Shintō Musō-ryū

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Koryū 古流 Martial Art
Shintō Musō-ryū - 神道夢想流
Founder
Musō Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi (夢想 權之助 勝吉)	fl. c.1605, date of death unknown
Founding date
Early Edo period	Sometime between 1602 and 1614[1]
Current Headmaster
No single leader. 25th and last (unofficial) headmaster was Shimizu Takaji	Fully licensed instructors teach the jōdō of Shintō Musō-ryū all over the world in various organisations.

Arts taught
Disciplines taught	Description	Name of assimilated school
Jōdō or Jōjutsu	Art of wielding the short staff (jō)	N/A (original art of Shintō Musō-ryū)
Kenjutsu	Sword art, using long (ōdachi) and short sword(kodachi); also used in tandem(nitō)	Shintō-ryū (or Kasumi Shintō-ryū)
Tanjōjutsu	Art of wielding a walking stick (tanjō)	Uchida-ryū
Kusarigamajutsu -	Art of wielding the chain and sickle (kusarigama)	Isshin-ryū
Hojōjutsu	Rope-tying art	Ittatsu-ryū
Juttejutsu	Art of wielding a truncheon (jutte)	Ikkaku-ryū

Shintō Musō-ryū, or Shindō Musō-ryū (神道夢想流, Shintō Musō-ryū, or Shindō Musō-ryū^?),¹ most commonly known by its practice of jōdō, is a traditional school (koryū) of the Japanese martial art of jōjutsu, or the art of wielding the short staff (jō). The technical purpose of the art is to learn how to defeat a swordsman in combat using the jō, with an emphasis on proper distance, timing and concentration.

The art was founded by the samurai Musō Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi (夢想 權之助 勝吉, fl. c.1605, date of death unknown) in the early Edo period (1603–1868) and, according to legend,^[1] first put to use in a duel with Miyamoto Musashi (宮本 武蔵, 1584–1645). The original art created by Musō Gonnosuke has evolved and been added upon ever since its inception and up to modern times. The art was successfully brought outside of its original domain in Fukuoka and outside of Japan itself in the 19th and 20th century. The spreading of Shintō Musō-ryū beyond Japan was largely the effort of Takaji Shimizu (Shimizu Takaji, 1896–1978), considered the 25th ⁸ headmaster. With the assistance of his own students and the cooperation of the kendo^[2] community, Shimizu spread Shintō Musō-ryū worldwide.

Contents 1 History 2 Modern day Shintō Musō-ryū 2.1 Jōdo and jōjutsu 2.1.1 Etiquette and traditions in the dojo 2.1.2 Forms 2.1.3 Basic techniques 2.1.4 Seitei Jodo Kata 2.2 Grades - new and classical 2.2.1 Grades in the European Jodo Federation 2.2.2 Grades in the International Jodo Association 2.2.3 Grades in the Nihon Jodokai 2.2.4 Grades in Seitei-Jodo 2.3 Weapons and training gear 2.3.1 Jo - The staff of Shinto Muso-ryu 2.3.2 Ken - The sword of Shinto Muso-ryu 2.3.3 Clothing 2.4 Fuzoku Ryuha (Assimilated schools) of Shinto Muso-ryu 2.4.1 Ittatsu-ryu Hojojutsu 2.4.2 Ikkaku-ryu juttejutsu 2.4.3 Isshin-ryu kusarigamajutsu 2.4.4 Shinto-ryu Kenjutsu (or Kasumi Shinto-ryu 2.4.5 Uchida Ryu Tanjojutsu - (Sutekki-jutsu) 2.5 Weapons for integrated arts 2.5.1 Jutte(jitte) and tessen 2.5.2 Kusarigama 2.5.3 Tanjo 3 Organisations 3.1 Japan and the Pacific 3.2 Europe and Africa 3.3 North and South America 4 Notable Shinto Muso-ryu practitioners 5 Footnotes 6 See also 7 Other 8 References 9 External links

