Likes Likes:  0
Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: jo length

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    265
    Likes (received)
    1

    Default jo length

    Is there a special jo length for practising aikijo waza or can anyone of any height use the standard 4.21 shaku jo? Is that the same do SMR jodo also?
    Kind regards,
    Jeremy
    Jeremy Hagop

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    6,227
    Likes (received)
    118

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jezah81 View Post
    Is there a special jo length for practising aikijo waza or can anyone of any height use the standard 4.21 shaku jo? Is that the same do SMR jodo also?
    I can't speak for SMR (or other Aikijo systems, for that matter), but in Seiki Ryu I was told by our headmaster that I needed a longer-than-standard jo. I'm 6'5" (195cm) and I made a jo for myself that reached from the ground to my armpit.

    With some of our techniques where we slide the job through our hands at full arm's length I'd have dropped a shorter jo with my considerable arm-span. (I did have problems at my home dojo, though, with hitting the ceiling a few times; it was a converted office space with acoustic tile ceilings. Our dojo in the next town south of mine had 18-foot ceilings, and was a much better place for sword and staff work.)
    Yours in Budo,
    ---Brian---

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA
    Posts
    883
    Likes (received)
    35
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    In SMR, they're pretty well standardized on the 4.2.1 jo, Jeremy, although Chambers-sensei has mentioned that there is a longer jo length used in battle which is the armpit-length that Brian quoted. I can't recall the name of that longer jo, but will ask Sensei at our next training session.

    Ken

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Central PA
    Posts
    2
    Likes (received)
    0

    Default

    I also have heard that the optimum length is from armpit to ground as well.

    Greg

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Tokorozawa, Japan
    Posts
    1,275
    Likes (received)
    18

    Default

    I believe SMR jo uses a standard length, while other systems may or may not adjust the length of the jo according to the practitioner's height.
    As for aikijo, it seems that the SMR jo has become the default standard (diameters and weights may vary - I'm dying to get a full sun [approx. 30 mm] diameter jo in the near future), but this is, as I said, default. The original weapons for aikijo were the spear and fixed bayonet.
    I once tried some kumijo with a borrowed bo, and found no real difference except in the maai.
    Andrew Smallacombe

    Aikido Kenshinkai

    JKA Tokorozawa

    Now trotting over a bridge near you!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    New Jersey, USA
    Posts
    15
    Likes (received)
    5

    Default

    Shinto Muso-ryu jo are supposed to be 4-shaku, 2-sun, 1-bu. I would have to measure my Yagyu jo to be sure, but it is around 5-shaku and a bit. Tendo-ryu jo are supposed to be a broken naginata and of a length equal to one's mid-forehead, although nowadays people seem to be using manufactured jo that are a standard length. Chikubujima-ryu jo are, I think, 5-shaku, 5-sun and one that is longer (I do not know the exact length). Or maybe that is Muhi Muteki-ryu? Toda-ha Buko-ryu bo also represent a naginata that has been broken. They can be whatever length and diameter one wishes (mine is made from a naginata of Nitta Sensei's that broke and she gave me permission to cut it down). Anyway, there is nothing approaching a "standard" length for all koryu jojutsu.

    Hope this helps.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Seattle, Washington, USA
    Posts
    6,227
    Likes (received)
    118

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Meik Skoss View Post
    ...Tendo-ryu jo are supposed to be a broken naginata and of a length equal to one's mid-forehead.
    That would be convenient for me if I should ever take up Tendo-ryu; I can just use a standard rokushakubo.
    Yours in Budo,
    ---Brian---

Similar Threads

  1. length of jo
    By jezah81 in forum Jo
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 20th September 2005, 11:43
  2. wakazashi length
    By Liam Cognet in forum Sword Arts
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 5th November 2004, 20:18
  3. tsuka length
    By jezah81 in forum Sword Arts
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 3rd October 2004, 17:40
  4. Class length
    By John Lindsey in forum Secrets of a Successful Martial Art School
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 18th December 2003, 13:30
  5. Replies: 3
    Last Post: 2nd July 2001, 23:58

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •