Manuals
.
kenshi 24/7 Published on
A Lineage all but Forgotten: The Yushinkan (Nakayama Hakudo)
By Jeffrey Karinja, In history, iaido, kendo, kenshi
Publications
14
February
Popular articles
Kyoto Taikai 2017
Nito-ryu kendo - a brief discussion
Butokuden godogeiko
https://kenshi247.net/blog/2011/02/14/a-lineage-all-but-forgotten-the-yushinkan-nakayama-hakudo/ 19/04/2018, 21A54 Page 1 of 49
Shinto-muso-ryu
Jo No Hinkaku
( The Dignity of the Jo )
By Koichi Hamaji
www.misogi.org
1
Contents
Foreword ............................................................................................................................ 2
Photograph of Koichi Hamaji Shihan .................................................................................. 4
Biographical Outline of Koichi Hamaji Shihan .................................................................... 5
Photograph of Gerald Toff .................................................................................................. 6
Biographical Outline of Gerald Toff .................................................................................. 7
Dialogue between Hamaji Shihan and Gerald Toff .............................................................. 8
The Thirteen Golden Rules of Jo and their Meanings ........................................................ 26
Afterword by the Translator .............................................................................................. 42
www.misogi.org
2
Foreword
It has been 23 years since my father and Jo teacher died. During those 23 years,
the older generations of Shinto-muso-ryu Jo practitioners and sensei have been
replaced by new ones. Even people born after World War II are practicing
traditional Japanese martial arts. Today, some martial arts have become sports.
It is good that the martial arts, including Jo, are gaining popularity. Yet I am
afraid that the true spirit of bushido1 which our ancestors have handed down to our
generation, and which we must hand down for posterity, has been neglected.
Recently, tape recordings of conversations between the late Mr. Gerald Toff and
various jō (staff) masters2 were found among Mr. Toff’s belongings. With his
wife’s co-operation, I borrowed the tape of a conversation between Mr. Toff and my
father and made a transcription of the recording. It is my pleasure that this
transcription is published under the name of Shintō Muso Ryu Jō no Hinkaku (The
Dignity of Jō).
The tape says that the conversation was recorded on January 3 of Showa 52
(1977), when Mr. Toff visited my father in Obu City to express his New Year’s
greetings and dine with him.
In addition to being a university professor, Mr. Toff was also a researcher of
Japanese martial arts and a well-known English sumo commentator for oversea
audiences of NHK-BS television broadcasting.
In this book, my father describes 1) how bushi (warriors) lived their lives; 2)
how Jo masters practiced Jo during the Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), and
1 Bushido, meaning "Way of the Warrior," is the Japanese moral code of the samurai class. It is
loosely analogous to the concept of chivalry. Based on Confucian ideas, it originated in the Kamakura
period and reached perfection in the Edo period (1603-1867). It stresses loyalty, self-sacrifice, justice,
sense of shame, refined manners, purity, modesty, frugality, martial spirit, affection, and honor until
death. “Bushido (The Soul of Japan)” is also a title of a book written by Inazo Nitobe in 1900, which
explains what bushido is
2 Takaji Shimizu Sensei and Ichizo Otofuji Sensei
www.misogi.org
3
Showa (1926-1989) eras; 3) the teachers who devoted themselves to spreading Jōdō
among the Japanese, and their backgrounds; and 4) his hopes for the coming
generation who will inherit Jōdō.
I am glad if this book will help those who practice Shintō Musō Ryū Jō to
consider the meaning of traditional martial arts, without being washed away by the
current of the times.
I did my best to transcribe the conversation faithfully, but I am afraid some parts
are difficult to understand due to the complexity of the spoken word.
On the occasion of this book’s publication, I would like to express my deep
gratitude to Mr. Hiroaki Ishida, Mr. Takashi Tomita, Ms. Akemi Tsuge (who wrote
the calligraphy of the title for the cover), and the members of Aijokai who
contributed towards its publication.
August, the 20th year of Heisei (2008)
Mitsuo Hamaji
Shinto-musō-ryū Jōdō
Menkyo Kaiden3
Second President of the Aijōkai4
P.S. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Hiroshi Matsuoka and
Mr. Russ Ebert, who introduced a part of Japanese martial art history to the world by
translating Shint-muso-ryu Jo No Hinkaku (The Dignity of the Jo). August 28, 2010
3 licensed full mastership
4 The Aijōkai is an organization that was founded in 45 Showa (1970) in Aichi Prefecture. Its purpose
is to promote Shinto Muso Ryu Jo and to hand it to the next generation. The Aijokai’s first president
was Koichi Hamaji Shihan (1912-1985, biographical outline in page 5). He received a Menkyō
(license of mastership) from Takaji Shimizu Shihan. He contributed to the promotion of Shinto
Muso Ryu Jo and to the education of young people through Jo in Aichi Prefecture. Today, Mitsuo
Hamaji Shihan and the other two Shihan, who received a Menkyo from Mitsuo Hamaji, are teaching
Jo with the spirit of Hamaji Shihan’s Jo. Mitsuo Hamaji is the second President.
www.misogi.org
4
Koichi Hamaji Shihan
(1912-1985)
www.misogi.org
5
BIOGRAPHICAL OUTLINE OF KOICHI HAMAJI SHIHAN5
1912: Born in Tokyo, the fifth son of Hachiro Hamaji on August 25, 1912.
1930: Begins training with Takaji Shimizu Shihan.
1936: Began work with South Manchuria Railway Company.
1943: Sent for one year to train Jōdō instructors in the now former “Manchu-kuo”,
also known as Manchuria.
1947: WWII ends. He returns home from Manchuria and lives in Kamakura,
Kanagawa Prefecture.
1960: Moves to Obu City in Aichi Prefecture. Begins to teach Jōdō at Isshin Temple
in Nagoya City.
1964: Initiated in the Gomuso kata by Shimizu Shihan and Otofuji Shihan.
1966: Receives Menkyo from Takaji Shimizu Sensei6.
1979: Establishes the Aijōkai and becomes its first president.
1981: Publishes “Shinto-muso-ryu Jo to Sono Densho” (Shinto-muso-ryu and its
Scrolls).
1985: Passes away due to illness on May 9 at the age of 72.
5 master
6 teacher
www.misogi.org
6
Gerald Toff
(1932-1999)
www.misogi.org
7
BIOGRAPHICAL OUTLINE OF GERALD TOFF
1932: Born in London, UK.
1958: Graduates from London University. Comes to Japan to study at Tokyo
University as a government-financed foreign student.
1959: Begins training with Ichitaro Kuroda Shihan and Takaji Shimizu Shihan.
1970: Moves to Australia to work for the library of the University of Canberra, a
national university of Australia.
1975: Moves to Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan to teach at Nagoya Institute of
Technology.
Begins training with Koichi Hamaji Shihan as a student of Takaji Shimizu
Shihan.
1979: Due to Shimizu-shihan’s death, becomes Hamaji Shihan’s student officially.
1992: Retires from Nagoya Institute of Technology as a professor. Lectures on
“Comparative Study of Civilizations between Japan and the United
Kingdom.”
Serves as a commentator for the Grand Sumo Tournament on NHK (Japan
Broadcasting Corporation) English program.
1999: Passes away in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture at the age of 63.
www.misogi.org
8
Dialogue between Hamaji Shihan and Gerald Toff
Toff: How was Jōdō practiced in your early years of training?
Hamaji: We practiced every day, morning and evening, if Shimizu Sensei had the
time to teach us and a place to practice.
We usually learned about three basic techniques every other day. We were
allowed to advance after reviewing what we had learned. The next time, we would
review the “basics” again, and then proceed to the next two techniques. When we
practiced Omote (the first series of kata / techniques), we always reviewed the basic
techniques beforehand. I remember Shimizu Sensei taught us the same Kata
(techniques) two at a time, correcting our movement.
Shimizu Sensei didn’t rely on detailed explanations and didn’t give us the dos
and don’ts. He merely pointed out our mistakes, and demonstrated proper techniques
repeatedly. He trained us until we had mastered them.
While Shimizu Sensei taught us new techniques every other day, we spent plenty
of time reviewing. Why did he spend so much time in review? It’s not because he
thought he had to, but because he had a small number of students and was able to
train them intensely.
Shimizu Sensei had a lot of time to train one or two students intensely.
Regardless of whether Shimizu Sensei had enough time or not, he did not teach us
new techniques until he felt that we had mastered the ones he had taught already.
That was his way of teaching. Therefore, we learned new techniques in a
comparatively short time because we had plenty of practice time with Shimizu
Sensei.
Today, the teaching of Jōdō is theoretical. It seems as though you are learning
Jōdō mentally. When I was young, I learned Jōdō physically. Shimizu Sensei
didn’t point out our bad techniques in detail.
For example, in the case of Hikiotoshi, he would just say, “Hit from above.
You hit from the side. Don’t hit from side.” Or, he simply said, “Don’t apply so
much power. Why is Hikiotoshi effective? It’s because you slide your Jo from the
top down along most of the length of your opponent’s wooden sword.” He didn’t
www.misogi.org
9
teach us anything theoretical.
Toff: Recently it seems the method of teaching Jōdō has been influenced by the
Western way of thinking. Usually, Westerners do not want to learn things unless
they first understand them theoretically. Is it true that the Japanese way of learning
and teaching Jōdō has been changing?
Hamaji: In the old days Jōdō teachers were very strict. They were dignified and
never tried to gain the students’ favor. While they were teaching Jōdō, they often
said, “If you don’t like it, you can quit.” If a student gave his teacher an opinion
about the techniques of Jōdō, the teacher used to reply, “If you think you understand
Jōdō so well, you don’t have to come to me to learn. If you don’t obey my words,
you are not my student. Those who ask me so many questions are not my students.”
If you wanted to receive a densho (catalog of techniques), you had to get your
teacher to like you first; your skill in Jōdō didn’t matter so much.
In those days, the masters had a very discerning judgment. Therefore, if they
didn’t like even a little bit of a student’s character or attitude, he didn’t give him a
densho or teach him the Hiden (the secret techniques, also known as the Gomuso);
even if the student was skilled. The teachers back then had confidence in their style.
But if this was done today, students will probably quit learning and no new- students
would join.
When a prospective student came to Mr. Tesshu Yamaoka7, he told the
newcomer, “Just stand there.” I am not sure whether the newcomer wore protection
or not, but Mr. Yamaoka began thrusting a Jo into their body violently. If the
prospective student returned the next day after the beating, they were officially
enrolled as Mr. Yamaoka’s student. Almost all of the applicants never returned after
suffering such severe thrusts. This kind of test was prevalent in many Jōdō schools, I
think.
7 Tesshu Yamaoka (1836-1888) the founder of Muto Ryu. a shogun’s retainer, politician, person of
thought, skilled in sword, zen, and calligraphy
www.misogi.org
10
Toff: Years ago when I started learning Jōdō, the Oku8 was never shown at
demonstrations or in Jōdō training halls. Recently Jōdō-ka9 have been publically
demonstrating the Oku. I think this is also a part of Western influences.
Hamaji: This is because Jōdō is not used in an actual fighting. Today it is
impossible to imagine combat where the Jo is used. Therefore, it is all right now for
Jōdō-ka to show the Oku. In former years, Oku was never performed in public. In
fact, only Tachiotoshi was demonstrated publicly. Once your techniques were
known to others, they could make up numerous counters and defense techniques to
fight it.
For example, even if a lord wanted to see a Jōdō demonstration, the masters
would only show Tachiotoshi. When my grandfather was six years old, he
demonstrated Tachiotoshi in front of the lord of the Kuroda clan10. In old times a
training hall had special musha-mado windows11. If you closed them, you could not
look inside the hall. Instructors taught Jōdō so that no outsider could see the
training.
Toff: So, like the Katori-shinto-ryu12. They didn’t show the techniques, did they?
Hamaji: Martial arts schools didn’t demonstrate their techniques publicly. In
former years, every dojo had musha-mado windows. You could peep through them
into the training hall. The windows were placed high on the wall, and were
rectangular with vertical lattice. If you closed the windows, the training hall became
dark. Some say warriors peeped through the musha-mado windows and stole
techniques. If you are going to peep through a musha-mado window, you first put a
stool under the window. Then you stood on the stool and peeped inside the hall and
stole the secret techniques of other ryūha (schools). Therefore, masters of
8 the most secret of techniques, typically the last thing taught an advanced practitioner
9 Jodo practitioner
10 Kuroda clan governed northern part of Japan (1600-1871)
11 musha-mado window (warrior-window): windows with heavy vertical lattice
12 Katori-shinto-ryu was founded by Ienao Iizasa in 15th century. It is one of the three origins of
Japanese sword martial arts
www.misogi.org
11
swordsmanship would pay utmost attention so that others did not steal their
techniques.
The Oku are the most secret of the techniques. A skilled warrior was able to
understand the Oku techniques even if they saw them briefly demonstrated.
Although Jōdō students today have a lot of chances to see Jōdō techniques, they
cannot understand the true techniques. They cannot get the core. Therefore,
Jōdō-ka today thinks it is all right to show techniques publicly.
Toff: Probably one or two decades ago, Shimizu Sensei and Otofuji Sensei
demonstrated one of the Gomuso techniques at Kamedo Shrine in Fukuoka
(formerly called Dazaifu). Those who saw the demonstration did not understand it at
all. It looked simple, and they did not remember it. That means that only an
advanced practitioner can understand the technique, doesn’t it? Shimizu Sensei
taught us Omote, Chudan, and Oku, each in a different way. He trained us in Omote
and Chudan repeatedly, but as for Oku, we were only taught once and never shown
again. If we didn’t learn Oku in this way, we were not allowed to come to the Jōdō
training hall again.
Hamaji: Shimizu Sensei was inconsistent in his teaching. His way of teaching
depended on who he taught. He taught one student a technique only once, but taught
another student carefully and repeatedly. He understood the character and habits of
his students and adjusted his way of teaching according to the student he was
teaching. Some students needed plenty of time to learn techniques, and others
needed only a short time to learn the same techniques. Every student is different in
their character, habit, body type, and so on.
The students varied; some were foreign, others were Japanese. Among the
Japanese, some were skilled in Kendō, and others in Jūdō. Shimizu Sensei observed
his students carefully and changed his way of teaching to fit the students he taught.
He changed his way of teaching that best suited to his student’s age and vitality.
Shimizu Sensei did not have rigid way of teaching. He did not cling to the
traditional way of teaching. I think he taught Jōdō in the way he thought the best.
Why do I say such a thing? Shimizu Sensei did not clearly talk about how
www.misogi.org
12
Shiraishi Sensei (Hanjiro Shiraishi13) taught him. Judging from the answers I got
from Shimizu Sensei and from remarks he made during casual conversations with
me, I came to the conclusion that Shiraishi Sensei was very old when Shimizu
Sensei began to learn Jōdō from him. So, Shiraishi Sensei did not show the
techniques himself, but taught them verbally or let his students demonstrate to
Shimizu Sensei.
So I do not know whether Shimizu Sensei really understood Shiraishi Sensei’s
methods of teaching Jōdō and his Jōdō techniques. Possibly Shimizu Sensei
intentionally kept silent about Shiraishi Sensei’s techniques even though he
understood them. When I asked Shimizu Sensei, “How did Shiraishi Sensei teach
Jōdō to you?” he replied, “When I learned Jōdō from Shiraishi Sensei, he was very
old. So I do not know his method exactly.”
So, I am not sure whether Shimizu Sensei’s present way of teaching Jōdō is
Shiraishi Sensei’s method or his own method. I think Shimizu Sensei picked the
most suitable way depending on the student he was teaching. He would teach a
foreign student in one way and a Japanese student in another way. In this sense,
the student who trained one-on-one with Shimizu Sensei for a long time was lucky.
Toff: When you learn the art of tea ceremony or flower arrangement or Kabuki,
you begin when you are very young and continue for ten or twenty years. Take tea
ceremony for instance, it takes 20 years before you are conferred full mastership yet
you continue to polish your art. As for kobudō (literally ‘ancient martial art’, but
meaning traditional martial art), you must learn the techniques in a short time in
order to defend yourself as early as possible, but it takes 20 or 30 years to
understand the true spirit of kobudō, I think. Superficially Japanese traditional
(performing arts such as kabuki?) arts and kobudo seem different, but they have
much in common.
Hamaji: This is a guess based on what my father told me. When he was a child, his
father (Kanoto Hamaji) didn’t teach him Jōdō, though he was a shihan (grand
master) of Jōdō.
13 Hanjiro Shiraishi (1842-1926) was given a Menkyo by Hanjiro Yoshimura
www.misogi.org
13
My father had to run a long distance before he started to learn Jōdō. In other
words, running a long distance was an important basic training of martial art. My
father had a good quality as a descendant of a Jōdō family, the Hamaji’s. As a child,
his sozai (material) was mixed with kihonteki na tsuchi (“basic soil”) and iron, then
forged and refined14. “Strike while the iron is hot” was the traditional way of martial
art training. Kendō15 was omotegei (an indispensable skill of a samurai). Every
samurai practiced kendo. I think that every samurai had this type of basic training
when they were young. If a samurai had enough basic training and was skilled in
kendo, they started to learn Jōdō, and the master may have taught the techniques
without any difficulty in a rather short time.
In light of the way Jōdō is practiced today, I think students must first have
fundamental training. What kind of training do you think a little boy old enough to
ride a piggyback had in the old days? His father would take him to a grave mound
where decapitated heads were publically displayed. He would lull his son with those
heads instead of toys. This was his way of introducing Jōdō.
After all, such a fearless spirit is indispensable to mastering Jōdō. Nowadays
people do not begin to learn Jōdō during their childhood, nor do they have the
required qualities. Therefore, it is natural that the method of teaching Jōdō differs
according to the student’s age, character, body condition, and the social situation.
Naturally, the method and purpose of teaching Jōdō today and those in my father’s
times are quite different.
The purpose of learning Jōdō today is first to train one’s body to become strong
enough to use the Jo effectively when involved in a quarrel. One can also develop
inner strength. In a word, learning Jōdō is to satisfy one’s own desire to strengthen
the body and mind.
In former times, on the other hand, masters taught Jōdō in order to pass down
Jōdō techniques for the posterity. Students learned Jōdō to defend their own lives
and country. Today’s selfish desire to be strong mentally and physically is far from
14 This part (…his sozai ~refined) means that Hamaji Sensei’s father had a severe training both
mentally and physically as the proverb says, “strike while the iron is hot”
15 kendo: Hamaji Sensei used the word “kendo” here, but he meant “kenjutsu” or traditional Japanese
sword techniques. The word “kendo” was coined around 1919. Kendo is a modern Japanese martial
art of sport-like bamboo practice sword-fighting based on “kenjutsu”
www.misogi.org
14
the desire to defend oneself and one’s country. Even though masters have their own
ideology, they have to adjust the methods of teaching Jōdō to the changing world.
Therefore, different methods have arisen.
I am sorry that today’s students are learning Jōdō only to fulfill themselves.
They should think of the selfless spirit Jōdō-ka (Jōdō practitioners) had in those
days. They should understand what Jōdō-ka were thinking when they were
practicing Jōdō in the past. They should know that the older methods have been
adjusted to today’s society. Knowing these things makes a big difference. I am
afraid that the masters of today have forgotten the spirit of the past and are fixated
on the present situation. The students are also to blame.
Toff: Recently the methods of teaching Jōdō have been gradually changing. I
don’t think the students are aware of it. Today, we don’t perform Kazari (a ritual
salutation, putting a Jo and a sword on the floor before and after Jōdō practice). Did
you do Kazari years ago?
Hamaji: Yes, we did. We learned Kazari immediately after we mastered the basic
techniques and before we started learning Omote. When I was in Tokyo and was
learning Jōdō from Shimizu Sensei, we almost always commenced practice with
Kazari, and finished with Kazari.
Members of the Manchuria Kyōwakai16 came to Japan to learn Jōdō. I think in
those days Jōdō practice gradually became informal. So, people from the Kyowakai
did not know the orthodox way of Jōdō practice. Even Mr. Asakichi Nakashima17
didn’t practice in an orthodox way. For a month or two, groups of ten or twenty
people came in waves from the Kyowakai to learn Jōdō from Shimizu Sensei one
after another. Shimizu Sensei trained them all together in a short time. That was the
beginning of “group training” in Jōdō. He crammed them. Naturally, he didn’t
have enough time to do Kazari. Therefore, Kazari gradually disappeared. That has
become a kind of normal way of Jōdō practice. Also, the number of students in
16 a political group organized in Manchuria in 1932 to “realize an ideal Manchuria”
17 1917~1976 Shimizu-shihan’s student. Shihan for the Manchuria Kyowakai Jo and Osaka
Prefecture Anti-riot police Jo
www.misogi.org
15
Tokyo gradually increased. So, I think doing Kazari became troublesome.
But in former years Kazari was very important. It is not until you begin to learn
Oku that you know the importance of Kazari. You then realize how you have been
doing Kazari, or how seriously or how absentmindedly you have been doing Kazari.
You will recognize whether or not you have been doing Kazari exactly as your
teacher has taught you to do it. If you have been doing Kazari superficially, you
can’t do Sakigachi from the Oku. If the teacher does not teach Kazari heartily, he
can teach Sakigachi, but can’t teach the real Sakigachi.
In former years, when you were learning Jōdō from Shimizu Sensei on
one-on-one level, his whole character entered your body. So, the connection
between you and Shimizu Sensei was very strong although it lacked blood ties.
There was a unity of feeling between the teacher and his student. That may be the
student’s respect of the teacher and the teacher’s love of the student.
Today the ties between the teacher and the students have become weak.
Because the teacher teaches a large number of students simultaneously, he can’t help
teaching superficial techniques. He can’t teach the fundamental spirit of Jōdō.
Formerly, the teacher’s whole character influenced his students through Jo, but now
we can’t expect that.
For example, a recorded recitation of Buddhist sutra does not move you even if
it is recorded by a famous priest. You can say the same thing about Jōdō. Live music
moves you even if the music is not good. The convenient way of listening to great
music by means of records and tapes is coming into kobudo (traditional martial arts).
That may be all right, but you may miss the spiritual ties. The same Buddhist sutra
sounds different depending on how you listen to it.
When I learned Jōdō from Shimizu Sensei and Otofuji Sensei, I felt as if I had
gained power from them. Even a short practice with them gave me power. This is
the same with listening to live music.
www.misogi.org
16
Toff: In Britain, since the industrial revolution, traditional ways have adjusted to
modern ways, and most of them have disappeared.
Hamaji: The same is true with Jōdō. Traditional ways of teaching Jōdō will
eventually disappear although the techniques will remain. You can’t stop it.
Toff: I heard that Japanese Noh18 was losing its popularity in Meiji Era
(1868-1912). A foreign diplomat deplored this trend, and appealed that Japan should
preserve Noh. Because of him, Noh has been revived.
Hamaji: I think there are many other traditional cultures that have been preserved
thanks to the advice of foreigners who found value in them. Outsiders often place
more value in things than those who are involved in them. Many times people find
value in traditional things only when they are reminded of it by outsiders. In the
light of this, it is good that Noh has gained attention when it was destined to fade
away.
The principal in my junior high school said that Japanese people at the time of
the Meiji restoration19 exchanged celebrated swords for bottles of beer because they
thought anything Western was better than anything Japanese. They exchanged the
Japanese soul for Western civilization. In this way Japan began to change rapidly.
The Japanese have a tendency to rush at anything once it is found to be good and in
this way the Japanese forgot the value of traditional Japanese culture in those days.
Since I live and teach Jōdō in Nagoya, I sincerely hope that I can hand down real
Jōdō to the Nagoya people, not mere techniques; the traditional spirit of Jōdō. I want
to cultivate Jōdōka who will practice and study Jōdō with sincerity even if there are
only one or two students.
My role is not to teach Jōdō to many students like in Tokyo or Osaka but to
nurture even one or two students who will truly understand traditional Jōdō. I do
not object to the present way of teaching Jōdō. There are many teachers who support
it, but my opinion is different from theirs.
18 Noh: traditional masked dance-drama
19 Meiji restoration: restoration of Imperial power in 1868
www.misogi.org
17
Toff: The same can be said about teaching English. I teach English to a group of
about 100 students, but it is not effective at all.
Hamaji: In former years, a teacher in a Terakoya20 told his students to read a
textbook in turns. The young and old learned from the teacher who adjusted his
teaching methods according to the ability of each of the students. Before the World
War II and in the Taisho period21 an applicant chose a university because that
university had “such and such” professor he wanted to learn from.
The situation has changed today. Students do not care which university they
enter as long as they can enter one. Any professor is all right for them. On top of it,
professors use a microphone to give lectures to hundreds of students. The present
way of teaching of Jōdō has something common with this mass-education.
Toff: That has also been influenced by the modern way of thinking. Everybody
has become economical.
Hamaji: If you put stress only on efficiency in learning things, I doubt how much
you will understand them. You may learn various things and know about them only
superficially, and you will end up without understanding the spirit hidden in them.
What you can do may be Hiden, or what you can’t do may be Hiden. After all,
either is right. If you reach the highest level of martial art or tea ceremony, you
come to something philosophical. Martial art lies between religion and philosophy.
Therefore many people try to understand the secrets of martial art from a religious
viewpoint.
I myself want to practice Jōdō much more. My techniques are still childish. My
father would often say to me, “Your techniques are like borrowed gaudy feathers.” I
understand what he said. Even when he was a young child, he played with
decapitated heads instead of toys, ran a long distance, and trained his body by
skipping rope. Even what he ate was different from what we eat today.
If you eat ordinary food like ordinary people, you smell. So you had to eat
20 small private school in the Edo period (1603-1867)
21 the reign of Emperor Taisho (1912-1926)
www.misogi.org
18
certain food that does not make your body emit odor. Also your bones must be soft.
Did you see nawanuke (techniques of slipping out of the ropes) on TV the other
day? Those techniques have been handed down in the Hamaji family. I heard that
you can’t perform the art of nawanuke if you do not keep your bones soft in your
childhood. So what you eat is limited. From such well-trained master’s viewpoint,
our Jo techniques, which we began to learn at the age of seventeen or eighteen, are a
mere thin veneer.
When you use, say, these chopsticks, you must become the chopsticks
themselves. In other words, your whole soul must enter the chopsticks. Then you
do not exist. This is the state of perfect selflessness. When you are practicing Jōdō
and put your whole self into the techniques, you are in the state of selflessness. This
is when you can use Jo freely, without any restriction. This is muga or anattan22.
A master horseman once said, “No man on the horse, no horse under the man.”
This is a Japanese saying. It means the horseman accomplishes perfect unity with
the horse. The horseman is absorbed in the art of horse riding. Since your “whole
self” is absorbed in the horse, you have “no self”. What remains is selflessness.
In short, the purpose of Zen sitting meditation is to put all your heart into love
just as a Christian puts all his heart to Christ. Your sense of self will disappear when
your whole heart is absorbed in love. What remains is only love itself. Mental
training to attain this selflessness is Zen sitting meditation. However, today’s
people sit in Zen meditation in order to strengthen their bodies and to enrich their
mentality. This is wrong. The true meaning of Zen meditation is the same as that of
Christianity, that is, to devote your whole self to love; you turn into love itself.
Turning yourself into love is Zen meditation.
For example, when your child gets injured, you must feel the same pain he feels.
If your whole body is assimilated into that universe, you feel the same pain. Only
when you feel the same pain, you sympathize with your child and want to help him
in the true sense. The meaning of Zen meditation lies in changing yourself into a
target object.
22 In Buddhism, annattam is the Sanskrit word for the doctrine that asserts the nonexistence of a
personal and immortal soul
www.misogi.org
19
As another example, take Buddhism. If you chant, “Namu Amida Buddha,”23
you turn into the “Namu Amida Buddha” and lose your sense of “self”. After all, the
pursuit of Christianity or Buddhism is the same: to assimilate into the earth or the
universe.
Therefore, whether or not you can put your entirety into Jojutsu24 is important.
Only when your body and soul become Jojutsu itself, you can understand many and
various things about Jōdō. If you are evaluating yourself by thinking, “I am poor at
Jōdō,” “I am good at Jōdō,” “I am worse than he in Jōdō,” or “I am better than he,”
you are thinking only about yourself. As long as you think in a self-centered
manner, your Jōdō is not real.
What I have told you so far is a theory, and so if you want to put it into practice,
you have to actually practice Jōdō. We have not yet practiced Jōdō enough. As you
know, Gonnosuke Muso25 practiced Jōdō day and night all 24 hours during his
travels. We practice Jōdō only once a week. How can you understand real Jōdō with
such infrequent practice? Jōdō teachers may be a little better at Jōdō than their
students. Their performance of Jōdō may be a little more beautiful than their
students, but can they really teach Jōdō? They must pay attention to how
Gonnosuke Muso practiced Jōdō. This is not limited only to Jōdō.
The Buddhist sutra my father used to recite is popular in China, but not in Japan.
Buddhists of the Sodo and Rinzai sects of Zen Buddhism (sodo-shu, rinzai-shu, and
zen-shu)26 recite this sutra often. It is called kongo-hannya-harami-kyo27, which my
father studied since he was a child. He said his entirety was absorbed in the sutra. Its
teaching is vast and boundless. It says that even if you recite this sutra, you will have
no merit; nor will you become rich; nor will you become healthy. It says there is no
such thing like a merit in the world. I think this is very interesting. It means “Empty
emptiness,” but the sutra actually gives you a lot of merits. It says there is nothing in
this sutra, but it contains a lot of things. This is a Chinese way of thinking.
The Japanese are rigid in their way of thinking. They want to decide things in
23 Buddhist invocation
24 the same as “Jodo”; The old way of saying Jodo.
25 the founder of Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo
26 sodo-shu, rinzan-shu, and zen-shu are the names of Buddhist sects
27 a Zen Buddhist sutra
www.misogi.org
20
minute detail beforehand and act according to those decisions. The Chinese are
different. They take their time to grasp the whole picture of things and act with
flexibility within the picture. Their way of thinking is vast and versatile.
Therefore, Chinese martial arts are easy to understand because they do not have
detailed rigid rules. Because they have no rules, they are soft, slippery, and flexible.
On the contrary, Japanese martial arts are strict and rigid. Jōdō has rules and
formality. The Japanese do not approve things if they do not have rules and
formality. It is interesting that Chinese martial arts do not have rules but they are
flexible.
Kongo-kyo28 is different from Kannon-kyo.29 In the sutra named Kannon-kyo,
Kannon (the Buddhist deity of mercy) appears and saves people. Since this sutra has
a lot of rules, it suits the Japanese character, and is widely read in Japan. On the
other hand, the sutra named Kongo-kyo is vague and elusive. To begin with, you
can’t recite the sutra by heart. Only a very few priests can recite it. In the Kongo-kyo
sutra, you have to repeat similar words and phrases again and again endlessly. So,
while you are reciting the sutra, you return to the beginning without realizing it.
Kongo-kyo is similar to Eki-kyo.30 According to Eki-kyo, things emerge out of
empty vagueness and gradually take shape.
When my father31 came back to Fukuoka from Tokyo, Shiraishi Sensei always
visited him. My father was glad that Jōdō survived because Shiraishi Sensei lived a
long life teaching Jōdō for many years. Shiraishi Sensei had a close connection with
my grandfather in terms of Jōdō. I remember that Shiraishi Sensei brought Shimizu
Sensei and Otofuji Sensei to my house. I myself met them once or twice.
Shiraishi Sensei visited my father in order to see his menkyō (certificate) and
weapons. I have seen them with my own eyes myself. Shiraishi Sensei always said
that he had to return the menkyo to the Hamaji’s as early as possible32. Therefore,
my aunt received a menkyo in Chūwa-ryu Jutte jutsu33 because Shiraishi Sensei
28 the Buddhist Diamond sutra
29 the Buddhist Deity of Mercy sutra
30 the art of divination; the Yi-King; one of the Chinese classics of Confucianism
31 Hachiro Hamaji(1864-1956), Koichi Hamaji’s father
32 Originally Jodo was handed down from generation to generation through the Hamaji family
33 martial art using a short metal truncheon, typically against an opponent armed with a sword
www.misogi.org
21
insisted that she do so.
Toff: Please tell me about Hakudō Nakayama.
Hamaji: Nakayama Sensei learned Jōdō from my mother’s father. I learned Jōdō
from my father. There are two pupil-teacher lineages in the same line of
Shinto-muso-ryu Jōdō. One is my father’s line and the other is my mother’s. I
have some photographs. One of them shows my sister using the kusarigama (sickle
with a chain) with her grandfather34. Coincidentally, my father’s father and my
mother’s father learned Jōdō from the same teacher.35
Nakayama Sensei came to my house in Kyobashi, Tokyo, and learned Jōdō from
my mother’s father.36 Every student came to my house in Kyobashi, which was
situated in the central part of Tokyo. My house had two large rooms on the second
floor, so they probably got rid of the sliding screen between the rooms to make one
large one.
Nakayama Sensei’s Jo is different from the true Shinto-muso-ryu Jōdō because
he seems to have mixed the techniques with kendo. So, his Jo is different from my
father’s Shinto-muso-ryu Jo techniques. Nakayama Sensei often visited my father to
study calligraphy. Nakayama Sensei brought his writings to him and had him
comment on them.
When I was a seventh or eighth grader, my father told me to go to Nakayama
Sensei and learn iai37 from him. So I went to his dojo for one or two months, but my
father didn’t tell me to learn Jo from him. Nakayama Sensei taught Jo too, but my
father said that I must learn iai from him because his iai was excellent.
Ten years later38, Shimizu Sensei came to Tokyo and was introduced to my
father by a close friend, Mr. Setsu Suenaga. Mr. Suenaga found the name Hachiro
Hamaji in his densho, and thought, “This must be the Mr. Hamaji who lives in
34 Kanoto Hamaji (1830-1894)
35 Seiichi Hamaji(1771-1848)
36 Kohachi Takeuchi(1837-1908)
37 the art of drawing one’s sword cutting down one’s opponent and sheathing the sword, all in one
motion
38 around Showa 5 (1930)
www.misogi.org
22
Ofuna39.” So Mr. Suenaga took Shimizu Sensei to my father’s house. Both of them
performed Jo in front of my father. After their performance, my father said to me,
“This is the martial art which has been handed down generation after generation in
the Hamaji family. So you must learn Jōdō.”
In my opinion, Shimizu Sensei’s Jōdō is orthodox, while Nakayama Sensei’s
Jōdō is not, because he learned Jōdō only halfway and changed the techniques. Only
a few people know such a background story.
Toff: Was Suenaga Sensei40 older than Shimizu Sensei41?
Hamaji: Yes, of course. He was far older than Shimizu Sensei. Mr. Mitsuru
Tohyama42 was nine years older than my father, and Mr. Misao Suenaga was about
five year younger than my father.
Suenaga Sensei was an eccentric man. He was a scholar on ancient Japanese
thought and culture. He never had a regular occupation in his life. He was a
right-wing political activist and went to Siberia and the Philippines. He devoted
himself to studying about revolutions. I think he actually supported revolutionary
movements43. He was one of the famous political activists during the Taisho
era44. He supported Shimizu Sensei in many ways. For example, Suenaga Sensei let
Shimizu Sensei live in his house.
Suenaga sensei took Shimizu Sensei to Tokyo from Fukuoka so that Shimizu
Sensei would spread Jōdō far and wide. So, Suenaga Sensei was a great benefactor
to Shimizu Sensei. In this way, Suenaga Sensei and Shimizu Sensei had a very close
connection.
Also, Suenaga Sensei worked hard to spread Jōdō. He introduced important
people to Shimizu Sensei. Both Suenaga Sensei and Shimizu Sensei demonstrated
Jōdō in many places. Interestingly enough, Suenaga Sensei performed only the first
39 Ofuna City in Kanagawa Prefecture
40 Misao Suenaga (1869-1960) a member of Genyo-sha, a nationalist group which helped the
independence of Asian countries, and assisted Sun Yatsen and Chiang Kaishek.
41 Takaji Shimizu (1894-1978)
42 Mitsuru Tohyama (1855-1945) One of the top three of Genyo-sha.
43 He supported Sun Yatsen’s Chinese Revolution
44 1912-1926
www.misogi.org
23
series of techniques, Omote, but he was very skillful in Jōdō. Also, he was talented
orator who superbly explained Jōdō before live audiences.
Toff: What was your father’s specialty?
Hamaji: My father was a lawyer for the Ministry of Agriculture and Trade45.
Since it was a government organization, he dealt with state level problems, such as a
border disputes between prefectures. When samurai became commoners during the
class abolishment of the Meiji Restoration46, their stipends, which were paid in rice,
turned into currency. My father’s job was to convert the value of rice into money.
From this, the Meiji government gave the calculated rice in money to the “new
commoners.” Also, he drafted a bill and advocated it after presenting it to the Diet.
This way, he was engaged in government level jobs.
Besides his profession as a lawyer, he also intensely studied Kongo-kyo sect Zen
Buddhism. He studied Kongo-kyo from a reputable priest, who taught it to Rousen
Takashina47, the superintendent priest of Sodo-shu sect Zen Buddhism. So, both my
father and Superintendent Takashina studied Sodo-shu from the same priest,
although my father was older than Takashina. In other words, Takashina was my
father’s brother in terms of the study of Sodo-shu, and I called Takashina-san
“Uncle.”
In later years, my father spent the majority of his days studying only Kongo-kyo.
He lived to be 92 years old.
My grandfather48 trained my father through basic exercises such as jumping
rope and running. My father sometimes told me about the hard exercises my
grandfather gave him. For example, day after day, he only practiced thrusting a
dagger at an imaginary man’s heart while kneeling on one knee. My father said that
it was basic practice. He also practiced throwing shuriken (throwing spikes) with
15-centimeter-long nails, gradually extending the distance from the target.
My father said to me that he didn’t practice swordsmanship, but when
45 a state organization established in 1881 and abolished in1925
46 restoration of Imperial power in 1868
47 the 18th superintendent priest of Sodo-shu (1876-1968)
48 Kanoto Hamaji (1830-1894)
www.misogi.org
24
Suenaga-san brought Shimizu Sensei to him and both of them demonstrated Jōdō
before Tohyama-san49, Suenaga-san asked my father to be uchidachi (a sword
attacker). Then my father took the role of uchidachi. According to my father, when
he was taking the uchidachi role, Toyama-san said looking at him in the Fukuoka
dialect, “Hamaji-san is performing Jōdō.” I guess my father’s Jōdō technique was
worth looking at, because he criticized my Jōdō as borrowed plumes. He also
practiced Shinto-ryu kenjutsu (Shinto school sword techniques) and Uchida-ryu
Tanjo-jutsu50.
Toff: What is the relation between Shinto-ryu and Muso-ryu?
Hamaji: The twelve Kata (forms) of Shinto-ryu Kenjutsu are written at the end of
Oku: they are eight long-sword Kata and four short-sword Kata. The twelve forms
are included in the Jojutsu techniques. They are separated from Jojutsu and are
collectively called “Shinto-ryu kenjutsu.” They are officially called Hattsu Odachi
(Eight Forms of Long-sword) and Shitsu Kodachi (Four Forms of Short-sword). All
Jo are originated from Shinto-ryu kenjutsu. Following Shinto-ryu kenjutsu are
written the final Jo techniques of Gomuso-no-Jo.
I don’t understand what is written in my densho51. I can’t make heads or tails out
of it. Every student wants to get densho, but Otofuji Sensi says, “Why do you make
a fuss about such a thing as a densho?” I think he can say such a thing about densho
because he himself possesses one.
One day, I asked Shimizu Sensei to explain the meaning of the content of the
densho. Shimizu Sensei just said, “It says, ‘Use Jo maruku (roundly).’” I didn’t
understand what was written in the densho, but I thought Shimuzu Sensei knew it.
That’s why I asked him, but he avoided the direct answer.
Once in a while after practicing Jo, I read the densho. I feel I am gradually
49 Mitsuru Tohyama (1855-1944）
50 a school of techniques using the tanjo , a 90-cm staff, which was created by Uchida Ryogoro
(1837-1921)
51 Scroll of transmission. It contains the brief description of Jodo, the list of official Shinto Muso
RyuJodo techniques, and the successive menkyo kaiden masters of Jodo.
www.misogi.org
25
getting the meaning of the densho somehow. Of course, I don’t understand it clearly,
though.
The other day, Nishioka-kun (Tsuneo Nishioka – NOTE: the term ‘kun’ is a
Japanese diminutive indicated that Hamaji was both elder, superior, and familiar
with Nishioka) came to me and asked, “Hamaji Sensei, I don’t understand what is
written in the densho. What does it mean?” I answered him, “Neither do I.” Actually,
when I am reading the densho, I abruptly come across Chinese sentences and some
surprisingly new Japanese vocabulary. Sometimes the cited examples are way out of
the context. Scholars don’t quite understand it, either. Sometimes I find Chinese
names. Only those who are well versed in adjectives can understand it, I am afraid.
Once while I was interpreting the densho in my own way, I came across some
difficult words. So, I consulted a dictionary, only to find that the words were a
person’s name. I think the densho is interesting all the more because it is
incomprehensible. It wouldn’t be interesting at all if you understood it perfectly. By
the way, I sometimes open the densho and “read” it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(The tape ends here, but I imagine my father and Toff, both of whom were fond of
talking, continued carrying on their conversation longer. I sincerely hope more of
these kinds of valuable tapes will be discovered in the future so that we can preserve
the records and tradition of Shinto-muso-ryu Jo in an accurate fashion. -Mitsuo
Hamaji)
www.misogi.org
26
Words entrusted to the next generation:
The Thirteen Golden Rules of Jo
and their Meanings
by Koichi Hamaji
www.misogi.org
27
THE FIRST
身をもって人を助ける杖のごと この姿こそ士の道
Mi o motte hito o tasukeru tsue no goto kono sugata koso mononofu no michi
As the jō helps a man, it is also the path of the samurai.
Shinto-muso-ryu Jo was created by a swordsman named Gonnosuke Muso52,
who was a master of both Katori-shinto-ryu and Kashima-shin-ryu during the
Keicho era (1596-1615) when swordsmanship was highly developed. The weapon
of Shinto-muso-ryu Jo is a stave measuring 1.28 meters long and 2.4 centimeters
across, made of oak with a straight grain. In the ryu (school), there are 64
techniques to fight against an opponent armed with a sword.
The Jo symbolizes three virtues: Wisdom, symbolized in the straight shape of
the Jo; Benevolence, shown in the Jo’s round shape; Courage is represented by the
Jo’s tough material. According to the founder’s interpretation, bushido is:
(1) to cultivate the three virtues constantly
(2) not to kill or injure others with the weapon
(3) to sacrifice oneself in case of social crisis and to support society with all the
might which one has acquired through Jo practice.
Muso Gonnosuke named his martial art “staff” (Jo) so that it might support and
guide people. He intended to spread the martial art among samurai as well as those
who wanted to cultivate the spirit of bushido. He also wanted the spirit of Jo to be
the fundamentals of a peaceful nation governed by virtue.
52 Gonnosuke Muso (date of birth and death unknown, but he lived in early Edo era (early 17th
century).
www.misogi.org
28
THE SECOND
神佛も声の力で現はるる 一喝必倒氣勢養え
Shinbutsu mo koe no chikara de arawaruru ikkatsu hittou kisei yashinae
The power of the voice
can evoke the gods.
Cultivate a powerful voice
that defeats your enemy.
We sometimes hear even in this modern world that one experiences magical
phenomena when one’s strength is channeled into a powerful voice. For example,
you can visualize an image of Kannon (the Buddhist deity of mercy) thanks to a
constant voice of prayer; you can kill a man by imprecating a thousand curses upon
him; or you can let a restless spirit sleep peacefully in the grave with a thundering
scold.
Regardless of its loudness, one can use a powerful voice to defeat their adversary
with just a single Jo technique, as it discourages and diminishing the opponents
fighting spirit.
Jo students should develop a powerful voice while they practice the techniques
of hitting and thrusting of Jo.
www.misogi.org
29
THE THIRD
打太刀はふれれば切れる剣なるぞ 心にとめて剣を怖るな
Uchidachi wa furereba kireru ken naruzo kokoro ni tomete ken o osoruna
Keep in mind that uchidachi53 is a sword
that will cut you if it touches you;
but one should never fear swords.
The techniques of uchidachi in Shinto-muso-ryu Jo are called “Real Sword
Techniques,” which means that the founder of Jo54 created the techniques based on
the idea that uchidachi is a sword that can cut. I am afraid that there are many Jo
students who regard uchidachi as merely a piece of oak. I am sorry that many
students today are using uchidachi unaware of the difference between a sword and a
stick. Uchidachi is, of course, a piece of wood, but unlike a shinai (bamboo
sword), which is used in sport kendo games, you must handle uchidachi just like a
real sword which can cut your enemy. Also, shijo55 must regard uchidachi as a
real sword. Jo students must believe in traditional techniques, follow them with
faith and without doubt. Also, they should not fear swords unnecessarily.
53 uchidachi has two meanings: (1) a wooden sword (2) the person who uses uchidachi in Jo practice.
The uchidachi in this sentence means (1) a wooden sword
54 Gonnosuke Muso (ibid)
55 shijo has two meanings: (1) Jo (2) the person who uses Jo in Jo practice. The shijo in this sentence
means (2) the person, and not Jo
www.misogi.org
30
THE FOURTH
線当り刃物持つ身の好餌食 点で打つこそ杖の打なり
Sen atari hamono motsu mi no kou ejiki ten de utu koso jo no uchi nari
Don’t hit your opponent with the side of the Jo,
or you will fall prey to the swordsman.
Hit him with the end of the Jo.
Even if you hit a swordsman with the side of the Jo to “cut” him, a mere hit is
not fatal because he is guarded by a powerful will to kill you. He ignores your
bladeless stick, enters your defense range, and tries to cut you. Therefore, don’t
use the Jo like a sword. You must hit him without giving him any chance to invade
your defense territory. You must hit his face with the end of the Jo. The moment
you hit his wrist, aim the end of the Jo at his stomach and discourage his intention to
enter your territory. Such a hit is called ten de utsu (to hit with either end of the Jo)
as opposed to sen de utsu (to hit with the side of the Jo trying to “cut” him as in
Kendo). The length of a sword is 3 shaku (90.9 centimeters), and that of the Jo is 4
shaku 2 sun 1 bu (128 centimeters). You must make the most of this difference in
length.
www.misogi.org
31
THE FIFTH
太刀は鋼 杖は樫 ガツンと当てずに 円るくずらしていなす心で
Tachi wa kane jo wa kasha gatsun to atezu ni maruku zurashite inasu kokoro de
Tachi56 is steel; Jo is oak.
Don’t hit tachi hard.
Parry it by sliding the Jo along its length
as if to scold the tachi.
Since Jo is made of oak and tachi is made of steel, tachi is made of far better
material than the Jo, and is more fatal. Just the sight of tachi frightens you. But
when you duel with a swordsman, never fear tachi. Don’t simply hit the side of
tachi. When you hit tachi, remember that flexibility is stronger than stiffness.