[edit] History

Main article: History of Shintō Musō-ryū Jodo

According to its own history,^[1] Shintō Musō-ryū was founded in the Keicho period (1594-1614) by Musō Gonnosuke, a samurai with considerable martial arts experience. His experiences, which would climax in his two duels with the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, led him to create a set of techniques for the jō. He would eventually found the Shintō Musō-ryū school.^[1] Gonnosuke used his training in kenjutsu, naginatajutsu, sōjutsu and bōjutsu, which he acquired in part from Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū^[3] and Kashima Jikishinkage-ryū.^[4] He was said to have mastered the secret form "Ichi no tachi"^[5] from which he developed new techniques for the jō. Gonnosuke developed several techniques for the jō that were to be used against an opponent armed with a sword, partially by using the superior length of the jō to keep the swordman at a disadvantage. The legend states that Musō Gonnosuke fought two duels with Miyamoto Musashi. Gonnosuke was defeated in the first,^[1] but was victorious in the second, using his newly developed jōjutsu techniques to either defeat Musashi or force the duel into a draw. One of several legends says that while resting near a fire in a certain temple, Gonnosuke heard a voice say, "Holding a round stick, command the strategy of the moon in water" (丸木を以て、水月を司令, maruki o motte, suigetsu o shirei^?).^[1] Supposedly that was his inspiration to develop his new techniques and go fight Musashi a second time. After the creation of his jō techniques and his establishment as a skilled jōjutsu practitioner he was invited by the Kuroda clan of Fukuoka, in northern Kyūshū, to teach his art to their warriors.^[1] Gonnosuke accepted the invitation and settled down there.

Shintō Musō-ryū survived the abolishment of the samurai in 1877, and the Second World War. With the efforts made by Shiraishi Hanjiro and his successor Takaji Shimizu, the art's 24th and 25th unofficial headmasters, respectively, the art progressed into an international martial art with numerous dojo all over the world.

[edit] Modern day Shintō Musō-ryū

[edit] Jōdo and jōjutsu

Partially due to the fact that Shintō Musō-ryū (SMR) has no single head-organisation or single governing body, there exist no standardized way of conducting training. Individual dojos under individual SMR groups have individual ways of training and even naming the art. As with several other arts, such as iaidō and aikido, Takaji Shimizu decided to rename the art from "jōjutsu" to "jōdō" in 1940. Note that the use of the appellation "jōdō" is not universal for all SMR practitioners. Takaji Shimizu never held a formal position of leader of SMR. The words jōjutsu and jōdō are normally used interchangeably by the various groups.

Forms (kata) and fundamentals (kihon) are at the center of what is taught in SMR, and there exists no form of sparring such as in karate, kendo and judo. For the most part students begin by learning the twelve basic techniques and then progressing into doing forms. There are approximately 64 kata with the jō,^[1][6] although the number can vary from the individual SMR groups and organisations. Sixty-four is the number of jō-kata taught by the groups that follow the teachings of Takaji Shimizu. The assimilated schools incorporate their own sets of forms with their respective weapons.

A normal training session is very systematic with the senior student commanding the pace and direction of the session with the entire group often training as one, especially during warm-ups and drills. A normal session usually begins with a repetition of fundamental exercises for all students. Sometimes drills are added to further sharpen the basic techniques. Drills and kata involving newer students are often performed with a more senior student taking on the role of the attacker, or "attacking sword" (打太刀, uchidachi^?). The practice of forms is conducted under the supervision of a senior student.

In all paired techniques and drills, in addition to the uchidachi, there is always a receiver of the attack, or "recieving sword" (受太刀, shidachi^?). When applicable, the uchidachi is always the senior to the shidachi in terms of experience. This is done as a way to develop the younger shidachi increase his skills by having him face a more experienced and confident swordsman and thus heighten the combative feeling.

[edit] Etiquette and traditions in the dojo

A typical Shintō Musō-ryū dojo practices the same courtesy and manners as found in Japanese society generally, placing great emphasis on etiquette and tradition. In some dojo, Japanese verbal commands are used to guide basics, warm-ups, and the training of the "standard forms" (seiteigata).

The traditional Japanese bow (ritsurei) is generally practiced in all Japanese and Western dojo. Although not all dojo use the exact same routine, they do generally contain the same set of principles. Students bow to the front of the dojo (shōmen) when entering the dojo or leaving it, and to observe the hierarchy with instructors (sensei), seniors (senpai), and juniors (kōhai).

During the practice of basics and kata, certain rules of behaviour are applied when switching positions and weapons between shidachi and uchidachi. This is done in order to have an orderly training session and to reflect manners, as well as for safety. The students bow before and after performing a kata, drill or any other exercise. The switching of weapons is, by tradition and experience, a way to minimize any threatening appearance and show respect for the training partner.

[edit] Forms

Main article: Shintō Musō-ryū Jo Kata

The practice of forms (kata) is an old way of teaching traditional martial arts in Japan, and is the core of many "old school" (koryū) martial arts. Forms are used as a way to teach advanced techniques and maneouvers through a series of scripted movements and actions against one or several opponents. In the majority of the old martial arts, kata are at the center of the art with little or no sparring as compared to modern martial arts (gendai budō) such as karate, kendo or judo.

The modern Shintō Musō-ryū system as taught by students of Takaji Shimizu holds approximately 64 jō-kata divided into several series.^[1][6] A common procedure is for new students to begin their kata training by learning two or more kata from the "standard jō forms" (seitei jōdō) due to their (relative) technical simplicity.

As Shintō Musō-ryū has no current single leader or single school of thought, there exists no consensus on which forms should be taught in what order. The kata series Gohon no midare, was created by Shimizu in the late 1930s and are not part of the original "scroll of transmission" (denshō), which contains the list of official SMR techniques.^[1][6] Thus, the Gohon no midare is not taught in all SMR dojo.^[1][6] The list of kata series below is mainly from the Shimizu line of Shintō Musō-ryū jō techniques.

[edit] Basic techniques

The "basic techniques of striking and thrusting" (kihon no uchi tsuki waza) is a system of twelve techniques drawn from the existing jō kata with minor modifications. They are used as a way to better introduce a new student to jōdō. These basic techniques were not originally part of Shintō Musō-ryū, but were a later addition. The kihon were systemized mainly by Takaji Shimizu^[1] at his Tokyo dojo for the purpose of making jōdō more appealing to new students and easing their introduction to forms training. Shimizu's peer, Kiroku Takayama (Takayama Kiroku), would bring the kihon techniques back to the Fukuoka dojo. Shimizu would eventually remove or modify some of the more dangerous techniques and beginner-level kata so as not to cause injuries to newer students.

The basic techniques are trained both individually (tandoku dosa) and in pairs (sotai dosa), with the "defender" (shidachi) using the jō and the attacker (uchidachi) using a sword. New students normally begin with tandoku dosa, learning the jō first and later switching to the sword, and then finally learning the entire technique with a training partner. The techniques are normally trained in sequence. Again, this is heavily dependent on the routines of the individual dojo.

During the Edo period and well into the 20th century the attacker was always the senior student, with the defender (being the junior), starting and training only the jō techniques for several years before learning the attacker's role. In modern times there has been a noticeable lack of competent swordsman, and this has changed this role.^[1] In modern times, for the most part, a beginner learns both the sword and staff right from the beginning of his training.

The following is the list of the 12 kihon techniques:^[1][6]

1. Honte Uchi
2. Gyakute Uchi
3. Hikiotoshi Uchi
4. Kaeshi Tsuki
5. Gyakute Tsuki
6. Maki Otoshi
7. Kuritsuke
8. Kurihanashi
9. Taiatari
10. Tsuki Hazushi Uchi
11. Dobarai Uchi
12. Tai Hazushi Uchi Migi / Tai Hazushi Uchi Hidari (left and right side)

These twelve basic techniques are used in both Shintō Musō-ryū and in the seitei jōdō of the All Japan Kendo Federation (Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei, ZNKR), although the latter uses a modified version. The seitei jōdō training forms were developed in part by Takaji Shimizu^[1][6] and presented to the ZNKR in the 1960s.

[edit] Seitei Jodo Kata

Main article: Seitei Jodo

The Seitei Jodo kata were developed in part by Shimizu Takaji^[1][6][7]and presented to the All Japan Kendo Federation in the 1960s. Seitei Jodo contains twelve kata. Ten of these kata are drawn from the existing SMR kata with minor modifications, and two other kata created specifically for Seitei Jodo. The two specific Seitei jodo are taught in various SMR dojos outside the main series of Kata.

