Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi

Shindo Muso Ryu, more commonly known as "Shinto Muso Ryu," hereafter referred to as SMR was found by Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi over 400 years ago.

According to "Jodo Kyohan" written by Shihan Shimizu Takaji, the 25th Headmaster of SMR Jojutsu, it indicates Muso Gonnosuke Katsuyoshi first received Menkyo (license) and became the 7th Headmaster of Tenshinshoden Katorishinto Ryu Kenjutsu (sword style).  Then, later he studied under Matsumoto Bizennokami, founder of Kashima Shin Ryu Kenjutsu, and mastered its secrets, thus given the completion of the style, "Kashima no Tachi" or “Ichi no Tachi.”  Muso Gonnosuke was a master swordsman.  

Gonnosuke, then went to Edo (Tokyo) to challenge worthy adversaries aiming to be the best.  He had a lot of matches with well known swordsmen but was never defeated, until one day.  Gonnosuke had the match with one of all time famous master swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi (author of "Book of Five Rings") at Banshu Akashi.  During this match, Gonnosuke's strike was caught in Jujidome, two swords block in cross pattern, a mystery technique of Musashi’s Niten-Ichiryu.  He could neither advance nor retreat, locked and unable to move.  Although Gonnosuke was not killed, he was defeated for the first time.   Ever since, Gonnosuke had an errantry, suffering hardships for his defeat against Musashi, thus visited various places to have more matches to conquer his own flaws and redeem honor.   Gonnosuke devoted himself to the conquest of Musashi’s Niten-Ichi Ryu Jujidome.  

Birthplace of Jodo, "Kamado Shrine" 

Few years later, Gonnosuke continuing the conquest of Musashi's Niten-Ichi Ryu Jujidome went to Chikuzenno-kuni (Chikushi District, Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyushu Island), and climbed Holy Homan Mountain to seek spiritual guidance in Kamado Shrine (which is dedicated to Tamayorinohimeno-Mikoto) within the Dazaifu Tenman Shrine.  As a result of his intensive meditation, on the 37th day a child appeared in his dream and gave him a divine message, “Hold a round stick and Know the solar plexus.”  「丸木をもって水月を知れ」   "maruki o motte suigetsu o shire" Gonnosuke placed a deep emphasis on this divine message, "a stick and the solar plexus," thus made an oak staff approximately 4'  2.5" or 128 cm in length (4-shaku 2-sun 1-bu) and 1" or 2.4 cm in diameter (8-bu) and began training with it.  This freshly made oak staff known as "Jo" became his  new weapon of choice, which originated the art "Jojutsu."  

Gonnosuke continued to train hard and he began to notice few advantages with Jo over other weapons.  Gonnosuke felt that using Jo is like having three types of weapon features all in one, such as Yari (a spear), Naginata (like Chinese halberd with blade slightly wider) and Tachi (a long sword).  Additionally, Jo has about a foot long advantage over the regular length sword (3' 2").  Finally, Gonnosuke felt ready to challenge Niten-Ichi Ryu Jujidome for the second time, and this time he defeated Musashi with the technique inspired by that divine message.  Hirano Jiro Kuniomi wrote it was tied.  After defeating famous swordsman, Musashi, Gonnosuke became well known himself and was invited to serve as the Shinanyaku, weapon headmaster, to Kuroda Clan (Dai daimyo), a powerful lord in Kyushu Island, Fukuoka prefecture, and there he trained many instructors.  However, Jodo was strictly maintained as an art taught exclusively to the Kuroda Clan, and only the disciples of high caliber were privileged to learn.   

Back ground of current Jodo

In 1871, by the political change known as "Meiji Restoration," the restriction of Jojutsu training was inevitably lifted and the opportunity was granted for SMR masters to introduce this art to public outside of Kuroda Clan in Kyushu, Fukuoka, for the very first time.

