Aiki-jo
Encyclopedia
Aiki-jō is the name given specifically to the set of martial art techniques practiced with a jō
(a wooden staff about four feet long), practiced according to the principles of aikido
, taught first by Morihei Ueshiba
(aikido's founder), then further developed by Morihiro Saito
, one of Ueshiba's most prominent students.
(植芝 盛平 Ueshiba Morihei, 1883–1969) at his dojo in Iwama, Japan
, at the same time he developed aikido's sword training (called aiki-ken
). It is well documented that Ueshiba studied several different styles of martial arts, including the art of the spear (sōjutsu
). The aiki-jō techniques taught by Ueshiba were a distillation and modification of that training, with an emphasis upon the use of the jō as a method for the refinement of one's empty-handed aikido techniques.
Most of the practice of aiki-jō was ultimately systematized not by Ueshiba, but by Morihiro Saito
(斉藤 守弘 Saitō Morihiro, 1928–2002), one of Ueshiba's most dedicated students and the person who took over the Iwama dojo
after Ueshiba died. Hence the unofficial term "Iwama style" to refer to Saito's style of aikido, incorporating a significant amount of weapons training. In order to preserve the art and to teach an increasing number of students, Saito gathered the teachings of Ueshiba and presented the world with "aiki-jō". The first aiki-jō techniques were published in "Traditional Aikido", Vol I and II by Morihiro Saito, 1973. Before his death, Saito and his son Hitohiro Saito
(斎藤 仁浩 Saitō Hitohiro, born 1957) revived and refined this art.
Note that the practice of aiki-jō is not pervasive. Some schools of aikido incorporate weapons training that is unrelated to aiki-jō, and others forego weapons training entirely.
(solo forms). Some dojo also practice jiyu-waza armed with jō (freestyle technique, without a predetermined form of attack and response).
There are twenty aiki-jō suburi. They are divided into sub-groups and named as follows (the English given is an approximate translation):
1.
2.
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The kumijō teach students how to alternately control the center line and move off of it to avoid attacks and how to blend with an opponent's attacks, among other skills. Improvisational variations on the kumijō (called henka), which generally cause the kumijō form to end early with one person taking advantage of an opening to strike or throw the other, are also taught.
, simply meaning "forms", are typically solo, predetermined series of techniques practiced against an imaginary opponent. In the aiki-jō curriculum, there are two primary kata. The first is called "Sanjūichi no Jō", is generally referred to in English as the "Thirty-one Point Jō Kata", and was taught by Ueshiba. The second one is "Jūsan no Jō"; "Thirteen Point Jō Kata". There are also well known partnered versions of these forms, called bunkai.
Jo
JO, Jo or jo may refer to:*Jō, a ~4-foot-long wooden staff used in some Japanese martial arts*Cho , , also spelled Jo, a common Korean family name*Jo , a 1971 French comedy...
(a wooden staff about four feet long), practiced according to the principles of aikido
Aikido
is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...
, taught first by Morihei Ueshiba
Morihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
(aikido's founder), then further developed by Morihiro Saito
Morihiro Saito
Morihiro Saito was a teacher of the Japanese martial art of aikido, with many students around the world. Saito's practice of aikido spanned 56 years, from the age of 18, when he first met aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, until his death in 2002.-Early life:Morihiro Saito was born in Ibaraki...
, one of Ueshiba's most prominent students.
Development of aiki-jō
Much of the aiki-jō syllabus was developed by Morihei UeshibaMorihei Ueshiba
was a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" or , "Great Teacher".-Early years:Morihei Ueshiba was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan on December 14, 1883....
(植芝 盛平 Ueshiba Morihei, 1883–1969) at his dojo in Iwama, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, at the same time he developed aikido's sword training (called aiki-ken
Aiki-ken
Aiki-ken is the name given specifically to the set of Japanese sword techniques practiced according to the principles of aikido, taught first by Morihei Ueshiba , then further developed by Morihiro Saito, one of Ueshiba's most prominent students...
