Jodo

杖道

Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Jodo (Seitei Jodo)

Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei (ZNKR) Jodo, also known as Seitei Jodo, is the standardised form of Jodo developed by the All Japan Kendo Federation (AJKF). It was created to promote and simplify the practice of Jodo, especially for kendo practitioners and those new to the art of the short staff.

Seitei Jodo was derived from the classical style Shinto Muso Ryu, a traditional martial art that teaches the use of a Jo (a 128 cm wooden staff) against a sword. In the 1960s, the AJKF worked with senior Shinto Muso Ryu instructors to select key techniques and formalise a curriculum for broader instruction and examination within the federation.

The Seitei Jodo curriculum consists of twelve paired kata — one person with a Jo and the other with a wooden sword (bokken). These kata are designed to emphasise proper timing, distance, posture, and control, forming a strong foundation for practitioners who may later advance to classical Jodo.

Today, Seitei Jodo is widely practiced within the kendo community and is used for grading, seminars, and international events under the AJKF and the International Kendo Federation (FIK). It continues to grow in popularity around the world, bringing the spirit and discipline of traditional Japanese martial arts to modern practice.

The ZNKR Jodo contains 12 forms (kata 形) and 12 Basic (kihon 基本). As such, Seitei is a simple form of Jodo, compared to the Koryu styles. to be taught mainly in Kendo Dojos.

12 basic:

(practiced in solo and pair)

Honte Uchi
Gyakute Uchi
Hiki Otoshi Uchi
Kaeshi Zuki
Gyakute Zuki
Maki Otoshi
Kuri Tsuke
Kuri Hanashi
Tai Atari
Tsuki Hazushi Uchi
Dobarai Uchi
Tai Hazushi Uchi (left and right side)

At present, the Shinbukai Dojo teaches the Zen Nihon Kendo Remei (ZNKR) style of Jodo which is a simplied version of the Shinto Muso Ryu style. The 12 forms of ZNKR Jodo are:

12 forms:

Tsuki Zue (著杖)
Suigetsu (水月)
Hissage (引下)
Shamen (斜面)
Sakan (左貫)
Monomi (物見)
Kasumi (霞)
Tachi Otoshi (太刀落)
Rai Uchi (雷打)
Seigan (清眼)
Midare Dome (乱留)
Ran Ai (乱合)