At first, Kuroda Hanshi from Fukuoka; Ryogoro Uchida (also founder of Uchida Ryu Tanjojustu) and Kohachi Takeuchi went to Tokyo and introduced SMR Jojustsu.  Among their notable student was Hakudo Nakayama (a legendary swordmaster and founder of Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido), who earned Hanshi in SMR Jojutsu.  Hakudo Nakayama was also Hanshi in Kendo and Iaido, made him extraordinary "San Do Hanshi."  Off mainstream SMR Jojustu line was taught by Hakudo Nakayama in Tokyo area.  Meanwhile, Shihan Shiraishi Hanjiro Shigeaki (1842-1928), also a Kuroda Hanshi and the 24th SMR Headmaster, remained in Fukuoka to oversee the continuance of SMR tradition.

At later time around 1930, the 25th SMR Headmaster, Shihan Shimizu Takaji Katsuyasu (1896-1978) left home from Fukuoka and made efforts to popularize SMR Jojustu in Tokyo.     

While in Fukuoka, the 26th Headmaster, Shihan Otofuji Ichizo Katsunori (1899-1998) made efforts to further succession and development of SMR.  Shihan Otofuji's brother was sent to Hyogo prefecture. 

Shihan Shimizu trained several groups in Tokyo including many Judo, Iaido, Kendo and etc instructors at Kodokan Judo Headquarters, Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Tokyo Fire Deparment and such, as well as students at academic schools, Youth group, police academy and so forth.  This effort was very important and stamped SMR as one of well respected Japanese budo; however, ironically this effort also contributed to further division of the once united SMR, the Tokyo side, and the traditional Fukuoka (Kyushu) side. 

Despite some controversies between the Tokyo side, and the Fukuoka side, few years after untimely departure of Shihan Shimizu, Shihan Otofuji from Fukuoka side was considered the next SMR Headmaster.  There were also some controversies when Shihan Shimizu was considered to be the 25th Headmaster.  Unfortunately, controversy is quite common in the martial art community upon headmaster's death or not, sometime even when the successor is clearly named.  Most certainly, it may be same in the other cultures as well.  Perhaps all of us that are involved in the art have that much passion for it and its teacher.

In 1962 at age 19, Osaka, Japan, Soke Sakimukai and together with Shihan Zenji Shimabukuro (Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Seibukan Karate Do & Special Instructor of Chintokan Karate Do), began learning Jojutsu from Hanshi Asakichi Nakajima; however, on their first visit, they were refused and told too young for Jojutsu training.  Since persistence is a minimum talent required in pursuit for Budo, they returned the very next day and asked again, only this time, Young Sakimukai and Shimabukuro told Hanshi Nakajima that they are Karate-Do instructors and budo is their profession.  Soke Sakimukai with support from Shihan Zenji Shimabukuro just that same year established the first Chintokan Karate-Do Dojo in Jyuso, Osaka.  Hanshi Nakajima smiled and accepted them as his students, and introduced them Soke Shiokawa because of their shared Karate-do profession.  

At that time, Soke Shiokawa's presence in Budo world was already quite impressive, a year prior in 1961, he was named the Soke of Mugai Ryu Iai Heido.  Furthermore, he had already received Shihan and 7 Dan certification in Shito Ryu Karate-do 4 years prior in 1958.  Additionally, 2 years prior in 1960, he was 5 Dan in both Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei’s Iai do and Jodo, the highest ZKR Dan allowed at the time, and by the way, he had received his Kendo 5 Dan at the first ZKR examination held after the WWII in 1953.  After Hanshi Nakajima’s untimely departure, Soke Sakimukai began learning from Soke Hosho Shiokawa.

Soke Sakimukai moved back to his home state, Kagoshima, from Osaka, Japan, in 1969, when his Karate-Do mentor passed away.  Ultimately moved to Newark, DE, USA, in 1980.  Two years later, in 1982, Soke established the USA Jodo Federation, USA Shudokai, in Delaware.  In 1991, Soke moved to Jacksonville.  

In 1992, Soke Sakimukai received "Menkyo" from Shihan Otofuji.  Ultimately, held 10 Dan and Hanshi in the Shindo Muso Ryu Jojutsu.   

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