Jodo – The Way of the Stick – is a traditional Japanese fighting art which uses a staff. The Jo is still in use today by the Japanese police and is considered a symbol of authority. Learn the basics of this art in this four hour seminar taught by Michael Belzer-Sensei.

May 18th, 2025
10:00am - 2:00pm
$25.00

Jodo – “The Way of the Stick” is a traditional Japanese fighting art which uses a 4 ft. staff against a wooden training sword, known as a bokken, in a series of pre-arranged forms known as kata.

The jo gained fame in the year 1605 when it was used in a duel, against the most famous swordsman in Japan, Musashi Miyamoto by the founder of Shindo Muso Ryu, Muso Gonnosuke. Musashi suffered his only defeat (in more than 60 contests, often ending in death) as Muso wielded his new weapon, the jo against Musashi’s famous “two sword” style.  Over 400 years later, the jo is still being put to practical use today by the Tokyo Riot Police.  The police use Shindo Muso Ryu as their training method for the jo.

Training with weapons will develop your intensity, power, focus and awareness in ways that empty hand training cannot do.  In this four hour workshop you will learn some of the basic strikes, training drills and kata of jodo.  You will also be introduced to the traditional customs, precepts and etiquette of a famous koryu –  “old flow” fighting art of Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu.