Our jodokai is a small, private dojo studying Shinto Muso Ryu Jo in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area under the direction of Phil Relnick, Menkyo Kaiden (of Woodinville, WA).

The Shinto Muso Ryu tradition is said to be the oldest style of martial art in Japan that uses a stick called a "jo" as its main weapon. A warrior named Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi, who, according to legend, defeated Miyamoto Musashi, the most famous swordsman of the time, developed this martial art at the beginning of the 17th century.

In Shinto Muso Ryu, exponents learn how to use a stick 4 feet 2 inches long against a sword in combative situations. Both weapons (jo and bokken/bokuto) are made of white oak. The stick can be used to thrust like a spear, strike like a sword and sweep like a halberd.

There are 64 techniques in Shinto Muso Ryu Jo. Training is systematic and develops the student's technical skills and psychological abilities from body movement and weapons handling to the proper use of timing, targeting, and distancing, and intense mental or spiritual training; all to enable the student to successfully use the weapon in combat against a sword.

In addition, there are twelve techniques referred to as Shinto-ryu kenjutsu. These are techniques for sword against sword, including the use of both long sword (odachi) and short sword (kodachi).

• Shinto-Muso-Ryu.org
• Koryu.com's Guide to SMR
• Furyu (has several good articles on SMR)

For more info about SMR training contact the Dallas Jodokai .