神道夢想流杖

What is this?

Shinto Muso Ryu is a historical martial art. It originated from Feudal Japan, and taught samurai how to disable and detain a swordsman using a 4-foot wooden staff.

Is this authentic training?

Our parent Dojo is the Finger Lakes Koryu Kai in Ithaca, NY. The head teacher is a fully licensed instructor in Shinto Muso Ryu Jo.

What does practice in Shinto Muso Ryu entail?

Nearly all practice in SMR is kata based. These are predetermined sets of movements that train the student in the patterns of a conflict. The primary purpose of the kata are to disable the swordsman.

Do I need any martial arts experience?

No, though many people discover classical arts while practicing more mainstream arts.

Are there competitions?

There is no sparring. The kata are a conflict between a jo—a 4-foot wooden staff—and a sword. The jo always wins. The purpose of the art is to learn how that could happen.

Is it for self-defense? Does it have practical applications?

The art teaches how to use a stick to disable someone skilled with a traditional Japanese sword. Hopefully that's not happening in your life ;)In all seriousness, training provides a good understanding of the distance at which someone is dangerous to you.

Why do people do this?

Many want to participate in something authentic, with lineage and techniques that date to pre-Meiji Era Japan. Some are interested in the way an art is passed as intact as possible from the 17th century. Others want to practice something rare in the USA: a non-sporting, kata-based art.

What is the time commitment?

Current training dates are Tuesday and Sunday nights. You advance through the curriculum individually, not as a group.

What equipment do I need?

Loose clothing to start. Eventually, you'll purchase practice weapons and an outfit. There are multiple suppliers in the Twin Cities.

What else do I need to know?

The resources below are a good start. We practice the "koryu version" of Shinto Muso Ryu Jo traced to Nishioka Tsuneo and Shimizu Takaji. Compared to the more common Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei (ZNKR) Seitei Jo, its movements are similar but its purpose is different.

How do I start?

Just shoot us an email or message us on Facebook.If possible, we prefer you observe one lesson before beginning.