Introduction

In modern day society the Jo’s techniques can be disguised into everyday items, such as a walking stick, length of timber or domestic cleaning implement, making the Jo an adaptable weapon for offensives and defensive situations.
The Jo can develop many skills and can be self-disciplining in practice, just like the ease of executing a throwing technique within Jujitsu; the Jo becomes an extension of the hands and develops a fluid movement that evenly balances the coordination of both hands. The combination of these and any of the weapon arts gives the advanced practitioner a new outlook and challenge that can only benefit their martial arts training.

Construction

The Jo is an approximately four foot long (1.28m) wooden staff being shorter than a Bo and longer than a Hanbo.
Those who believe most martial arts devices used as weapons arose from commonly used implements believe that the Jo arose from poles used to bolt doors.

History

Historically, techniques were involved and placed into a structured system by Muso Gonnosuke.
Between the year 1608 and 1611, Muso Gonnosuke propositioned Master swordsmen Miyamoto Musashi to a duel, reportedly Musashi was in the process of making a small bow; he picked up a piece of firewood. Gonnosuke attacked him without even bowing, but he received a blow from Musashi that made him fall down. He was impressed and left.
After his defeat, Gonnosuke went to Mount Homan-zan in Chikuzen (near Fukuoka), where he practiced considerably, creating a new school calling it Shinto Muso Ryu.
It was also recorded that Gonnosuke later returned and defeated Musashi with his newly developed methods. Assuming the records are accurate and genuine, this would be the only time Musashi was defeated.
The usage of various stick weapons has existed in one form or another long before Muso Gonnosuke invented his techniques, but his school, Shinto Muso Ryu, was probably the first known professional school that dedicated itself to the art of using a Jo against a swordsman.
Several traditional Japanese koryu (traditional warrior styles) used the Jo like a sword. The added length of the Jo was meant to give it an advantage over the sword. Further, its wood construction allowed a fighter to improvise a Jo quickly from a tree, branch, or other pole.

Application

Legend
In regards to the grips for the Jo
L = left R = right G = grip
D = double grip S = square (in square stance – jigo tai)
Second R = reverse (like holding a sword)
N = normal (like holding a walking stick)
* Indicates techniques that can be executed with a Tanbo