You must swing the Jo down from above, and the moment the Jo has contacted the
sword, adhere to it and slide it along the length of tachi as far as the tachi hilt.
When you parry the tachi, do so by zuri-age or zuri-oroshi (to slide the Jo along the
length of tachi upward or downward). Always avoid hitting the side of the tachi,
but instead, try to slide the Jo along its length as if to soften the speed of the tachi’s
movement.
56 sword
www.misogi.org
32
THE SIXTH
折り返す手首の握りで敵を打て 後手の力まかせは技を狂わす
Orikaesu tekubi no nigiri de teki o ute ushirode no chikara makase wa waza o kuruwasu
When you stike with the Jo
use the grip of your orikaesu-te.
If you strike with the gote too forcefully,
you cannot attack effectively.
Orikaesu-te is the hand holding the end of Jo in each position of Honte, Gyakute,
and Hikiotoshi-uchi. Gote is the other hand. (When you use tachi, orikaesu-te is the
left hand.)
If you make the most of orikaesu-tekubi (the wrist of orikaesu-te), you can not
only “extend” the length of the Jo but also make a powerful attack even if the
distance between you and your opponent is short. If you follow this technique, you
can strike the tachi more easily. The technique can be applied to tachi and tanjo, too.
Make the best of orikaesu-tekubi.
www.misogi.org
33
THE SEVENTH
かわしつつ小手を打ち上げ目を制し 体勢くずして技かけよ
Kawashitsutsu kote o uchiage me o seishi taisei kuzushite waza kakeyo
When parrying the sword with the jo,
hit the wrists from underneath and aim the tip to the eyes.
Before using Kuri-techniques57, unbalance the posture.
The seventh rule explains the techniques of Kuri-tsuke, Kuri-hanashi, and
Tai-atari. The Kuri-techniques practiced in recent years teach the correct ways to
parry the sword: (1) how to avoid the sword; (2) how to hit the sword’s handle; (3)
and how to apply the techniques. These basic forms are not incorrect, but in actual
combat, you cannot apply the techniques by just hitting the handle of a swordsman
who is desperately trying to cut you. Therefore, as the Kyohan58 teaches, you
should hit your opponent’s wrists as if to scoop them up, and at the same time point
the end of Jo right at his eyes to discourage any further intention to attack you.
This movement breaks his balance. Never miss this chance. It is the very
moment you apply Kuri-waza59. When your opponent brings his raised sword
down on you with lightning speed and steadiness, you cannot apply the techniques
by just hitting the handle from underneath.
Generally speaking, you cannot apply any technique to your opponent when he
is well balanced in posture, mind, and alertness. Therefore, before you apply the
techniques, you must sense the opponent’s Okori60 and immediately take advantage
of it because he is off his mental and physical guards at the very moment; or you
must disturb his equilibrium.
57 Kuri-tsuke, Kuri-hanashi, and Tai-atari
58 a Jo instructional book
59 Kuri-tsuke, Kuri-hanashi, and Tai-atari
60 Okori or Okori-gashira : the very moment when your opponent intends to hit you; the very
moment when he intends to move his sword to attack you
www.misogi.org
34
THE EIGHTH
古き形少しもたがわずくり返せ 自然に身につく氣杖体
Furuki kata sukoshi mo tagawazu kurikaese shizen ni minituku ki jo tai
Practice the time-honored techniques repeatedly.
Imitate them exactly as your teacher shows.
Aim at attaining a perfect unity of body and spirit with the Jo.
Believe in the techniques handed down from teachers to students for hundreds of
years. Do not doubt, but practice them hundreds and thousands of times, and you
will learn the unity of Jo, body, and opportunities for offence and defense, that
automatically corresponds to your opponent’s movements. This is similar to
typewriting. The beginner looks at the words, find the keys, and types them. A
well-trained typist does not look at the keys, but they just look at the words and
automatically type them.
My father once told me about the art of war. When he was learning calligraphy
from an honorable teacher Shin Kei Ho, he said to my father:
“Begin with the rules which calligraphy teachers created when they, after
practicing thousands of times, reached the level where they could write without
thinking about the techniques. It is only after practicing the rules innumerous times
that you can write well.
“This is the order of practicing calligraphy: first, don’t write with your finger,
but write with your hand; second, don’t write with your hand, but write with your
arm; third, don’t write with your arm, but write with your shoulder; fourth, don’t
write with your shoulder, but write with your body; fifth, don’t write with your body,
but write with your heart; sixth, don’t write with your heart, but write with
nonattachment; seventh, write freely.”
It means that you can’t write as long as you have something to say or think about
calligraphy.
In Chikuzen (present western part of Fukuoka Prefecture), where Jo was
www.misogi.org
35
founded, there is a place called Hari-suri (needle-grinding). A long time ago, when
Tenmangu-sama (Michizane Sugawara61) left Dazaifu62 and climbed Mt. Tenpaizan
to pray to Heaven63, he saw a peasant sharpening an ax, and asked him what he was
doing. The peasant answered that he was making a needle out of the ax.
Tenmangu-sama was surprised and realized that his prayer had not been enough.
So, he began to pray much more heartily, and finally he became the god of Tenjin
Shrine.”
My father said to me, “When one shoots an arrow from a bow, he can hit the
target if he takes a correct stance as his teacher instructs. He doesn’t have to make
a particular effort in aiming at the target.” Shimizu Sensei said to me, “Don’t
intend to hit this or poke that. You can hit or poke the target without making
efforts. Your loaded intention will fail the correct wielding of Jo. Don’t doubt
kata or the set form of techniques, but use Jo exactly as instructed. You cannot hit
the target as long as you take a wrong posture.”
61 Michizane Sugawara (845-903) a Japanese politician, poet, and scholar
62 one of the military and administrative centers of Japan in 8th and 9th centuries, located in present
Fukuoka Prefecture
63 Sugawara fell into a trap of his rival in 901 and was demoted to a minor official of Dazaifu. He
pleaded his innocence on Mt. Tenpaizan every day
www.misogi.org
36
THE NINTH
わが杖は切り刺しならぬ唯の棒 打ったら突けの心忘るな。
Waga tue wa kiri sashi naranu tada no bo uttara tuke no kokoro wasuruna
One’s Jo is merely a piece of wood.
One cannot cut or stab with it.
Therefore, never forget this:
“Strike and thrust.”
The ninth rule supplements the fourth one and phrase “strike and thrust” is not
literal. It means that one must perfect techniques so that one can strike and thrust
simultaneously.
www.misogi.org
37
THE TENTH
仕も打も進退共に打つ心 これがなければオドリ同然。
Shi mo uchi mo shintai tomoni utsu kokoro korega nakereba odori douzen
Both shidachi and uchidachi should always keep in mind
the spirit of attack in both forward
