Yari Dori - Jo Dori

Five techniques defending against thrusting attacks with the jo

Jo-Dori (杖取り) are aikido defense techniques against attacks with jo, (short staff). The origin of these techniques relate historically to defenses against the thrusting use of a yari (short-spear) held with both hands. These techniques were introduced into the Tomiki Aikido Syllabus by Hideo Ohba when creating the koryu dai-san kata.  All through, the only attack is choku tsuki, a thrusting strike with the attacker's both hands in the same positions on the Jo.  (In jodo there is also kaeshi tsuki, where the front hand is reversed, as well as swinging strikes, called uchi.)

The five techniques explained and demonstrated below by Shinnosuke Sakai 7th Dan (Senior Instructor, Shodokan honbu dojo Osaka) appear in the sequence from section E of the Koryu Dai-San (Goshin-no kata)

Jo-no-bu Jo-dori 

1. Gyaku-gamae-ate   (uke: Avoid right, block with right hand....)
2. Shomen-ate  (uke: Avoid left, block with left hand....)
3. Mae-Otoshi (Hishigi) (uke: Avoid left, block with left hand....)
4. Ai-gamae-ate (Renraku-waza-hiji-hishigi)  (uke: Avoid left, grab overhand with left hand....)
5. Irimi-mae-otoshi  (uke: Avoid right, block with left hand....)