Jo Staff

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Way back in 1993 - 1994 I was living in London and training with Peter King once a week and my good friend Abdul Kalim twice a week.

Abdul was traveling to Japan every year at the point and training mostly withHatsumi Sensei and Ishizuka Sensei but also the other Bujinkan Shihan. I think it was his trip before I arrived in the UK that he had praticed all 8 kata with Ishizuka Sensei and was training in them regularly at the Kings College Dojo in London.

The Kata names are Jumonji, Roppo, Kyuho, Hi Ryu, Tsuki Iri, Ude Gake, Kote Gaeshi and Tachi Otoshi.

All are praticed against a swordsman, it's not only about learning the Jo strikes but also the correct blocks so that the two halves fit together. After you learn the Jo and Sword sequences then distance and timing become the main focus of the training.

Jo has been a regular part of weapons training at Ninjutsu Melbourne for many years. This month in my classes on tuesday and thursday nights we will be praticing Kote Gaeshi and Hi Ryu.

Here's a very quick break down of Kote Gaeshi (because it's less typing) with more details in class.

Uke Seigan No Kame with the Sword
Tori Siegan No Kamae with the Jo

Tori - Thrust forward with the Jo to Uke's Solar Plexus
Uke - Parries with the left side of the blade

Tori - Retract the Jo , release the right hand grip and twist the left hand forward to strike down onto Uke's wrist regripping with the right hand, can strike to uke ribs instead of the wrist.

It's fairly short and on the surface simple but suprisingly there's a lot to learn even in a few seemingly simple movements.

Hi Ryu is much more complex involving 8 strikes, but we'll cover that toward the end of the month.