclusive to Okinawa, most systems of bojutsu practiced today have their roots in the Okinawan systems (rokusakubo), where as Jojutsu is Japanese and developed either within a system with the understanding that the shaft of a bushi's spear is cut, or some similar situation, which required the warrior to fight with the remaining piece of shaft.  Becuase the training revolved around kenjutsu (sword) and or sojutsu (spear), the techniques of jojutsu closely resemble these weapons systems in form and function.  Okinawan Bojutsu systems empathize linear striking techniques and utilizing boths ends of the staff for blocking and striking.  Japanese Koryu Bojutsu systems on the other hand closely resemble sojutsu, with the staff held at one end, and a strong empathize on sweeping and thrusting attacks.  Jojutsu has many of these elements, but also includes cutting-like attacks that are characteristic of the sword (kenjutsu).

As stated by Nishioka Tsuneo of the Shinto Muso-ryu, Modern jo, because it is incorporated in the All-Japan Kendo Federation's Jodo section, is heavily influenced by kendo, a sportive budo. That is good and bad, Nishioka says. “You have to be aware of the old techniques and actual meanings,” he admonishes his students. For example, according to Nishioka, jodan (a stance in which the sword is held right over the head), straight men (overhead, direct cuts to the top of the opponent's head) and the high-standing positions are modern kendo influences. In the old days, when bushi wore armor, a lot of the attacks were kesa (angular) and the kamae was often hasso (in which the sword is held upright close to the chest). The Jodo practiced in Kyushu, the former Kuroda clan domain, still retains a lot of the old flavor. “But you must study both,” he concludes.

(Please, visit the website of Denison sensei on  http://mizukan.home.attbi.com/ )