	Attack	Grip	Technique
1 *	Right jab punch	LNG	Ude gatame With the Jo in the left hand in a LNG held at the end and your right hand blocking the Uke’s right jab punch, enter and rotate, simultaneously delivering a flicking strike to the uke’s ribs. Maintaining the position of the Jo continue the turn to apply an “ude gatame”.
2	Right jab punch	RRG	Leg lever - take down With the Jo in the right hand in a RRG, the uke’s right jab is blocked with your left hand simultaneously striking to the uke’s right inner thigh as you enter. As you enter you slide the Jo through behind the uke’s left leg to form a lever creating the uke to off balanced to the ground.
3 *	Right jab punch	LRG	Ude gaeshi - Yoko te kubi hishigi or Te kubi hishigi With the Jo in the left hand in a LRG, the uke delivers a right jab punch. You block the strike and deflect it with the right hand simultaneously striking the Jo at the point of the radial nerve or bicep to moving into an ude gaeshi. The secondary technique can be either wrist crush or side wrist crush.
4 *	Right jab punch	RNG	Cross block - kote gaeshi - kote mawashi With the Jo in the right hand in a RNG (approximately at the mid point), the uke delivers a right jab punch. You block the strike with a cross block (right hand over the left). You then swing the end of the Jo over the uke’s wrist to take hold with the right hand to form a tight hold. Pulling the uke off balance and turning them in an anti clockwise direction a kote gaeshi is applied taking the uke to the ground. If you continue the turn you can cause the uke to turn over to a prone position to flow into a kote mawashi (finishing technique).
5	Right jab punch	LRG	On shoulder - ude gatame With the Jo in the left hand in a LRG, the uke delivers a right jab punch. You execute a double block (with Jo left hand and right hand). You then form a c-grip with the right hand anchoring the uke’s right wrist simultaneously placing the Jo on your left should turning to create a fulcrum to execute a arm locking technique.
6 *	Right jab punch	RRG	Shin strike - Reverse leg reap double With the Jo in a right reverse grip the uke delivers a right jab punch. Simultaneously block with the left hand and counter strike with the Jo to the right shin. This is followed by shifting and kneeling to the rear of the uke, to take a left hand grip on the Jo between the uke’s legs to apply pressure to create a lever to execute a double reverse leg reap.
7	Right jab punch	RNG	Transport Ude gatame The Jo is in a RNG and the uke delivers a right jab punch. You enter and parry the incoming strike, making contact above the elbow with the stick lying over top of their arm. At the same time pass your left hand under his arm and take hold of the Jo. Continued with a rotation to create a lever.
8	Right jab punch	RRG	Block - Jo under armpit throw With the Jo in a right reverse grip, the uke delivers a right jab punch to the head. Blocking with your left hand simultaneously striking the uke’s right tricep with the Jo. You then enter maintaining the Jo on the tricep as you take hold of the Jo near the tricep of the Uke, turning and executing a throw with the uke’s arm pressed against the side of the neck and using the Jo to lever to create the off balance.
9	Right jab punch	RRG	End hook wrist lock With the Jo held in a reverse right grip, the uke delivers a right jab punch. You parry and capture the their forearm between yours and the Jo. Pass your left hand under his arm and take hold of the Jo. Scissor his arm to create a wristlock take down.
10	Right jab punch	LRG	Ude gaeshi / choke With the Jo held in a left reverse grip, the uke delivers a right jab punch. Blocking with both the right hand to the uke’s wrist and with the Jo on the uke’s bicep. The Jo maintains contact moving from this initial point to the uke’s wind pipe, simultaneously returning the uke’s arm over the Jo’s length executing a ude gaeshi.
11 *	Left jab punch	DSG	Strike to ribs - ude gatame With the Jo in a double square grip the uke delivers a left jab punch. You block the uke’s left punch by entering and rotating, simultaneously delivering a flicking strike to the uke’s ribs. Maintaining the position of the Jo continue the turn to apply an “ude gatame”.
12 *	Left jab punch	RRG	Thrust between legs - kneel right knee – left hand grab – takedown With the Jo in a right reverse grip, the uke delivers a left jab punch. With a sliding body movement to the right you simultaneously block the ukes in coming strike as you deliver a counter strike to the right inner thigh. You enter and kneel on your right knee as the Jo moves down to the inner knee and you take hold of the Jo with a second grip. This second grip (is in flexion) to the end of the Jo to the out side, followed by rotating on your right knee in an anti clock ways motion. This creates the uke to be off balanced, levering them to the ground. Pressure is exerted along the shin with your right forearm and calf with the length of the Jo.
13	Right stomach punch	RRG	Ude gatame With the Jo in the right hand in a RRG, the uke delivers a right punch to the stomach. Your left hand deflects the uke’s right hand simultaneously striking the uke’s radial nerve or bicep followed by executing a reverse arm lock. This may be continued with a takedown arm lock and tie up.
14	Left stomach punch	DRG	Block - half nelson throw With the Jo in a double right grip, the uke delivers a left stomach punch to your mid section. You counter this by simultaneously blocking and striking to the uke’s left bicep. You then enter and place the end of the Jo in the left armpit. Within the execution of the throw you enter and rotate moving the Jo into a half nelson to execute a throw with the uke’s arm pressed against the side of your right shoulder and using the Jo to lever to create the off balance.
15 *	Right back fist	LRG	1 /2 Shiho nage With the Jo in the left hand in a LRG held at the end and your right hand palming mid point of the Jo, block the uke’s back fist. Maintaining the pressure of the Jo to the arm as you c-grip the right wrist of the uke and execute a shiho nage (the far of the Jo is anchored under the uke’s chin)
16 *	Right back fist	RRG	Scissor strangle With the Jo in the right hand in a RRG held at the end and your left hand palming the Jo at the mid point block the uke’s back fist and slide along their arm to the neck. Forming a vee to apply a “scissor” action on the neck to create strangle, using the lever of the Jo to create directional movement (right hand).
17 *	Right overhead strike	RRG	Ushiro jime With the Jo in the right hand in a RRG, the uke delivers a right overhead strike. Simultaneously you block the incoming strike with your left hand as you strike the uke’s left collarbone. The length of the Jo is then positioned on the biracial plexus origin to create an off balance. You reach around the uke to take a second grip on the Jo to execute an ushiro jime.
18 *	Right overhead strike	RRG	Rib press – side The Jo is held in the right hand in a RRG and the uke delivers a right overhead strike to the head. You deflect the uke’s strike with your left hand simultaneously striking the uke to their left side as you move in to reach around the back of the uke to take a second grip to form a rib press.
19 *	Right overhead strike	RNG	Ude gatame With the Jo in a right normal grip, the uke delivers a right overhead strike to your head. Simultaneously block the in coming strike with your left hand as you counter strike the uke’s right tricep with the end of the Jo in a swinging motion. Taking hold of the uke’s right wrist in a c-grip you then hook the length of the Jo over the arm to place it onto the uke’s chest to create an arm lever.
20 *	Right overhead strike	RRG	Naked choke With the Jo in the right hand in a RRG the uke delivers a right overhead strike. You deflect the uke’s right arm simultaneously striking to the uke’s left collarbone. Followed by executing a naked choke (using the Jo)
21 *	Right hook punch	RRG	Kote hineri - ude gatame With Jo in right hand in a RRG at the end and blocking Uke’s right hook punch with the left hand. Simultaneously delivering a cutting strike to the Uke’s ribs with the length of the Jo. Turn under like in “kote hineri” maintaining the position of the Jo on the Uke’s chest with the right hand to apply an “ude gatame”.
22 *	Right hook punch	RRG	Kubi gatame With the Jo in the right hand in a RRG and the left hand palming at the mid point of the Jo. The uke delivers a right hook punch as you block the strike the Jo moves along the uke’s arm as you enter and rotate. You hook your right arm around the uke’s head like a reverse neck throw and swing the Jo’s length around the head grasping it with the left hand to form a neck lock and strangle. You may complete the technique with a neck-locking throw (with tai otoshi base).
23 *	Right hook punch	RRG	Ude garami With the Jo in the right hand in a RRG the uke delivers a right hook punch. You block the uke’s right arm with your left hand simultaneously striking upward with the Jo (in your right) swinging the Jo anti clockwise to hook under the uke’s chin as to execute an ude garami, where you may follow it up with a take down.
24 *	Right hook punch	RRG	Reverse naked choke With Jo in right hand in a RRG at the end and the left hand palming the mid point of the Jo. Block Uke’s right hook punch and side along the arm to the neck. At this point slide the left hand under the Jo to the elbow and cup the uke’s head (high rear) to form a reverse naked choke. Using the lever of the Jo for directional movement (right hand) apply pressure.
