------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: #1: http://kihon.aikido.org.hu/kata/31jo_1.html #2: http://kihon.aikido.org.hu/kata/31jo_2.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #1: Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 15:49:43 -0000 Reply-To: Aikido List Sender: Aikido List From: Nigel Porter Subject: 31 Kata No Kumi Jo (Iwama Ryu) To: AIKIDO-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU The following description is that of the 31 Jo Kumi Jo kata, taught by Saito Sensei. These words were written by Sensei Paul McGlone (yondan), Traditional Aikido Iwama Ryu GB. To quote Sensei McGlone "The following pages have been compiled .... to provide a basic guide.. these pages should NOT be regarded as an unalterable 'bible', as they have in the past and no doubt will in the future be revised.." K stands for person doing the Kata, AK for person doing the Anti-Kata (initially attacking), and the Count (1 to 31) is shown in square brackets). The movements are given in Japanese and if this a problem then I might suggest a revision of the 20 Jo suburi. After all, we should walk before we might try to run ;0) 3I KATA NO KUMIJO K: Basic posture as first JO SUBURI AK: TSUKI NO KAMAE then make CHOKUZUKI K: KAESHI ZUKI [1] AK: Deflect and make CHOKUZUKI K: Step to right with overhead defence [2] then turn JO over on circular movement to knock partner's JO down and to the left, then enter with CHOKUZUKI in HIDARI HANMI [3] AK: Steps to right, catching UKE's JO and covering own upper body, then turning JO over in circular movement to sweep UKE's JO down and to the right, then enters with CHOKUZUKI K: Moves to right, raising JO to catch UCHI's JO and cover own upper body, [4] then enter MIGI SHOMEN UCHI KOMI [5] AK: Steps back with defensive SHOMEN UCHI in MIGI HANMI K: Makes HIDARI SHOMEN UCHI KOMI [6] AK: Steps back with defensive SHOMEN UCHI in HIDARI HANMI K: Turns to rear to make SHOMEN UCHI [7] AK: Pauses K: Makes HIDARI SHOMEN UCHI KOMI [8] AK: Enters to MIGI HANMI preparing to raise JO for SHOMEN UCHI K: Turns to rear to make USHIRO BARAI [9] AK: Steps back into HIDARI HANMI raising JO sharply, avoiding UKE's sweep, then start to make SHOMEN UCHI K: Moves out to left, raising JO sharply under UCHI's arms to halt attack [10] AK: Stops SHOMEN UCHI partially executed K: Enters to make GYAKYU YOKOMEN UCHI [11] AK: Steps back into HIDARI HANMI and blends with and parries JO K: Hand change, and settle into TSUKI NO KAMAE [12] AK: Hand change, and settle into TSUKI NO KAMAE K: Makes CHOKUZUKI [13] AK: Steps to left, deflecting UKE's JO to right, then makes CHOKUZUKI K: Moves to right in HIDARI HANMI, raising JO to catch UCHI'S JO and cover own upper body, [14] then enter MIGI SHOMEN UCHI KOMI [15] AK: Steps back into MIGI HANMI cutting SHOMEN UCHI in defence K: Immediately slide JO back to left hand side [16] and step forward making HIDARI GEDAN GAESHI [17] AK: Step back into HIDARI HANMI moving left hand to front half of JO and using front end to defend knee, then make CHOKUZUKI K: Step to right in HIDARI HANMI and turn JO end over end to strike UCHI's JO away to left [18] then make GEDAN TSUKI to UCHI's knee [19] AK: Step back in HIDARI HANMI raising JO in basic defence K: Step forward with YOKOMEN UCHI KOMI to UCHI's knee, dropping onto own right knee, [20] AK: Step back into MIGI HANMI, cutting against UKE's JO as defence. K: Slide JO back to left hand side [21] AK: Raise JO for SHOMEN UCHI and step forward to strike UKE's exposed head K: Draw JO across the body with right hand, sliding JO through left hand, at the same time rising up and stepping forwards with left foot, then making TSUKI to UCHI's chest [22] AK: Step to left with left foot, avoiding UKE's thrust, then sliding right hand up to top end of JO, enter with left foot, thrusting JO over top of UKE's JO to UKE's chest K: Step to right in HIDARI HANMI and turn JO end over end to strike UCHI's JO away to left [23] then enter in HADARI HANMI making CHOKUZUKI [24] AK: Allow JO to follow circle created by UKE's strike and step straight back, maintaining HIDARI HANMI and dropping centre, blocking UKE's JO away to right. K: Again enter in HIDARI HANMI making CHOKUZUKI [25] AK: Step to right in HIDARI HANMI and turn JO end over end to strike UCHI's JO away to left, then start to make CHOKUZUKI K: Slide JO back to right hand side, [26] and step forwards into MlGI HANMI making GEDAN GAESHI [27] AK: Draw JO back to right side of body then step back into MIGI HANMI making GEDAN GAESHI as defence K: Draw JO back with left hand, raising JO to chest height, then make TSUKI to UCHI's chest [28] AK: Draw JO backwards through right hand until the right hand is about a foot from the end. Step back into HIDARI HANMI sweeping JO up and across to right, striking UKE's JO, then as JO approaches right shoulder, left band drops to grip lower end, so that you assume HASSO NO KAMAE. K: Move right hand up and to the. left, to blend with strike, then release JO with left hand allowing JO to rotate, and catching free end with left hand above head [29] Enter with MIGI HANMI CHOKU TSUKI [30] AK: Strike UKE's JO with a parrying blow turning your right hip forwards as you do so, then step into MIGI HANMI and make CHOKUZUKI. K: Absorb power of UCHI's cut, then raise JO as in 5th KEN SUBURI, entering with HIDARI HANMI to left of UCHI's JO, avoiding his thrust, and immediately cutting GYAKYU YOKOMEN UCHI [31] Hey Ivan, look, the last cut is Yokomen Uchi, even though in the 31 Jo Kata it Shomen! Weird. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #2: Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 13:03:01 GMT0BST Reply-To: Aikido List Sender: Aikido List From: Jonathan Diesch Organization: University of Leeds Subject: Jo kata - Complete! To: AIKIDO-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU As promised, a labour of love: For this transcription, I have tried to avoid using japanese terms for various techniques, partly because I can never remember them all, and mostly because it will limit the number of ppl who can follow what I'm saying. This is only a description of the kata as I know it, and may bear no relation whatsoever to anything your sensei has taught you. Throughout this transcription YOU are 'doing' the kata side, HE is 'doing' the "anti-kata". numbers 1-31 are you, numbers 1a-30a are him! 31-COUNT JO KATA AND KUMI-JO 1a: starting L posture, he makes a straight thrust to your chest. 1: Starting L posture, you step off the line to your L and make a reverse thrust over his jo, to the chest. 2a: stepping back, and slightly left, he rotates his jo to cause a deflection of yours, taking your balance to your rear L, and then makes a straight thrust to your face. 2: Stepping to your R, you raise your jo to protect your face, and block upwards, cocking your wrists as you do so, to keep contact, and stop his jo flying off into space. From here rotate your jo from under his to on top, and strike it down, taking his balance to his front R, and... 3: Thust to his L floating ribs. 3a: keeping the end of his jo low, he steps back into R posture, and turns his hips towards you, blocking your strike with his jo vertical. From here he makes a spiral movement with his jo, that brings on-line with your face, and takes your jo, and your balance, to your rear L. Then he makes a straight thrust at your face. 4: You avoid this thrust by making a BIG step to your R, across the line, raising the jo to protect your face, NOT blocking him! As you bring the jo up, allow your back hand to slide into the middle of the stick, then let go with your front hand so that you can rotate the jo through 180 deg. catch the end again, step forward and... 5: make a straight cut (shomen). 5a: stepping back, he absorbs your cut by making an identical cut to yours, in mirror-image. 6: So drop the end of the jo to your R, step forward, around the end of his jo, and cut again. You should now be in L hanmi. 6a: he makes another identical cut, but is a little slow with it, this time you catch his jo, and send him off-balance to his rear L. He should now be in L hanmi. 7: You now pivot to face the opposite direction, and make a straight cut to an imaginary persons' head. 7a: he recovers his balance, and attempts a straight thrust at your back. 8: You step forward, making shomen again. 8a: he raises his jo to hit you on the head, stepping forward into R posture. 9: You are in L posture, L hand forward on the jo. You raise the end of your jo to your front L, and then make (kaiten-ashi) by pivoting on the balls of you feet through 180 deg. then stepping FORWARD with your L foot. As you do this swing the jo round, and down diagonally, to strike at his knees. Ensure that you turn your wrists over so that you PUSH the jo round not pull it. If you pull you cannot stop the jo easily. Do not allow the jo to go further than 90 deg past his knees. 9a: with his jo still raised he steps back (quickly!) then steps in again to strike your head. 10: Step forward on your L foot, bringing the jo up horizontally under his elbows, to prevent him cutting you, IRL you go under his chin, or put the tip straight in his throat. 11: now drop the end of your jo, allowing him to finish his cut, stepping round to your L, and making shomen. 11a: he avoids being hit by drawing back, and meeting your strike, 12: You are now in L posture, so is he. This is a neutral position. Release the jo with your L (back) hand, uncross your hands and grip the jo firmly, pointing towards him maintaining zanshin. 12a: he does the same as 12. 13: Step forward, L posture, and thrust to his chest. 13a: he steps to his R, and spirals under your jo, as in no 2a, then thrusts at your face. 14: Step across to your R, and avoid the jo as in no 4 15: Make shomen as no 5. 15a: he steps back, and makes a mirror image shomen, as no 5a. He is now in R posture, with the R hand forward. 16: To avoid having the end of your jo smashed by his shomen, pull the jo back along your L side. Pull the jo with your back hand, through the front until the end of the jo is in your front hand, then push the jo through the back hand with your front. If you do this in reverse you will get your hand broken! Keep the jo in close to your body, with the front R hand at about chest height. You should be in R hanmi. 