My jodo ignorance...

[JoDuncan]

Hello jododudes....

I was wondering if there are any of if you have ever tried to make jodo a contact sport...

It would probably work by having a jo made of bamboo like a naginata and probably wear a similar bogu.

So does it exist? I couldn't find anything on it.

If it doesn't, have any of you tried to create it?

Sorry if this has been covered before

[Kim Taylor]

Look up Sport Chambara and you'll find jo length padded weapons and headgear.

Kim Taylor.

[JoDuncan]

Thanks for that.

Never heard of it, and it sounds cool.

From what i saw, this looks more like soft escrima or kali. Like a dog brothers kinda thing but a lot safer!

Thanks again, i'll read up.... looks like it'd be good fun.

[Newbie]

I wondered the same thing briefly when I first started jodo. I just can't see the point. You'd have to develop something like a shinai which'd be difficult to make something safe that wouldn't catch on your hands, and kote would get in the way of that sliding action. And the target's'd be a pain. In naginata the only extra target is the shins but the surigetsu is a fav for jodoka though I s'pose the do would protect that nicely. Dunno if it'd work. I'm happy with just kata :)

[Fred27]

I'm gonna hazard a guess and claim there prolly has been at least one attempt. The Jodo and Kendo communities has had a close cooperation since the mid 1900's, and if any of the Kendo/jodo guys never made an attempt, however small, I would be surprised. Obviously it wasn't successful or maybe the Jodo Shihans put their foot down.

[John Seavitt]

I just can't see the point.

I'd have to agree - I don't see why one would spend the time to do this. I simply don't believe that it would be a better way to learn what is taught in jodo, or even that one would learn anything relevant to jodo in the end.

John 'of course, there doesn't need to be a reason for everything'

[Fred27]

Heh, actually it wouldnt be impossible to find out of there ever was ever was such an attempt at creating such a system during Shimizu Takaji Senseis lifetime.

If I remember it I will ask.

[Kim Taylor]

Gentlemen there is little reason to modify the equipment much. Take a look at singlestick, eg. http://ejmas.com/jmanly/articles/2001/jmanlyart_Phillipps-Wolley_1101.htm for some ideas on how to spar with wood.

The Western longsword folks use wooden wasters of much greater mass than a jo and rely on pulling their strikes.

You can do Jukendo with a wooden rifle and bogu (if anyone wants to buy a juken stick we've got 5 or 6 here at sdksupplies).

So if one wants to try jodo in a free sparring system one might simply stick on a men and some kote, and agree with our partner that the jo and the bokuto will be pulled on contact. Assuming your partner is relatively sane, as are you, it should not result in much more than bruises.

I get the feeling that folks take this stuff much too seriously, or have a much exaggerated idea of the damage that would be done... or are simply not willing to lose an ear or an eye to test a point. Check out this article for what folks used to find a fun way to spend an afternoon.

http://ejmas.com/jmanly/articles/2001/jmanlyart_gorn_0401.htm

Kim Taylor

[JoDuncan]

I have little experience with the jo but sparring always adds another dimension to your game.
Whilst i kind of agree that you probably learn all you need to from kata i think that sparring and getting used to hitting someone and being hit are valuable in one's development.

Tis a shame there is no jodo where i am; i would really like to take some classes as all the practice i get is from aiki.... which is nice, but....

[MikeH]

As I understand it Andy K from Aikido here in Aberdeen, his TKD teacher also teaches SMR Jodo and Mugai Ryu Iaido.

Maybe you should ask Andy about it.

Mike