25 *	Left hook punch	RRG	Reverse scissor strangle With the Jo in the right hand in a RRG and the left hand palming. The left hook punch is delivered and blocked by the uke. Anchoring around the uke’s head with the Jo in the left elbow to form a lever a scissors strangle is executed.
26	Right hook punch	RNG	Spine/arm lever takedown With the Jo in the right hand in a RNG, the uke delivers a right hook punch. You block the striking arm and form a c-grip with your right hand as you strike upward toward the uke’s right Tricep. As you enter you place the length of the Jo, diagonally to the rear of the uke. You shift the uke’s right arm over the Jo to form a lever against the spine and the arm to create a take down.
27 *	Right front kick	RNG	Spine / strangle With the Jo held in the right hand in a RNG. The uke’s front kick deflected. Before the pressure of the kicking foot makes contact with the ground, you enter striking the uke’s groin and then chin. You then place the Jo on the left collarbone of the uke at the point of the right hand forming a vee as you turn and rotate to the rear of the uke. Your left hand takes grip Jo’s other end. Off balancing the uke in a left rear position to apply a spine lock and strangle.
28 *	Right front kick	LRG	Foot throw With the Jo in the left hand in a LRG, the uke delivers a right front kick to the mid section. You deflect the in coming kick with the left (with the Jo) moving into a right arm hook. The Jo is levered across the uke’s right foot as you execute a seoi otoshi type throw.
29	Right front kick	RRG	Leg lever With the Jo in the right hand in a RRG the uke delivers a right front kick. You deflect and hook the kicking leg with the right hand followed by swinging the Jo over the uke’s leg (near the knee) to form a lever to create a leg lever take down. You may follow this movement with an ankle locking technique.
30 *	Right front kick	RRG	Outside hook takedown With the Jo in a right reverse grip with the left hand in a flexion grip at the mid point of the Jo. The uke delivers a right front kick. Enter and capture the uke’s leg from underneath with the stick, trapping the leg between the stick and your forearm. Turn anti -clockwise to lever the uke off balance to create a take down.
31 *	Right front kick	DSG	Foot block With the Jo in a double square grip, the uke delivers a right front kick to the mid section. You execute a pushing block with the middle of the Jo to the middle of the uke’s foot, pushing them off balance creating them to fall to the ground.
32	Right roundhouse kick	RNG	Foot check With the Jo in the right hand in a RNG the uke delivers a right round house kick. You block the in coming technique by placing your instep at the bottom of the Jo as you push out and block.
33 *	Right roundhouse kick	RRG	Inside hook takedown With the Jo in a right reverse grip with the left hand palming the Jo at the mid point. The uke delivers a right round house kick. Enter and capture the uke’s leg from underneath with the stick, trapping the leg between the stick and your forearm. Turn clockwise to lever the uke off balance to create a take down.
34 *	Right roundhouse kick	RRG	Take down - leg/ankle lock With the Jo in the right in a RRG, the uke delivers a right round house kick to the mid section. You simultaneously block and hook the leg (the hook at the ankle and the block of the Jo at the knee). Applying pressure to create a take down to apply an ankle locking technique on the ground.
35 *	Left hand grip (with Jo)	LNG	Yoko te kubi hishigi The Jo in held in a LNG grip with the uke taking hold of your right wrist in an outside grip on the wrist. Moving in a sliding fashion to the left you rotate the Jo in a clockwise direction to form a side wrist crush.
36 *	Left hand grip (without Jo)	RNG	Rear arm lock take down With the Jo held in a RNG, the uke takes hold of your left hand in an outside wrist grip. You deliver an upward strike to the uke’s right tricep, as you enter you place the length of the Jo, diagonally to the rear of the uke. You shift the uke’s right arm over the Jo to form a lever against the spine and the arm to create a take down.
37 *	Double Jo grab at end	DRG	1/2 shiho nage The Jo is held in a double right stance grip and the uke takes a double grab at the end of the Jo. You enter and execute a half-shiho nage.
38 *	Single middle Jo grab	DSG	Break away The Jo is held in a double square grip and the uke take hold with a single grip to the middle of the Jo. You slightly angle the Jo as you turn the Jo to a vertical position. You then tilt the top hand of the Jo towards the uke and pull away the bottom end towards yourself as you take a step backward. This creates a lever on the wrist causing them to release.