[edit] Grades - new and classical

For many of the classical martial arts organisations the highest rank available in is the license of complete transmission of the teachings of the system((Menkyo kaiden)), and includes the technical as well as oral tradition. This rank is used in many classical martial arts of Japan. In SMR, the student considered for MK must first attain the separate rank of Menkyo, a process that will take many years depending on the skill, dedication and maturity of the student. Shimizu Takaji himself was issued his MK very early^[8] in his life in comparison to modern western standards.

A person with a fully valid MK has the right to teach the art to whoever he chooses and also holds the right to issue scrolls of transmissions to his students. The MK may also, if he so chooses, implement modifications in the SMR system to techniques or kata. As SMR does not have a single orginasation with a single leader, these changes will only be relevant to the MK's direct students and will not be universal. Instead, every person who has been issued a MK can technically be described as teaching their own variation of the ryu, known as "ha". "Ha" is a variation of a martial arts system taught by a MK but is still a part of the main ryu. If a MK decides to make radical changes to the system, adding/removing parts of the art, he/she will depart from belonging to a -ha and in effect be creating a new style.

A recent example of a -ha turning into its own style is found in the Iaido art Muso Shinden-ryu created by Nakayama Hakudo. Nakayama trained Eishin-ryu iaijutsu and decided to radically modify what he had learned and officially label it Muso Shinden-ryu, thus creating a new style with no official ties to Eishin-ryu.

There are four classical ranks in SMR, although the fourth rank is in two parts; Menkyo and when completely trained the student receives Menkyo Kaiden.^[1]

• Oku-iri-sho - "Certificate of entering oku ('interior')"
• Sho-mokuroku - "First mokuroku (syllabus)."
• Go-mokuroku - "Latter mokuroku"
• Menkyo/Menkyo Kaiden - A scroll awarded after the first of the five Gokui-kata has been taught. Once all five Gokui-kata have been learned the Menkyo scroll is officially stamped by the senior instructor and made into a Menkyo Kaiden.

[edit] Grades in the European Jodo Federation

EJF is headed by Pascal Krieger and incorporates three separate grade systems.^[9]

• 1. The dan/kyu system used in the majority of modern Japanese martial arts today.
• 2. The "Shoden, Chûden and Kuden" system put into effect by Donn F. Draeger.
• 3. The classical system of giving licenses of transmission: "Oku-iri", "Shomokuroku", "Gomokuroku", "Menkyo" and "Menkyo Kaiden".

[edit] Grades in the International Jodo Association

IJA follows the grading system used by Kuroda Ichitaro. Students grade up to 5th dan and thereafter receive licenses of transmission. Students must also grade with the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei in the Seitei series of Kata.

• 1. The dan/kyu system. Grades are issued up to 5th dan.
• 2. The classical system of giving licenses of transmission: "Oku-iri", "Shomokuroku", "Gomokuroku", "Menkyo" and "Menkyo Kaiden".

[edit] Grades in the Nihon Jodokai

NJK is headed by Kaminoda Tsunemori and incorporates two separate grade-systems.^[10]

• 1. The classical system of giving licenses of transmission: "Oku-iri", "Shomokuroku", "Gomokuroku", "Menkyo" and "Menkyo Kaiden".
• 2. A new system developed by Kaminoda Tsunemoris jo-organisation to replace the Dan/Kyu-system. The new system involves three ranks in three jo-kata series, Omote, Chudan and Kage, afterwhich the classical grade-system is used.

Ranks attainable in the Omote-series

• Omote waza Sho Kyu
• Omote waza Chu Kyu
• Omote waza Jo Kyu

Ranks attainable in the Chudan-series

• Chudan waza Sho Kyu
• Chudan waza Chu Kyu
• Chudan waza Jo Kyu

Ranks attainable in the Kage-series

• Kage waza Sho Kyu
• Kage waza Chu Kyu
• Kage waza Jo Kyu

Classical rank-system

• Okuirisho
• Shomokuroku
• Gomokuroku
• Menkyo
• Menkyo Kaiden

[edit] Grades in Seitei-Jodo

The Seitei Jodo system has a dan/kyu system but due to different grade demands the Seitei jo rank is not valid as a SMR rank. The system also includes renshi, kyoshi, and hanshi ranks.

[edit] Weapons and training gear

[edit] Jo - The staff of Shinto Muso-ryu

• The Jo is featured in several Japanese martial arts. For more information see the Jodo article.

