Shinto Muso Ryu Jo at the
Our teacher is Philip Relnick Sensei , Menkyo Kaiden of  the Shinto Muso Ryu. He and his  teacher, Tsuneo Nishioka Sensei, Menkyo Kaiden, have given us much to practice and also  much of themselves. Both of these  teachers studied under Shimizu Takaji Sensei, past  Headmaster of the Shinto Muso Ryu.	Shimizu Takaji Sensei Past Headmaster of Shinto Muso Ryu (portrait by Brent Smith)

				
				
				
Men and women both find the stick fits their hands.
				
				

Gasshuku With Relnick Sensei

    

Mokuso before beginning                     Kata finishes with osame jo

         

Strong zanshin during seigan and kaeshi zuki

  

Relnick Sensei watches our training

       

Kengome begins with nito and then uchidachi "loses" the kodachi later in the kata

    

    

Strong focus and control of the jo is necessary all of the time

 

Group suburi and then the three day gasshuku ends

 

Click on this link for photos from the October, 2000 gasshuku at the Jiyushinkan

 

Click on this link for photos from the March, 2004 Gasshuku at the Jiyushinkan

"Mu Ga"

Selflessness is a concept many budoka strive for. Is it possible for us to really "lose our self" or our "ego"? Perhaps what really happens is that we just become less fearful and lose our attachments. We can be human, awake, and aware of all that is around and part of us instead of feeling separate and self-involved. Could that be ego in a twinkle in the eye?

Updated August, 2005

Copyright 1996- 2005 by C. E. Clark, All Rights Reserved