Nisshoku Jodo

“holding a round stick, know the solar plexus”

Founder of Shinto Muso Ryu – Musō Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi

Seitei (ZNKR), Shinto Muso-ryu

We train in the Japanese art of Jodo, “the way of the wooden staff”.

Jodo teaches how to defeat an opponent armed with a sword. The Jo is a 4-foot round wooden staff made of hard and durable white oak which makes it almost impossible for a sword to cut through it. On the other hand, a katana could bend or break when struck from the side. Jodo techniques take advantage of the jo’s strengths and the sword’s weaknesses, allowing the jo side to defeat what, at first glance, would seem to be a much more dangerous weapon. The Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei (ZNKR) Seitei Jodo system contains twelve forms (kata) against a swordsman using a bokuto (wooden sword). There is an additional twelve techniques (kihon) that are trained both individually (tandoku dosa) and in pairs (sotai dosa).

As a student develops, they can move into the koryu (old style) techniques of the Shinto Muso Ryu tradition. Which includes the 64 kata as well as the Fuzoku Ryuha (Assimilated Schools), Isshin Ryū Kusarigamajutsu, Ikkaku Ryū Juttejutsu, Uchida Ryū Tanjōjutsu and Shintō Ryū Kenjutsu.

It is said that the jo could be used to strike like a sword, sweep like a naginata, thrust like a 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 hand grip you take. (Muromoto, Wayne. “Muso Gonnosuke and the Shinto Muso-ryu Jo.” Furyu 23 Feb. 2001). Parts of this article was originally written by Jeff Broderick and extracted from https://www.kendo-world.com/what-is-jodo.

Nisshoku Jodo is a member of the Midwest Kendo Federation and All United States Kendo Federation. We are overseen by Peter Boylan Sensei of the Michigan Koryu Kenkyukai. Boylan sensei holds the Kendo federation ranks of 5th dan in Jodo and 5th dan in Iaido (ZNKR), as well as Sho Mokuroku in Shindo Muso Ryu, and Jun Shihan in Shinto Hatakage Ryu Iai Heiho.

BENEFITS OF JODO

We believe in training with the six virtues of benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, sincerity, and bravery.

Jodo is an art that can be enjoyed by everyone, from the youngest grade–schooler to the oldest senior citizen. The benefits derived from learning Jodo affect many aspects of a persons everyday life.

These include:

CLASS LOCATION, SCHEDULE, AND COST

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Location: Kogetsukai trains at Daiyuzenji Rinzai Zen Temple 3717 N. Ravenswood Ave #112 Chicago, IL 60613

Kogetsukai gratefully accepts your tax-deductible donations for classes at Daiyuzenji (a not-for-profit organization). 100% of your contribution goes toward the continuing upkeep of Daiyuzenji temple.