Essentially the Jo is a wooden staff approx 128 cm long, although just like with a sword the length was customized to suit the wielder in the Edo Period. The jo is used in several gendai and koryu martial arts such as aikido and Tendo-ryu respectively.

According to legend, Gonnosuke was inspired to create and use the Jo from a divine vision^[1] some time after he was defeated by Miyamoto Musashi in a duel. In this vision, a divine being in the form of a child appeared, brandishing a stick (or log in one version) and proclaiming "maruki o motte, suigetsu o shire" ("Holding a round stick, know the suigetsu"). The jo, however, as a simple staff or walking-stick cannot be claimed to have a single inventor.

The jo, like its larger sibling the Bo, was never an effective killing-weapon on the battlefield in comparison to the sword, spear and bow to name a few. Although the jo and most other staves could be used to lethal effect when thrust at vital points of the body, when faced with a fully armoured opponent those vital points would in most cases be covered by armour-plating. As a result there were very few ryu that were dedicated to the staff-arts in the warring era with other more effective weapons were available. There are several ryu that include jo-techniques in its system. One example is the jo-tradition found in the koryu art Tendo-ryu Naginatajutsu, founded in 1582. In Tendo-ryu, which uses the Naginata as the primary weapon, there are techniques with the jo that simulates a scenario where the naginata has been cut in two and the wielder has to defend himself with the staff-portion only. With the onset of peace with the start of the Edo-period (1603-1867), the conflicts with heavy armoured warriors became a thing of the past. In this era, the jo-art would come into its own against non-armoured samurai, bandits and other opponents.

Various other martial arts also include elements of jo not necessarily related to Shinto Muso-ryu. One of the most famous promoter of the jo outside of Shinto Muso-ryu in modern times, and indeed in the martial arts community as a whole, was the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. Ueshiba trained in a variety of ryu including Yagyu swordsmanship, but is not known to have trained in Shinto Muso-ryu.^[8] Ueshiba also used the longstaff bo to perform the same techniques.

[edit] Ken - The sword of Shinto Muso-ryu

• The Ken is featured in several Japanese martial arts. For more information see the Kenjutsu article.

The Japanese katana, with its long history and many variations, has a prominent role in Shinto Muso-ryu. In the early Edo period the katana and the shorter wakizashi were the weapons of choice for samurai during their regular duties. On the battlefield, the slightly longer and more curved tachi would be used. In SMR the katana is the weapon used, but for training purposes a bokken (wooden sword) is used to minimize risk of injuries. Every training sequence (kata) starts with the swordsman, called Uchidachi, attacking the defender (shidachi), who in turn defeats his opponent. In addition to the Katana (long sword), wakizashi/kodachi (short sword) is also used. In some of the jo and ken kata of SMR, the long sword is used in tandem (called Nito) with the short sword and sometimes with just the short sword. In addition to the sword training provided in jo-kata, an addition of twelve kenjutsu-kata were added during the course of SMR history^[1] in order for jodoka to further develop and sharpen their skill with the sword.

In several SMR dojos today, and in many martial arts dojos in general, the practitioner is encouraged to train in the separate sword art iaido, the way of drawing and handling the Japanese sword, as another way to increase the student's skill with the sword for more effective use in Jodo.

[edit] Clothing

In the majority of dojos today, the jodoka essentially uses the same clothing as practitioners of kendo, minus the armour and other protective padding: A blue/indigo uwagi (jacket), an obi (belt, often the same type as used in iaido), a blue or black hakama (wide trousers used by samurai). The type of clothing worn is not universal for all SMR dojos. In some dojos, which in addition to jodo also may also have aikido practitioners, the white keikogi and regular white trousers are allowed. All-white keikogi and hakama are also used in various dojos and/or on special occasions such as public demonstrations or competitions.⁴

[edit] Fuzoku Ryuha (Assimilated schools) of Shinto Muso-ryu

The 64 jo-kata of the modern SMR-system is divided into eight sets that comprises the core of training modern Shinto Muso-ryu. From the Edo->period to the Meiji-period, several other arts were assimilated {fuzoku} into Shinto Muso-ryu and were meant to be trained alongside the main jo -forms. Those arts that survived to this day have their own separate kata and ryu name, but are generally not taught outside the Shinto Muso-ryu system and are considered a separate entity and thus are called "Fuzoku Ryuha". Over the years several lineages of Gonnosuke's original art have added or dropped other Fuzuku Ryuha.^[1]

In the third or fourth generation after Muso Gonnosuke, (though sometimes specifically credited^[6] to the third headmaster Matsuzaki Kinueumon Tsunekatsu), two new arts were integrated Shinto Muso-ryu. In the many SMR dojo, the assimilated arts are not normally taught to a student until he/she has reached a designated level of experience & expertise with kihon and a certain level of proficiency in the jodo kata.

