JODO

Jojutsu is often called the way of the stick (in Japanese – Jodo).
This jodo practitioner uses a short wooden staff, called a jo or tsue, to defend against an attacker using a Japanese sword. The jo and the sword – called tachi, form a complementary method of keiko or training.

Jojutsu is primarily a defensive martial art. It was developed asa a means of defeating the attacking swordsman without killing him, a humane goal. Jojutsu is almost completely based on paired kata. The swordsman is always the aggressor and the Jo responds by effectively defending him or herself. The kata of Jojutsu serve as a repository of combat strategy. Constant traing in these kata allow the exponent to internalize these strategies through repetition and experience.