Bujinkan 杖術 Jōjutsu and 貫く Tsurunuku Preview

From https://www.rojodojo.com A preview of my Bujinkan video exploring Bujinkan 杖術 jōjutsu and 貫く tsurunuku. We warmed up with 杖術 jojutsu kote uchi. Start from 講変の構 ihen no kamae, then as the opponent cuts we evade behind our jo. After the kote uchi, we use a 撚り型 yorigata to strike 横面 yokomen. We finished the warmup by using the jo with just one hand for extra distance against the sword.

I began class with principles from the jōjutsu kata, 十文字 jūmonji. We begin with a tsuki to 面部 menbu followed by a strike to 胴 dou. We used these strikes to explore control of distance against a sword.

Now we strike menbu on the left side. We used the crossover grip for deception. Then I showed how to use just one hand for a long distance.

This all leads up to an 足払い ashi barai. But the delivery of this strike can be filled with deception. These strikes all flow together one into the next without a break.

I explained how this is all 貫く杖術 tsurunuku jojutsu. Hatsumi Sensei tells us this comes from a haiku by Takahama Kyoshi. The haiku reads
去年今年貫く棒の如きもの
The old year and the new-
Like a long stick
Continuing through.

This is related to the idea of 辛抱一貫 Shinbo Ikkan. Hatsumi Sensei often references this idea that was passed to him from Takamatsu Sensei. He says it is a Kasumi no Den, ”message of the mist.”

We finished class by embracing the idea of 詒変の杖 ihen no jo, which means deceptive or changing jojutsu. This means every henka will be unique.

Of Note: 63 and four wheels