[edit] Ittatsu-ryu Hojojutsu

Main article: Ittatsu-ryu Hojojutsu

A school of restraining a person using cord or rope for use by police forces of the Edo-period and up to modern times. Matsuzaki Kinueumon Tsunekatsu, the third headmaster is sometimes credited^[6] with creating and adding the Ittatsu-ryu to the main SMR system.

[edit] Ikkaku-ryu juttejutsu

Main article: Ikkaku-ryu juttejutsu

A school of using the Edo period police weapon known as jutte in tandem with the tessen against a swordsman. Ikkaku-ryu uses a rope measuring 5 meters in length.^[6] Hojojutsu as a method to restrain a suspect were dominant in Japan until the 1950s when handcuffs became part of the policemans equipment. The third headmaster, Matsuzaki Kinueumon Tsunekatsu, is sometimes credited^[6] with creating and adding the Ikkaku-ryu to the SMR system.

[edit] Isshin-ryu kusarigamajutsu

Main article: Isshin-ryu kusarigamajutsu

The integrated school of handling the chain and sickle weapon. It was added to Shinto Muso-ryu by Shiraishi Hanjiro.^[1] He received a Menkyo in Isshin-ryu kusarigamajutsu from one of the arts exponents, Morikata Heisaku,^[1] and would later transmit the Isshin-ryu tradition to his own students including Shimizu Takaji.

[edit] Shinto-ryu Kenjutsu (or Kasumi Shinto-ryu

Main article: Kasumi Shinto-ryu

A collection of eight long-sword and four short-sword kata, including one two-sword kata, found in the SMR-tradition. Neither the twelve kata nor the art itself did not have any known name in the SMR-tradition until the mid-19th century when "Shinto-ryu Kenjutsu" started to be used and specific names for each of the twelve kata. In the 20th century, "Kasumi Shinto-ryu" has surfaced as the original name for the twelve kata as taught in the SMR-system, though it is as of yet not an official name. ⁶

[edit] Uchida Ryu Tanjojutsu - (Sutekki-jutsu)

Main article: Uchida Ryu Tanjojutsu

The art of using the tanjo, (a 90 cm staff), that were originally created by SMR menkyo Uchida Ryogoro in the late 1800s.^[1][6] The twelve kata, which at the time of their inception were loosely organised into a system called "sutteki-jutsu", were derived mainly from SMR-Jo and Ikkaku-ryu techniques.^[1] Sutteki-jutsu was further developed by his son Uchida Royhei, who sytstemized his father's work and brought about the modern Uchida-ryu Tanjojutsu system. The art was first known as Sutekki-Jutsu and later named Uchida-ryu in honor of its creator. The art was adopted into SMR to be taught alongside the other arts. Chuwa-ryu tankenjutsu is another name used for this art.

[edit] Weapons for integrated arts

Just like with the Jo, the weapons found in the integrated arts were not inventions of Shinto Muso-ryu headmasters, but had been created and used long before they were chosen to be taught alongside the Shinto Muso-ryu Jo.^[1]

[edit] Jutte(jitte) and tessen

• The Jutte is featured in several Japanese martial arts. For more information see the Jutte article.

The jutte (or jitte) was a widespread Edo period police weapon used to control, disarm and subdue a criminal who would most likely be armed with a sword, without killing him (except in extreme situations). There exists at least 200 known^[6] variations of the jutte. The jutte used in SMR is approx 45 cm in length.^[6] In the integrated art of Ikkaku-ryu juttejutsu, the tessen, or war fan, approximately 30 cm in length, is used in tandem with the jutte in some of the kata.

[edit] Kusarigama

• The Kusarigama is featured in several Japanese martial arts. For more information see the Kusarigama article.

