Jôjutsu is often called “The Way of the Stick.” This martial art uses a short wooden staff, called a jô or tsue, to defend oneself against an attacker using a Japanese sword. The jô and the sword (tachi) form a complimentary method of keiko or training.

Legend tells us that Jôjutsu was formed almost 400 years ago, as a result of a duel between the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi, and the founder of Jôjutsu, Muso Gonnoske. Gonnoske was a swordsman of the Shinto ryu, and was participating in musha shugyo. This involved traveling around Japan studying various martial arts and engaging in duels in an effort to improve his technique. His duel with Musashi ended in defeat, but luckily his life was spared. In an effort to understand his weaknesses, he retreated to a shrine to meditate and train for some time. Finally, he had a vision that laid before him the use of a short staff as a remarkably flexible weapon. Jôjutsu combines the striking motions of the sword, the stabbing motions of the spear and the sweeping motion of the naginata.

The style Gonnoske established is called Shindô Muso ryu Jôjutsu.

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

Legend also tells of Gonnoskes eventual rematch with Musashi. In this encounter Gonnoske, using his jô, defeated Musashis two sword style. And in demonstrating Jôjutsus core teaching of self-defense, Gonnoske spared Musashi's life.

While there are many vehicles for self-improvement, Jôjutsu is one that strike a chord with many people. And like many things Japanese, the study of Budô, or martial arts, has value and purpose beyond Japans borders. Also, Jôjutsu is not just a course of study but a life long pursuit. People who train 20, 30, even 50 years, still consider themselves to be students, and are constantly striving to improve their technique. It is this striving for improvement that characterizes the study of Jôjutsu.