). It is well documented that Ueshiba studied several different styles of martial arts, including the art of the spear (sōjutsu
Sojutsu
, meaning "art of the spear" is the Japanese martial art of fighting with the Japanese .-Origins:Although the spear had a profound role in early Japanese mythology, where the islands of Japan themselves were said to be created by salt water dripping from the tip of a spear, as a weapon the first...
). The aiki-jō techniques taught by Ueshiba were a distillation and modification of that training, with an emphasis upon the use of the jō as a method for the refinement of one's empty-handed aikido techniques.
Most of the practice of aiki-jō was ultimately systematized not by Ueshiba, but by Morihiro Saito
Morihiro Saito
Morihiro Saito was a teacher of the Japanese martial art of aikido, with many students around the world. Saito's practice of aikido spanned 56 years, from the age of 18, when he first met aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, until his death in 2002.-Early life:Morihiro Saito was born in Ibaraki...
(斉藤 守弘 Saitō Morihiro, 1928–2002), one of Ueshiba's most dedicated students and the person who took over the Iwama dojo
Iwama dojo
Iwama is an important historical location from the development of Aikido. It has a famous dojo of the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, who lived there from 1942 until his death in 1969. It has become "a Mecca to the aikido community."...
after Ueshiba died. Hence the unofficial term "Iwama style" to refer to Saito's style of aikido, incorporating a significant amount of weapons training. In order to preserve the art and to teach an increasing number of students, Saito gathered the teachings of Ueshiba and presented the world with "aiki-jō". The first aiki-jō techniques were published in "Traditional Aikido", Vol I and II by Morihiro Saito, 1973. Before his death, Saito and his son Hitohiro Saito
Hitohiro Saito
Hitohiro Saito is an aikido instructor and founding headmaster of Iwama Shin-Shin Aiki Shuren-kai. Hitohiro is the son of Morihiro Saito. At age of seven, he started to learn aikido from Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, who cared for him as a grandson. After Ueshiba died in 1969, he...
(斎藤 仁浩 Saitō Hitohiro, born 1957) revived and refined this art.
Note that the practice of aiki-jō is not pervasive. Some schools of aikido incorporate weapons training that is unrelated to aiki-jō, and others forego weapons training entirely.
Aiki-jō Practice
The primary purpose of aiki-jō practice is to magnify errors in one's aikido technique, and to give the student an opportunity to apply the principles of aikido in different situations. Saito codified three sets of techniques, the first being twenty suburi (solo cutting exercises), the second being ten partnered forms, and the third being two kataKata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
(solo forms). Some dojo also practice jiyu-waza armed with jō (freestyle technique, without a predetermined form of attack and response).
Suburi
, a word that translates literally to something like "elementary swinging", is used to refer to the basic solo movements of aiki-jō, developed by Saito as a distillation of the forms and partnered practice.There are twenty aiki-jō suburi. They are divided into sub-groups and named as follows (the English given is an approximate translation):
- Five Movements
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
- Five Movements
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
- Three Movements
11.
12.
13.
- Five Movements
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
- Two Movements
19.
20.
Kumijō
The partnered forms practice of aiki-jō is called , meaning the crossing/meeting of staves. There are ten kumijō in Saito's aiki-jō curriculum. Ueshiba originally taught various partnered drills and techniques with the jō, and Saito originally codified them into a discrete series of seven such partner drills. In 1983, Saito was set to give a public demonstration, and so devised three more kumijō at that time.The kumijō teach students how to alternately control the center line and move off of it to avoid attacks and how to blend with an opponent's attacks, among other skills. Improvisational variations on the kumijō (called henka), which generally cause the kumijō form to end early with one person taking advantage of an opening to strike or throw the other, are also taught.
Kata
KataKata
is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....
, simply meaning "forms", are typically solo, predetermined series of techniques practiced against an imaginary opponent. In the aiki-jō curriculum, there are two primary kata. The first is called "Sanjūichi no Jō", is generally referred to in English as the "Thirty-one Point Jō Kata", and was taught by Ueshiba. The second one is "Jūsan no Jō"; "Thirteen Point Jō Kata". There are also well known partnered versions of these forms, called bunkai.