Jōdō (杖道:じょうどう), meaning "the way of the jo", or jōjutsu (杖術:じょうじゅつ) is a Japanese martial art using short staves called jō. The art is similar to bōjutsu, and is strongly focused upon defence against the Japanese sword. The jō is a short staff, usually about 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 m) long, about the average length of a walking stick. However, the art was not used, as one might fancifully imagine, by travellers to ward off aggressive bandits or swordsmen. The martial art of jōdō was the province of professional warriors.

Legend has it that the concept of Jo as a weapon came to Gonosuke in a dream..Muso (dream), Shin (God/God Spirit), Do (way of). It was to be based on the striking action of the sword, the sweeping action of the naginata and thrusting action of the spear. It is reasonable to assume that it developed out of the technique of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu and Kashima Shin Ryu, as well as those he discovered as a mushashugyo.

Musashi and Gonosuke became friends and Musashi introduced Gonosuke to the Kuroda Clan, where he developed and taught the system. Down the centuries the system was kept within the closed world of the clan. In the 1920s, Takaji Shimizu Dai Sensei was sent to Tokyo to teach at Jikoro Kano’s dojo, the Kodokan. He became the last Grand Master of the system, the 25th lineal descendant. The Ryu became dead on his death in the 1970s.

Under Shimizu Dai Sensei the Ryu was used as the basis for the baton training within the Japanese Police Force, including the Riot Squat. The Jo is a symbol for the Police as the truncheon was for our police

The Jodo Instructor is

Sam Winder Sandan (3rd Dan) Jodo

Sam teaches Kaisho-Jo, the version of the tradition system taught to the Riot Squad; this is a slightly more combative system than the classical Ryu

Sam started the martial arts with the Judo in 1961

Then in 1974, Sam learned Kobudo with Michael Finn and had continuous training for 32 years in Bo, Sai, Tonfa, Kama, Nunchaku

Sam graded

• Shodan(1^stDan) by Seiko Suzuki Sensei, 7^th Dan in 1979
• Sandan(3^rdDan) by Tony Chistian Sensei, 7^th Dan in 2001
• Yondan(4thDan) by BIKO, British Institute of Karate Organisation in 2005

In 1975, Sam began Jodo with Michael Finn and had continuous training for 31 years in Jo, Tanjo, Jutte

Sam graded

• Shodan(1^stDan) by Michael Finn, 4^th Dan in 1979
• Sandan(3^rdDan) by Keith Hazelwood, 5^th Dan in 2003

Sam trained with Kaminoda Sensei, 8^th Dan, Donn Draeger, 7^th Dan, and with Hiroi Sensei 9^th Dan in his Machida dojo, Tokyo

Sam practises also Karate since 1997, he is Shodan since 2001, Hanbo (Kukishin Ryu) and Sword (Shinto Ryu and Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjustu)

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