I would like to emphasize that the jo techniques as taught in Aiki Jo differ from the usage of jo in other styles in certain ways. It is important to stress the fact that this does not mean that one way is right and another wrong, merely that the movements, body positions and tai sabaki (body evasions) are connected to the empty handed techniques of aikido and therefore in certain areas do not resemble the other jo styles.

The Lineage of Aiki Jo
The lineage of Aiki Jo is less clear than that of Aiki Ken.

In my book "Bukiwaza," I have written:
In the period during his military service 1903-1906 O-Sensei trained in a Yagyu Ryu school in Osaka, possibly Yagyu
Shingan Ryu.

In 1937 Ueshiba, together with his disciple Zenzaburo Akazawa, formally enrolled in the Kashima Shinto-ryu sword school based in Kashima, Ibaraki prefecture. Ueshiba invited instructors to come and teach regularly in Iwama. These sword forms form the foundation for the Aiki-ken techniques - unique to Aikido.

In regard to the jo as practiced by O-Sensei, the technical lineage is not as evident as with the ken. According to Stanley Pranin ( Aikido historian and editor-in-chief of Aiki News/Aikido Journal), Aritoshi Murashige (an early student of Ueshiba) would sometimes practice the jo at the Kobukan Dojo in the early 1930s. Murashige had studied Katori Shinto Ryu within the context of the Kobudo Kenkyukai at the Kodokan.

We also learn to move to a 45 degree angle when performing many of the suburi movements. In the old days, Saito Sensei used to teach the tsuki (thrusts) and uchi komi (strikes) of the suburi with a large 45 degree body movement to the off the line of attack. He later emphasized a more straightforward attacking form in the suburi, and introduced the tai sabaki when practicing the paired forms of jo awase. This was to emphasize the difference of the roles of uchi (attacker) - moving in a more straight line for the attack, and uke ( defender), using the defensive, off-the-line tai sabaki forms.

Way to Improve in Aiki Jo
When practicing jo (or ken for that matter), Saito Sensei would always emphasize the benefits of training in front of a mirror. He would always say "The mirror is the strictest sensei!" Using the mirror also teaches you to focus outwards - to see yourself from the outside, so to speak. Look at your posture to make sure you are in balance in all directions. Seen from the front, when performing strikes, your head should be in a nice straight line with your centerline. Oftentimes when practicing weapons, people tend to tilt their head in the direction of the movement of the weapon. In striking movements this is not necessary. When performing tsuki (thrusts), the body is in a more sideways position (hito-e-mi), with the hips sideways as well. This makes keeping the head pointing completely straight forward a bit too much of a strain on the neck. The head may be turned slightly, and this will bring the head more in line with the centerline of your body, and also loosen the tension in the neck.

Give yourself time in "Zanshin." Zanshin means "continuing spirit." It refers to the final position of your technique. You should have a feeling of your energy surging outwards even after the actual physical movement is finished. While holding your final form, let your energy continue outwards, and at the same time listen to what your body is telling you. You will, if you keep the position for several seconds, feel if you are off balance or are out of line. Doing this in front of a mirror will greatly improve your weapons work very quickly. But you must give yourself time to look and listen to your body.

When training aikido, or any other martial art for that matter, we must be able to do our techniques with confidence and conviction, yet at the same time always keep ourselves open to sensing where we need to better ourselves. We need to do each technique as if it were the first and last. And at the same time, be able to sense and register our weaknesses, to make our next "first and last" execution even better!

Gambarimasho! (Let's do our best!)