The Kusarigama is a chain-and-sickle weapon. The weapon is used in several ryu and the design varies from school to school. The kusarigama used in Isshin-ryu has a straight, double-edged 30 cm blade with a wooden shaft approx 36 cm^[6] long with an iron guard to protect the hand. The Kusari (chain) has a heavy iron weight and is attached to the kama (sickle). The chain is 12 shaku long^[6] (3.6 meters) and the attached weight can be thrown against an opponent's weapon or hands, either disarming him or otherwise preventing him from properly defending himself against the kama. In some kata, the iron weight is thrown at the attackers body causing injury or stunning the opponent. The kusarigama also has non-lethal kata designed to trap and apprehend a swordsman using the long chain as a restraint. A famous user of the kusarigama outside of Shinto Muso-ryu was Shishido Baiken, who was killed in a duel with the legendary Miyamoto Musashi. During kata practice a safer, all-wooden version, (except the metal handguard), is used with softer materials replacing the chain and weight.

[edit] Tanjo

The tanjo (literary short jo^[6]) is a 90 cm short staff used in the assimilated art Uchida Ryu Tanjojutsu. Although of the same length, the tanjo should not be confused with the hanbo, which is used in other martial arts. The modern tanjo is the same width as a standard jo. The tanjo of the Meiji era were thicker at the top and thinner at the bottom,^[6] as was the design of the walking-stick at the time. The original inspiration for the tanjo was the western walking-stick which soon found a practical use in self-defense in the Meiji era.

[edit] Organisations

After the death of Shimizu Takaji in 1978, SMR in Toyko was left without a clear leader or appointed successor. This led to a splintering of the SMR dojos in Japan, and eventually all over the world.

[edit] Japan and the Pacific

All Japan Jodo Federation (located in Japan)

International Jodo Federation (General Worldwide Headquarters located in Japan)

International Jodo Association (Association of former students of Kuroda Ichitaro, located in Japan).

Besides the Shinto Muso-ryu groups in Tokyo and Fukuoka, there are groups in Aichi and Osaka.

[edit] Europe and Africa

In 1979 the "Association helvétique de Jodo" came to be in by SMR student Pascal Krieger and other European Jodoka. Because of this new organisation's quick growth, it was necessary to create a larger entity in which to contain the activities of the European jodoka. The AHJ would in 1983 evolve into what is today the European Jodo Federation, a member of the larger International Jodo Federation, originally headed by the famed martial artist Donn F. Draeger. (work in progress)

[edit] North and South America

USA Jodo Federation (located in Jacksonville, Florida)

Pan American Jo-do Federation (located in Woodinville, Washington) (work in progress)

[edit] Notable Shinto Muso-ryu practitioners

• Donn F. Draeger (1922-1982) - U.S. Menkyo of TSKR and Menkyo of SMR (the latter awarded posthumously)^[11][12] - The first foreign student of Shimizu Takaji and the first foreign Menkyo of Katori Shinto-ryu.
• Hosho Shiokawa - Japanese Menkyo SMR - Student of Shimizu Takaji and Nakajima Asakichi - Head of Shiokawa-ha of SMR - 15th Soke of Mugai-ryu Iaido.
• Kaminoda Tsunemori - Japanese Menkyo SMR - Student of Shimizu Takaji - Head of the Nihon Jodokai and the Zoshokan temple dojo in Tokyo^[11] - Recognised headmaster of Isshin-ryu Kusarigamajutsu and Shinto-ryu Kenjutsu (within the SMR system).
• Kuroda Ichitaro (1911-2000) - Japanese Menkyo SMR - Most senior student of Shimizu Takaji - At time of death held 10th dan simultaneously in Kendo, Jodo, Iaido and Shodo.
• Matsui Kenji - Japanese Menkyo SMR Fukuoka line - Menkyo of Asayama Ichiden-ryu - student of Shimizu Takaji and Otofuji Ichizô - Scholar and author of several works on SMR-history and lineage.
• Matsumura Shigehiro - Japanese Menkyo SMR Fukuoka line - student of Shimizu Takaji and Otofuji Ichizô - Head of the Kobujodokai organisation.^[13]
• Nakayama Hakudo (1873-1958) - Japanese Martial Artist - Student of Shiriashi Hanjiro^[5] - Founder of Muso Shinden-ryu iaido - Held Hanshi rank in SMR.
• Nishioka Tsuneo - Japanese Menkyo SMR^[14][2] - student of Shimizu Takaji, founder of the SMR-group "Sei ryu kai"^[15] - technical advisor to European Jodo Federation since 1994.
• Otofuji Ichizô (1899-1998) - Japanese Menkyo SMR - Student of Shiraishi Hanjiro - Upheld the Fukuoka SMR Jo tradition.
• Pascal Krieger - Swiss Menkyo SMR - Student of Shimizu Takaji - founder of the European Jodo Federation,^[16] president of the International Jodo Federation.
• Phil Relnick - US Menkyo in SMR and TSKR^[17]- Student of Nishioka Tsuneo and Shimizu Takaji - Pan-American Jo Federation.^[18].
• Steven Bellamy - GB Menkyo SMR - Student of Shimizu Takaji and Kuroda Ichitaro - International Jodo Association. Hanshi 8th dan Muso Shinden-ryu Iaido.^[19]

