Jodo

Seitei Jodo is the ZNKR's standard curriculum drawn from Shinto Muso-ryu: 12 kihon and 12 kata (jo versus sword). Solo, practise the jo side against an imagined tachi.

Starter program (from zero)

Weeks 1-4: honte uchi, gyakute uchi, hiki otoshi — 10 reps each
Weeks 5-8: all 12 kihon in order, 5 reps each
Week 9+: 10 min kihon + the jo side of known kata twice each (tandoku)

Kata / Forms

1. Tsuki Zue 着杖

Beginner

From a neutral walking-stick posture into hiki otoshi and thrust.

2. Suigetsu 水月

Beginner

A single decisive thrust to the solar plexus.

3. Hissage 引提

Beginner

The jo waits hidden, appearing with the sword's cut.

4. Shamen 斜面

Beginner

Stopping the sword with a diagonal strike to the temple.

5. Sakan 左貫

Intermediate

Wrapping the sword down with maki otoshi, then thrusting.

6. Monomi 物見

Intermediate

Defence from the lookout posture; controlled entry from distance.

7. Kasumi 霞

Intermediate

'Mist' — the jo veils your intent.

8. Tachi Otoshi 太刀落

Intermediate

Dropping the sword — hiki otoshi in full application.

9. Rai Uchi 雷打

Advanced

'Thunder strike' — collapsing distance with tai atari.

10. Seigan 正眼

Advanced

Contesting the centre line against seigan.

11. Midare Dome 乱留

Advanced

Stopping successive attacks — the fastest kata of the set.

12. Ran Ai 乱合

Advanced

The long final kata combining nearly all twelve kihon.

Techniques & Strikes

The 12 kihon

Honte uchi: Basic strike with the standard grip.
Gyakute uchi: Strike with the reversed grip — both ends are weapons.
Hiki otoshi uchi: The signature technique: sliding strike that drops the sword.
Kaeshi tsuki: Turning thrust to the throat.
Gyakute tsuki: Reversed-grip thrust.
Maki otoshi: Spiral wrap that drops the sword — angle over speed.
Kuri tsuke: Pinning sword and hands downward.
Kuri hanashi: Pinning then casting away.
Tai atari: Body check through the jo.
Tsuki hazushi uchi: Evading a thrust into a strike.
Dou barai uchi: Parrying a torso cut into a strike.
Tai hazushi uchi: Off-line evasion merging into a strike.

Tips

Grip orientation changes kihon to kihon (honte/gyakute); know which one you're drilling before you start.
Hiki otoshi is about angle, not speed — resist the urge to speed up to compensate for a wrong angle.
Keep real distance from an imagined opponent when training solo; training too close builds the wrong reflex.

Turn this guide into a daily practice: log your sessions, keep your streak, earn belts.