Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo

2004-11-20T12:38:00.000+10:00

Jodo at Mt Fuji

Japan

2004-10-26T20:44:00.000+10:00

Sensei sent us a note from Japan.

He says training is of a high standard. I'm sure that means hard.

It will be interesting when he returns.

Entering Techniques

2004-10-16T22:53:00.000+10:00

I was shown how the entering technique of Irimi is used in kenjutsu.

Using irimi while blocking the attack, you put yourself almost behind the attacker. Thus, allowing yourself to attack and complete the movement.

There is so much that can be applied to this movement. So much to study.

Sensei's Shugyo

2004-10-04T20:02:00.000+10:00

Our teacher has left for Japan for 4 weeks.

There he will visit Sensei Nishioka's dojo to train and learn, returning to share his knowledge with us. Meanwhile we will continue to train under the guidance of the seniors.

Recently a former student visited the dojo. He has been living in Japan for the past 3 years and training full time in jodo. He shared some excellent knowledge with us. It really opens your eyes to the fine points of kata and makes you realise how far you still have to go.

It will be interesting to see what our teacher has to say when he returns.

Progression

2004-09-19T21:16:00.000+10:00

I've been shown nearly all of Seitei kata set now.

I'm hesitant to say that I've learnt it but I guess that we never consider ourselves to be good, no matter what level we reach. There's only one more kata left for me to see and then I will prepare for the Omote set.

The kata are getting interesting now. Obviously Seitei is for beginners and the early kata are fairly basic, but the last few have quite a number of moves and they make me concentrate a lot more. There's 12 kata that make up the set. The Omote kata set also comprise of another 12.

I like jodo and I'm starting to see all the kenjutsu that's hidden in the jo kata. Kenjutsu is what jodo has come from and eventually what jo goes back to. So we are told. I think it will be many years before any of us see the full circle of learning.

Anyway, for now, I enjoy what I do.

Thinking of Concepts

2004-09-10T19:31:00.000+10:00

I find it harder to write for this blog.

Because Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo doesn't have any gradings there is no monthly build up like in other martial arts. It's easy to write for my other blogs, usually they are entries on my preparation for an event.

This is more challenging as I'm not building up to anything. I have to find where my focus is with this training. I think I have to look more inside myself.

Kata

2004-09-04T19:42:00.000+10:00

Good kata practice today. I learnt two new ones, the names of which I can't remember.

Next week I'm going to take a notebook to training and write down all the names of the kata I have learnt. It's time I know the names as well as the movements.

Kihon Practice

2004-09-01T22:55:00.000+10:00

Did some good kihon practice last Saturday. Two hours of solid work.

It's good that we are getting back to basics, establishing a firm foundation on which to build. I think I feel improvement, but it is hard to tell.

Monday night at kenjutsu some of the sword movements felt good. Smooth and strong. Hopefully a sign of progression.

Saturday Training

2004-08-21T21:24:00.000+10:00

Had a good session today with jo kata.

I went through everything I know but the last kata especially was a bit hazy as I have only been shown it at my last jo class.

We also did some good kihon practice which I haven't done in a while. I felt pretty rusty, we need to do that more often, every class in fact. I felt really tired by the end of class.

Even though Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo is not an aerobically intensive style, it really works your shoulders and back muscles. My shoulder were burning during kihon. Tonight my traps and back feel a little stiff, but it's all good.

Tanjo Techniques

2004-08-20T22:14:00.000+10:00

Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo is more than just jo.

There is, of course, kenjutsu, but then there is other weapons syllabus as well.

The other night at kenjutsu training we spent the last half hour doing tanjo.

The tanjo is about the size of a walking stick. Very practical, it is a modern addition to the system appearing in the 1800's due to the modernisation of Japanese society and Western influence.

I enjoyed it very much and look forward to more. This system is so fascinating.

Back to Training

2004-08-15T20:39:00.000+10:00

Training has been on and off while I've been on holidays.

Now I'm returning to my regular schedule and back into serious training.

I feel like I have a bit to catch up on.
Kenjutsu Monday night.

In Harmony

2004-08-09T00:14:00.000+10:00

Sensei Nishioka with Senior Teaching Assistant Arai San.

Good Training

2004-08-02T22:48:00.000+10:00

I've had some good training this week.

Saturday was Jo. I went through all the sword side of the kata, picked up heaps of fine points which I've now forgotten. I shouldn't say that. I do remember some.

Footwork is so important in this. What's fascinating is that it is so simple but feels so hard to do. Just stand naturally is what they teach, but I always have this inclination to move into other positions. These are bad habits from other styles that teach you to move like a robot. I just need to relax, let it happen.

Tonight was kenjutsu, heaps of kata work. I had a good night tonight and got a few questions answered. I feel like I've walked away with a little bit of knowledge. I'll work on it in the backyard.

Back to Basics

2004-07-31T10:28:00.000+10:00

I'll return to training today.

I've been doing some work in the backyard but I forget stuff so quickly. I need to keep focusing on the kihon. I need to make that my foundation and the rest should naturally build on top.

Looking forward to this afternoon.

Holidays

2004-07-25T00:33:00.000+10:00

We have a break from training this week.

Sensei is away at a seminar or something, so we are left to our own devices. I did some work in the backyard. Just the warmups and the kihon, although I think I left something out and invented something new. This can happen when you learn a new style.

Not to worry. As long as I do something I will stay in touch with the training.

Shinto Ryu Kenjutsu

2004-07-21T21:18:00.000+10:00

There is a seperate syllabus for the sword in Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo.

It is called Shinto Ryu Kenjutsu. This is the original style that the jo came from. We practice this on a separate night so that we can have a total focus on the sword work. There are 12 kata to learn as well as some other kihon exercises.

I like spending a whole night on this, I find it really helps when we go back to the jo kata. I've been shown all 12 kata now, so it's now up to me to keep working on the movements and eventually, raise the intensity and make it more real. Once we get better at the kata we will probably move onto real battle applications.

Lately on the kenjutsu night, towards the end of class, Sensei has started showing us some tanjo techniques. The tanjo is about the size of a walking stick and has its own kata set to learn. At the moment it's the seniors that are using the tanjo and I take the bokken.

There's so much to this system. I'm anxious to learn.

Shadows in the Park

2004-07-18T21:24:00.000+10:00

I've been training in Jodo for approximately 6 months now. I love it.

This is koryu training, so there's no belts, no dans, no gradings.
Just kata training.

I think this is just the best way to train. You keep your focus on what you are currently doing, not what you need to learn next. Progression is natural, when you are ready the Sensei will show you the next kata.

At the moment we have been training outdoors in the afternoon. It's good having the grass under your feet, the sun in the corner of your eye, the wind. Everything is natural and I think about training in the old days. The dojo was where ever you were. No ornate shrines or buildings, just training.

It's a hard school, I'm impressed with their attitude.
I look forward to learning more.

Sensei Nishioka

2004-07-17T21:57:00.000+10:00

Sensei Nishioka, Hanshi, Sei Ryu Kai Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo.
Background is Arai san, Senior Teaching Assistant.