Jōdō

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Jōdō technique
Jōdō in Kanji

Jōdō [ dʒoːdoː ] ( Japanese 杖 道 ) is an old Japanese martial art with the Jō , a hardwood stick made of Japanese oak 128 cm long ( 4 Shaku, 2 Sun, 1 Bu ) and with a diameter of 2.4 cm (8 Bu ). The practitioner of Jōdō is called Jōdōka.

Jōdō is an independent, self-contained martial art. So the Jō in Jōdō is used exclusively for defense against the Japanese sword ( katana ). A katana cut can make a Jō unusable, but it can hardly cut through; conversely, a trained jōdōka is able to break a katana with a jō blow or to hit a fatal body hit, for example to the temple or the solar plexus ( solar plexus ). During training, the katana is simulated by a wooden bokken .

Delimitation : The Jō is the same instrument as it is also used in other Japanese martial arts, for example in Aikidō. However, the objective in dealing with the Jō is different in these disciplines.

Emergence

Jōdō was founded around 1605 by the samurai Muso Gonnosuke. Tradition reports that Muso Gonnosuke was undefeated as a swordsman until he met Miyamoto Musashi and found himself helpless against his superior swordsmanship . He then meditated until he had an inspiration in a dream and then developed the Jō . Accordingly, his new martial art was later called Shindo Muso Ryu (also Shinto Muso Ryu ) (roughly: Muso school of the heavenly path).

techniques

The Jō is approx. 30 cm longer than a katana, but significantly lighter and shorter and therefore more agile than a Bō . It is also carried with both hands; you can put your hands around, turn the jō, or let it slide back and forth.

The Jō is performed differently depending on the target of the blow or punch:

  • To prevent a sword strike, the Jō is led across or under the sword handle or the wrists of the attacker and pushes them down or up. The working point is the length of the Jō.
  • To ward off the sword, the Jō is struck in a diagonal curve that meets tangentially with the sword strike and thus deflects the sword sideways. The working point is the front quarter of the Jō.
  • To attack the opponent, the Jō is hit in a curve to the temple or pushed to the solar plexus or to the eyes. The working point is the front edge of the Jō.

The workout

Jōdō is practiced in the dōjō . A smooth wooden floor is ideal. The traditional training uniform consists of a dark blue kendō jacket and a dark blue hakama . Common is the combination of a white Uwagi jacket with blue or black hakama.

As is typical for the Koryū schools, Jōdō is taught in the form of Kata as a partner exercise: The teacher takes on the role of the attacker with a bokken ( Uchidachi = "striking sword"), the student ( Shidachi = "executing sword") practices the Kata with the Jō. Later the student learns to take over the sword side.

The Kihon

Before the actual kata, the student practices the kihon (= basic forms). These are 12 forms that were distilled out of the Jō-Kata by Shimizu Takaji around 1929 as elementary components. The Kihon are first trained as an individual exercise ( Kihon tandoku ) and then as a partner exercise ( Kihon sōtai ) together with a Uchidachi with Bokken .

In the training of the Kihon and the Kata, strict adherence to the form is observed: the sequence and correct execution of all movements are precisely defined.

There are 12 Kihon techniques:

  • Honte Uchi ( 本 手 打 )
  • Gyakute Uchi ( 逆 手 打 )
  • Hiki Otoshi Uchi ( 引 落 打 )
  • Kaeshi Tsuki ( 返 し 突 )
  • Gyakute Tsuki ( 逆 手 突 )
  • Maki Otoshi ( 巻 落 )
  • Kuri Tsuke ( 繰 付 )
  • Kuri Hanashi ( 繰 放 )
  • Tai Atari ( 体 当 )
  • Tsuki Hazushi Uchi ( 突 外 打 )
  • Dobarai Uchi ( 胴 払 打 )
  • Tai Hazushi Uchi ( 体外 打 )

The kata

Each kata follows a fixed pattern: greeting; Taking the starting position; Attack of the uchidachi ; Defense by Shidachi with counter-attack and threats to the Uchidachi (further attacks and defense if necessary); Uchidachi signals that he is giving up; both sides withdraw to their starting positions and say hello.

There are 7 series of Jō-Kata in increasing difficulty:

  • 12 kata omote (= front)
  • 12 Kata chudan (= intermediate level)
  • 2 Kata ran-ai (= disorder-harmony)
  • 12 kata kage (= shadow)
  • 6 kata samidare (= May rain )
  • 5 Kata gohon no midare (= rain of the 5 roots (?))
  • 12 kata okuden (= hidden / secret)

The gohon no midare series was only developed by Shimizu Takaji around 1939.

The Seitei-gata

The above-mentioned Shindo Muso Ryū kata are also known as the Koryū kata . From these kata, 12 kata were selected by the Nihon Kendo Federation , which serve as Seitei-gata (fixed kata) to give the students of other Budō disciplines - especially Kendō - an introduction to the Jōdō forms. (There is also another series of Seitei-gata as an introduction to the swordsmanship Iaidō .) These Seitei-gata are also not completely identical to the underlying Koryū-Kata; in particular, the performer's attitude is more open to the attacker.

The Seitei Kata are called:

  • Tsuki Zue ( 着 杖 )
  • Suigetsu ( 水月 )
  • Hissage ( 引 提 )
  • Shamen ( 斜面 )
  • Sakan ( 左 貫 )
  • Monomi ( 物 見 )
  • Kasumi ( 霞 )
  • Tachi Otoshi ( 太 刀 落 )
  • Rai Uchi ( 雷 打 )
  • Seigan ( 正 眼 )
  • Midare Dome ( 乱 留 )
  • Ran Ai ( 乱 合 )

The special kata

As a typical Koryu school, Shindo Muso Ryu is practice-oriented and eclectic . In the course of time, not only were the kata adapted (see above), but other budo systems were also integrated. The corresponding kata are usually reserved for advanced jōdōka only.

sword

Since Jōdō teaches defense against an attack with the katana , the school must also be able to represent a realistic sword attack ; this is taught in a series of 12 Kata Shinto Ryu Kenjutsu . Of these, 8 kata are to be performed with the katana, 4 kata with the wakizashi (short sword approx. 60 cm long).

The founder, Muso Gonnosuke, already had a license to teach Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu ( "TSKSR" ), one of the oldest Japanese sword fighting traditions . The current Kata are historically associated with this TSKSR tradition, but differ greatly from today's forms of TSKSR . It is unclear whether this is due to the influence of other schools, to different branches of tradition or to further development of the forms over time.

Bondage: Hojōjutsu

Shackling was an intersection of martial arts and etiquette:

  • The defeated opponent should be securely fixed;
  • this restraint should not only be effective, but also symmetrical and aesthetically pleasing;
  • after all , in the Tokugawa corporate state, every social class had to be identified by a specific type of bondage.

Hojōjutsu was also a skill of Japanese police officers until the mid-20th century.

Probably through Matsuaki Kinzaemon, a direct student of Muso Gonnosuke, the Ittatsu - Ryu school of fetters was brought into the Shindo Muso Ryu. A cord approx. 5 m long and 3–4 mm thick is used.

There are three series of Hojōjutsu -Kata:

  • 9 cata ge (= below),
  • 8 kata chu (= middle),
  • 8 kata jo (= above).

Sword Breaker: Jitte

The jitte is a metal rod approx. 45 cm long with a fork on the side above the handle (comparable to a one-sided sai ). In particular, it was used by the police officers under the Tokugawa Shogunate to break an attacker's sword with a blow or to catch it and, if possible, to wrench it out of his hand.
There are a series of 12 Kata for jutte from the Ikkake Ryu School, which was also founded by Matsuaki Kinzaemon (see. To "bondage").

Chain sickle: Kusarigama

The Kusarigama is a combination weapon made from a sickle ( Kama ) and a metal ball connected by a chain. The Koryu schools use different forms of this weapon. The Jodo-Kusarigama consists of a handle approx. 40 cm long with a straight double-edged blade that protrudes at right angles and approx. 30 cm long. Both are connected by a curved bracket. At the lower end of the handle is a chain about 3.60 m long, which is weighted at the end with a metal ball. (For the other types of Kusarigama, the blade and chain are usually attached to the same end of the handle.)

As a multifunctional weapon, the Kusarigama is suitable for cutting and stabbing; the opponent can be injured or even stunned by throwing the (retrievable) ball; An enemy weapon can be captured and immobilized with the chain. Due to this variety of uses and the large range of the chain, the Kusarigama fighter could be dangerous even for good swordsmen. However, it requires space and is therefore less suitable for military use, but above all for disputes in the open air and between individuals.

Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo knows 3 series of Kata for the Kusarigama :

  • 12 kata omote (= front)
  • 12 kata ura (= on the back)
  • 6 kata okuden (= hidden)

Short stick: Tanjo

Around the second half of the 19th century, Shindo Muso Ryu adopted a new art that arose from the encounter with the western cane. The new art, which was initially called Sutekki-jutsu ("Stick-jutsu"), is said to have been invented by Uchida Ryogoro, who also introduced it to Shindo Muso Ryu classes. Unlike the Jō, the Tanjo is almost exclusively performed with one hand. Today no walking stick is used, but a straight stick approx. 90 cm long.
The Uchida Ryu Tanjo-jutsu is a series of 12 kata. See also Hanbō .

literature

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