17: Now step forward with your L foot, around his jo, and punch it forwards to strike his R knee. 17a: he steps back into L posture, and simultaneously turns his hand over, allowing the end of the jo to drop, he puts his left hand in front of the R, and slides the R hand to the back of the jo. This blocks the knee strike, and exposes you to... 18a: he draws his jo back, and makes a straight thrust at your knee/thigh 18: you step forward and to the R, turn to face him, and rotate your jo through 180 deg. to strike his stick down with the back end, being carefull to keep the jo at an upward angle so that he is knocked down and away from you. This also exposes his leg, so... 19: Draw back slightly, and thrust at his ANKLE. 19a: he steps back, drawing his L foot out of the way, and turning to face you, as he does this he lifts the back end of his jo, so that is vertical, and blocks your ankle thrust to the side. At this point he thinks he can hit you on the head, so raises his jo for shomen uchi. 20: You raise your jo to protect your head, but then realise that you can hit his R knee, so step forward and to your R, turning L to face him, and strike to the back of his knee, dropping onto one knee as you do so. 20a: having raised his jo above his head for shomen, he sees you going instead for his knee, so steps back to withdraw the leg, and swings the jo back down to block your strike vertically. 21: You pull you jo back against your side, to avoid it being hit, as in no 16. 22a: he raises the jo to make a straight strike to your head. 22: You are in R posture, sitting on your L leg, you stand up and step forward, bringing the back end of the jo forward, to thrust at his chest. 23a: to avoid this thrust he pivots his lead foot, turning off the line, and facing you. the jo is still raised. He then slides the jo though his hands to thrust downwards at your chest, over the top of your jo. 23: You step to your R side, turning to face him, and rotate the jo vertically through 180 deg. to strike his jo downwards and away from you, exposing his side. 24: You make a straight thrust at his L side. 24a: he pivots to his R, avoiding the thrust, then back to his original position, at the same time he drops the end of his jo under yours, and spirals it over the top, knocking you off balance to your front and L, this is similar to nos 2a and 13a, only upside down. 25: You draw your jo back to regain your posture, and make another straight thrust to his ribs. 25a: he turns to his L again, this time rotating the jo through 180 deg. vertically to strike your stick down. He then makes a straight thrust to your face. 26: You make a BIG step back and slightly off the line to your R pulling the stick back to your R side, as in no 16 27: Now step forward, punching the jo forwards to strike his knee as in no 17. You are now in R posture. 27a: he steps back, dropping the front end of his jo to block 28: Step forward, and to your L, moving past the end of his jo, and raise your jo ABOVE your head, so that you can thrust downwards at his chest/neck, with the lower end. 28a: he lifts the front end of his jo to vertical, and steps back, avoiding the thrust. As he does so, he strikes the end of your jo sideways, and he finishes with the jo held vertically, to side of his head (hasso no kamae (?)) 29: When your jo is stuck sideways, allow it to rotate HORIZONTALLY through 180 deg. then drop the jo down to a mid-level position, and... 30: thust at his chest (chudan tsuki). 30a: he steps off the line to his R, and makes a straight strike to the end of your jo. 31: Absorb the force of his strike, letting the jo travel naturally around your body, step forward and to your L, turning to face him, and strike him powerfully across the back of his head, caving in his skull, and finally finishing the whole business! You should finish in L posture, with your right hand forward on the jo. He should be flat on the floor, bleeding, or alternativley in R posture, with his R hand forward on the jo. This is not a perfect transcription, many of the techniques are really hard to explain in words, as you have probably seen(!) So dont take this as gospel! (also dont leap down my throat for getting it all wrong!) I am intending to put a pamphlet together with a full set of photos to illustrate this kata at some point, perhaps then it might make some sense :) I hope that this is of at least SOME use to someone, as it has taken me 3 hours to write, and I have blisters on my typing finger! I'll stop waffling now. Jon. "I have forgot much Cynara! gone with the wind, Flung roses, roses, riotously with the throng, Dancing to put thy pale lost lilies out of mind; But I was desolate and sick of an old passion. Yea, all the time because the dance was long, I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion." [Ernest Dowson - Horatian Verses] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EOF