The jo is the Japanese 4foot staff, originally taught with the ken (sword) in samurai arts.

Essential Jo is arguably the most comprehensive text on the subject to date, offering a course of study from white through to black belt in this practical, yet elegant, art.

The book features over 900 professional balck and white photgraphs accompanied by clear, detailed textual explanations.

Whileit is intended primriy for students with experience in weapons arts, partcularly jodo, the book can also be used by beginners for home study.

The art of jodo makes an excellent addition to any martial art system.

This is the first instructional text by award-winning martial arts writer and teacher Dan Djurdjevic.

Contents

1 Introduction
What is the jo?
Origins of the jo
The Muidokan jo method
The 'usefulness' of jo training
The types of jo
2 The basics
Informal grip
The 'rule of quarters'
The thrusting grip
The 'slide then jab' principle
The striking grip
Detailsof the striking grip
The primar stance-renoji dachi
The 'cat' stance-neko ashi dachi
The 'forward' stance-zentkutsu dachi
The 'open' zenkutsu dachi
The 'back' tance-kokutsu dachi
The 'hore' stance-shiko dachi
Kamae: the read postures
The zuki no kamae
The uchi no kamae
The katate kamawe
The hasso kamae
Putting it all together
Flow: the essence of the jo
3 Jo suburi: 20 techiniques
Choke zuki (straight thrust)
Kaeshi zuki (curved thrust)
Ushiro zuki (thrust behind)
Zuki gedan gaeshi (thrust with a loow sweeping strike)
Zuki jodan gaeshi (thrust with a high curving block and strike)
Shomen uchi komi (downward strike to teh front)
Renzoku uchi komi (consecutive downward strikes)
Men uchi gedan gaeshi (downward strike with a low sweeping strike)
Men uchi ushiro zuke (downward strike with a thrust behind)
Gyaku yoko men ushiro zuki (reverse strike to the side of the head, rear thrust)
Katate gedan gaeshi (low sweeping wrist strike)
Toma katate uchi (extended wrist strike)
Katate hachi no ji gaeshi (figure 8 sweeping wrist strike)
Hasso gaeshi uchi (shoulder sweeping strike)
Hasso gaeshi zuki (shoulder sweeping thrust)
Hasso gaeshi ushiro zuki (shoulder sweeping reverse thrust)
Hasso gaeshi ushiro uchi (shoulder sweeping reverse strike)
Hasso gaeshi ushiro harai (shoulder sweeping reverse circular strike)
Hidari nagare gaeshi uchi (left flowing and sweeping strike)
Migi nagare gaeshi zuki (right flowing and sweeping thrust)
4 Kumijo: 2-Person drills
Kumijo 1 (using suburi 1,2 and 4)
Kumijo 2 (using suburi 2, 5, 6 and 7)
Kumijo 3 (using suburi 3, 5 and 8)
Kumijo 4 (using suburi 9 and 10)
Kumijo 5 Using suburi 11 and 15)
Kumijo 6 (using suburi 1 and 12)
Kumijo 7 using suburi 1, 5, 13, 14 and 15)
Kumijo 8 (using suburi 5, 14 and 16)
Kumijo 9 (using suburi 19 and 20)
Afterwords
Acknowledgements
About the author
Appendix: Muidokan jo syllabus
Glossary
Index