What is Shinto Muso Ryu Jo?
Shinto Muso Ryu Jo is said to be the original Japanese art involving the combative use of the jo (杖), a round oak stick slightly over 4 feet in length. This martial art was founded approximately 400 years ago by Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi, a fully licensed member of the Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto Ryu and an exponent of Kashima Shinto Ryu.
According to the ryu's lore, Gonnosuke is the only warrior to have defeated the famed Miyamoto Musashi in a duel. He did so using the jo using a technique preserved within our tradition to this day. Historically, the art was taught to and used by feudal-era law enforcement officers in certain domains, principally on the Island of Kyushu.
The art consists of approximately 64 paired forms involving use of the jo against a swordsman arranged in 7 series, in addition to a series of 12 kenjutsu techniques. A further 5 jo vs. sword techniques are shown only to licensed instructors in the art.
Over the course of its history, Shinto Muso Ryu exponents have either invented or inherited other weapons arts which have been assimilated into training, including:
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Uchida-ryu (内田流) Tanjojutsu - A set of 12 techniques invented by Uchida Ryogoro (1837-1921) utilizing a European-style walking stick against a swordsman.
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Ittatsu-ryu (一達流) Hojojutsu - A rope-typing art created in the mid-17th Century by Matsuzaki Kinu'emon, the 3rd lineal headmaster of Shinto Muso Ryu.
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Ikkaku-ryu (一角流) Juttejutsu - A series of 24 kata involving use of a policeman's truncheon (jutte) and iron fan (tessen), invented by Matsuzaki Kinu'emon in the late 17th Century.
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Isshin-ryu (一心流) Kusarigamajutsu - An art involving the use of the kusarigama, a scythe attached to a weighted chain. Some sources allege the art was invented by Nen Ami Jion (念阿弥慈恩), a samurai born in the mid-1300s, but the techniques currently practiced are generally dated as of the 17th Century and attributed to Harayuki Uemon Ujisada (原志右衛門氏貞).
Some of the implements used in the assimilated arts.
Instruction
Nishioka Tsuneo (1924-2014)
Shimizu Takaji (1896-1978)
Shiraishi Hanjiro (1842-1927)
Instruction and training are led by two fully licensed instructors, Larry E. Bieri and Seth Hiland, each holding menkyo kaiden (license of complete transmission). Our primary instructor is Larry E. Bieri.
Larry E. Bieri
Mr. Bieri began his training in Shinto Muso Ryu Jo in 1974 when he was accepted at the Rembukan Dojo where his original teacher was Shimizu Takaji sensei. At that time, Donn F. Draeger sensei assisted at his jo classes. Some years after the death of Shimizu sensei, Mr. Bieri became affiliated with Nishioka Tsuneo sensei through the good offices of Phil Relnick sensei.
In 2013, Mr. Bieri received the traditional menkyo license in Shinto Muso Ryu from Phil Relnick sensei, and in 2015 he was awarded menkyo kaiden by Pascal Krieger sensei.
While in Japan, Mr. Bieri also studied Tenshinsho-den Katori Shinto Ryu, Heki Ryu yumi (archery), Tendo Ryu, and Tenshin Buko Ryu Heiho (then known as Toda ha Buko Ryu). His first art, however, was Aikido, which he started by joining Tokyo's Aikikai Hombu Dojo in early 1971. Today, he holds the rank of 7th dan, shihan in Aikido and is affiliated with the United States Aikido Federation. He is the chief instructor of the Finger Lakes Aikido dojo and also teaches at the Cornell Aikido Club at Cornell University.
An article about us can be found here: https://budojapan.com/kenjutsu-iai/20230214kdr29/