39 *	Double middle Jo grab	DSG	Break away This technique is the same as the single grip method. For lease resistants angle the Jo more initially.
40 *	End Jo grab	DRG	Yoko te kubi hishigi With a double grip (right hand rear, left hand forward), the uke grabs at the end with their right hand, where you move the Jo forward and with a small circle rotates the uke’s gripping hand to form a side wrist crush.
41 *	Mid section Jo grab	DSG	Half nelson The Jo is held in a double square grip and the uke takes hold at the mid point (with one or two hands). You move your right hand under the uke’s right armpit, creating them to bend their arm (like a kote hineri). The uke’s grip breaks as you move into a half nelson and swings the length of the Jo of the uke’s right shoulder. Your left hand reaches around the uke’s neck to grip the furthest end of the Jo to form a lock and pain compliance technique.
42 *	Right one arm rear strangle	RRG	Chest press – take down The Jo is in a RRG and the uke attacks you with a one handed right rear strangle. First you take hold of the uke’s right wrist and turn inward under their right armpit. Swing the Jo anti clockwise and strike to the uke’s ribs (on left), then reach around the rear of uke to take a second grip on the other end of the Jo to execute a chest press. You may then slide and rotate this position of the Jo as you move to their front (facing them) to execute a double reap throw with the Jo across the rear of both the uke’s ankles.
43 *	Double lapel	RRG	Double Yoko te kubi hishigi With the Jo in your right hand in a RRG, place the length of the Jo over the uke’s wrists. With your left hand you forma mirrored grip to the right hand, placing both thumbs under the uke’s wrist to execute a double side wrist crush.
44 *	Double lapel grab	RRG	Break away The Jo is held in a right reverse grip as the uke takes hold in a double lapel grab. You take a half step backwards on the right foot as you place the end of the Jo over the uke’s left wrist. You take a second grip with the left hand on the other end of the Jo from underneath. You draw the Jo through so it goes under the uke’s right wrist; you then twist the Jo in a clockwise rotation to create a break away.
45 *	Double lapel grab	RRG	Swing over - to double wrist lock take down With the Jo in the right hand in a RRG, the uke takes a double lapel grab. You swing the Jo to the left under and over the uke’s grip taking a second grip on the Jo with the left hand. A double wristlock is applied to create control, taking the uke to a ground position.
46	Double lapel grab	DSG	Thrust (step back) - left ude gatame With the Jo in a double square grip, the uke takes a double lapel grab. You take a half right step backward and then deliver a thrust to the uke’s chest. Maintaining the end of the Jo on the uke’s chest move to your right simultaneously taking hold of the uke’s left hand by a wrist in a c-grip, to move into an arm lock.
47 *	Bear hug	RRG	Front or back - spine press back You have been caught in a bear hug by the uke either a front of back variation and you hold the Jo is in the right hand in a RRG. You swing the Jo across the back taking a second grip to form a spine press to create a release from the hold.
48 *	Bear hug	RRG	Roll to bear grip - ude gatame The Jo is in a RRG and the uke captions you in a rear bear hug. Lay the Jo across the uke’s grip, pressing it in a rolling motion to release the grip. The secure a c-grip on uke’s left wrist turning under the arm to execute a straight arm lock by placing the Jo on the uke’s chest forming a lever between the Jo and uke’s left arm.
49	Right cross shoulder push	LRG	Bicep squeeze With the Jo in the left hand in a LRG held at the end. The uke executes a cross shoulder push. Taking grip of the right hand with your right hand, simultaneously placing the Jo in the bend of the uke’s elbow, with a left step backwards you apply a bicep squeeze as you transfer your right to the other end of the Jo to create a take down.
50	Leg tie-up		Jo in knee bend - pressure on foot with hand The uke is in a prone position. The Jo is placed in the bend of one knee, at its mid point (both ends are anchored), followed by levering the foot over the Jo.
51	Double leg tie-up		Ushiro hiza garami Place uke’s legs in the rear knee entanglement structure and then place the Jo in between the uke’s legs in the opposite side of the overlap and use the length of the Jo to create a lever against the uke’s extended leg. This can be used in conjunction with a Hojo technique.

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