Bojutsu Kihon

Bojutsu Kihon is a 9-kyu (9 class-levels, leading to Black Belt) course introducing the bo long staff fundamentals taught by To-Shin Do. You can begin with any of the lessons; the course up to Black Belt is rotating, which means that you may take any of the 9 sections as your first class. Completion of the course might take a year-and-a-half to two years. 9 kyu diplomas are issued, followed by a Bojutsu Kihon diploma, comparable to receiving a Black Belt in bojutsu.

9th Kyu
(1) The basics of the ninja’s long bo fighting method are called Bojutsu Kihon, or Long Staff Foundational Method.
Walking method
Standing Bow
(2) Hira Ichimonji no Kamae – Low “Across the Thighs” Posture
(3) 胴 打 Do Uchi “Torso strike”
Lift bo tip up and bring it inward with sideways pull on rear end of bo for lateral strike to ribs or hands
(4) Do Uchi Against an attacker

8th Kyu
(5) Yoko Ichimonji no Kamae – Sideways Low “Across the Thighs” Posture
(6) 天 頭 面 打 Ten-to Men Uchi “Top-of-head downward strike”
“Over the top” downward strike to head; release grip and flip bo vertically so that end becomes tip and re-grasp new end of bo
(7) Ten-to Men Uchi Against an attacker

7th Kyu
(8) Ten-Chi-Jin no Kamae – Sideways “Palms Forward” Posture
(9) 横 面 打 Yoko Men Uchi “Lateral head strike”
Step forward with left and rotate right tip of bo clockwise to right side of his head, releasing and re-grasping with right hand
(10) Yoko Men Uchi Against an Attacker

6th Kyu
(11) Ge-Dan no Kamae – Sideways “Low Level” Posture
(12) 受身 Uke-Mi “Receiving body” Cover
Step forward and out and lift front tip of bo high at angle with rear end low, release grip and brace with rear hand to deflect downward strike
(13) Uke-mi Against an Attacker

5th Kyu
(14) Chu-Dan no Kamae – Sideways “Middle Level” Posture
(15) 突 Tsuki “Thrust”
Piercing strike to face or torso; release front hand and flip palm up to guide bo tip and push rear end of bo to create forward pierce, or ram forward with firm palms-down grip
(16) Tsuki Against an Attacker

4th Kyu
(17) Jo-Dan no Kamae – Sideways “Upper Level” Posture
(18) 面 打 Men Uchi “Face downward strike”
Downward strike to head with bo gripped in both hands palms-down
(19) Men Uchi against an Attacker

3rd Kyu
(20) Seigan no Kamae
(21) 小 手 打 Kote Uchi “Forearm/wrist strike”
Downward strike to forearm; bo tip rolls out, up, and down to strike forearm from angled footwork
(22) Kote Uchi Against an Attacker

2nd Kyu
(23) Ten-Chi no Kamae – Sideways “Bo Vertical” Posture
(24) 裾 跳 上 Suso Hane-age “Cuff upward lift”
Upward swinging “well-pole lift” strike to groin; front hand stabilizes bo tip and rear hand pulls bo end down to lift front tip
(25) Suso Hane-age against an Attacker

1st Kyu
(26) Hei-To no Kamae
(27) 脛 打 Sune Uchi (Ashi Barai) “Shin sweep strike”
Lateral strike to ankle or lower shin
(28) Sune Uchi against an Attacker

Shodan Kihon
Bo Rolling
(29) Tate-Furi “Standing bo rolling”
(30) Yoko-Furi “Sideways bo rolling”