Jo (Staff) – Traditional Martial Arts Weapon

The Jo (staff) is a short staff used in Japanese & Okinawan martial arts such as Jojutsu , AikidoNinjutsuKobudo and some Budo/Bujutsu Ryu. A Jo is a wooden staff and is roughly 4 feet in length. In contrast, a Bo (staff) is approximately 6 feet in length.

Jojutsu techniques differ quite a bit from Bo techniques due to the shorter length and faster speed of the weapon. However, some of the blocks, thrusts and strikes used in Bojutsu can be applied to the Jo. Kenjutsu (Katana or Bokken) techniques can also be adapted to the Jo and this makes the Jo a very versatile and effective martial arts weapon & training tool.

During the days of the samurai, experts with staffs were able to occasionally defeat Japanese swordsmen. According to legend, Miyamoto Musashi (who was Japan’s most famous swordsman and author of the famed “The Book of Five Rings”) was only defeated once… by Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi, the creator of the Jo staff.

To learn about other martial arts staffs, please visit the main Martial Arts Weapons section.

Jo Demonstration