• SMR= Shinto Muso-ryu
• TSKR= Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu

[edit] Footnotes

• Note 1: The names Shinto and Shindo, as used in Shinto Muso-ryu, are both equally correct. Different SMR-groups use the name Shinto or Shindo depending on their own tradition, no sort of consensus has been made as to which name should be used.
• Note 4: Competitions are held in Seitei Jodo only. Seitei Jodo holds competitions on which the performance of the uchidachi and shidachi are judged when performing kata. Shinto Muso-ryu holds no competitions of any sort.'
• Note 5: A more modern example of jo-usage in police-forces is "Keijojutsu". In 1927 Shimizu Takaji and Kenichi Takayama presented a set of jo-techniques named Keijojutsu to the "National Police Agency" in Tokyo for use by the riot-police.
• Note 6: The name "Kasumi" Shinto-ryu is not the universal way of naming the 12 sword kata. The discovery of the name "Kasumi" was made from recent research into the history of Shinto Muso-ryu but is yet to be confirmed. The most common and older way of naming the 12 sword kata in SMR is "Shinto-ryu Kenjutsu" or the longer "Shinto Muso-ryu Kenjutsu".
• Note 7: The various stances in different martial arts are not necessarily identical even though sharing the same name.
• Note 8: The number of headmasters is counted by combining all the known headmasters of all the branches of Shinto Muso-ryu Jodo including the founder of Katori Shinto-ryu, the latter which the founder of SMR also held a Menkyo Kaiden.^[20]

[edit] See also

• Bujutsu/Budo - The "Way of War" or the "Way of the warrior".
• Daimyo - The feudal landowner of feudal Japan. Employed samurai as warriors in a vassal/lord relationship to both protect and expand the Daimyos domains before and during the Sengoku Jidai period. The Daimyo as a position lasted until the Meiji restoration and abolishment of the feudal system.
• Iaido/Iaijutsu - Martial Art - The art of drawing the Japanese sword.
• Koryu - A term used to describe Japanese martial arts created before the 1868 Meiji restoration. Any art created that was created post-1868, such as Judo, Karate, Aikido, Taido, are considered to be Gendai Budo. Karate, although preceding 1868, does not qualify as koryu due to the fact it did not evolve in Japan but on the Ryūkyū Islands (modern Okinawa Prefecture) which did not become a part of Japan until the 17th century.
• Samurai - The warrior elite of feudal Japan. The Samurai caste was abolished in the Meiji restoration's aftermath.
• Seitei Jodo - Modern, compact version of SMR with 12 kata taught in the Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei.

[edit] Other

Ryu from the Kuroda-han area.

• Ise Jitoku Tenshin-ryu
• Jigo Tenshin-ryu
• Shiten-ryu (Hoshino-ha)
• Sosuishi ryu
• Takenouchi Santo-ryu

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo Information
• Official European Jôdô Federation site (French)(English)
• Official Sei Ryu Kai website (English) (Japanese) (Spanish)
• Official Pan-American Jo Federation Site (English)
• Beikoku Rembukan (US) (English)
• Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo on the Net (English)
• Swiss Jodo & Iaido information portal (French)(English)
• Japanese Shindo Muso-ryu Jodo info site (Japanese)