SHINTO-MUSO-RYU.ORG

Shinto Muso-ryu is said to be the oldest style for using a stick (jo) in combat in Japan. It was founded in the early 17th century by Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi, an exponent of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu. Shinto Muso-ryu oral tradition maintains that Gonnosuke once fought Miyamoto Musashi, one of the most famous swordsmen of the time, with a staff (bo ) in a training match and was defeated by Musashi's cross-block (jujidome ) technique... Also included in the curriculum of the Shinto Muso-ryu jo are twelve techniques of swordsmanship called Shinto-ryu kenjutsu. The first eight techniques are long sword versus long sword, followed by four techniques that are long sword versus short sword... In addition to Shinto Muso-ryu jo and Shinto-ryu kenjutsu, a number of separate arts are taught at various points in an exponent's training. They are considered assimilated arts, and include Uchida-ryu tanjojutsu, Ikkaku-ryu juttejutsu, Isshin-ryu kusarigama-jutsu, and Ittatsu-ryu hojojutsu.

Also known as: Shinto Muso-ryu