Embusen (Jodo), Open

Embusen refers to the spot where a kata begins, as well as its line of movement. Nearly all kata start and end on exactly the same embusen point. Jodo was originally called jojutsu, but the name was changed to jodo), meaning “the way of the staff,” in 1940. The use of a wooden staff is attributed to master swordsman, Gonnosuke Katsukichi, in the early 1600′s. This form of kendo was demonstrated at Tokyo in 1964. American Donn Draeger was one of the demonstrators, the only known non-Japanese in the kendo demonstrations.