Jo Staff Clip 

The idea behind it is that it's like a walking cane. People usually (in Japan's history) had a walking cane, so you had a semi-short stick at your side. Good for self defence, but less useful in war.

Search up kobudo as well. Okinawan weaponry art.

Yes. So many cultures use these cool weapons for defense, because sticks are the most plentiful tool on the planet, aside from stones. Tento is one of the nine main strikes and works great in pressure sparring. It almost always gets that strike in. We have nine directions so that the opponent has no idea what is coming next. If he parries it and one is knocked offline, the practitioner adapts on the fly with several other footwork options. Each kata has several variations to address those concerns. It is impossible to address "what if?" questions if one is not their live to see and experience where the training goes. That is why training in person at a dojo is so important. The internet cannot do these katas justice. Video snippets are just snapshots. These movements take months to get down in a flow. This was just one fragment of a three-hour training session where more than 12 techniques and principles were covered. Good training to you, Rupert!

@@thedojomartialarts Thank you for your answer. Of course, a YT video can never represent a whole art. That is why I asked for your experience. My maestro in Genoa, Italy does not like this strike, because it's so easy to evade/pary, but I guess if you ask 100 people, you will get about 110 opinions ;) Please grant me one more question: In Japanese martial arts, I only see jo vs. katana training. In European martial arts, stick vs. stick is the norm. Do you also train jo vs. jo?

If the opponent makes contact with your feint then it is considered parried and therefore your next action should be to parry the repost or make space and let the repost fall short. You could redouble your attack after being parried but you or both could be injured. Depends on if you want a booboo or not.

Moderator Mike here: Yes. Of course he knows that. He has been training with masters for more than 40 years from all over the world. Sensei was showing one technique of more than 60 with the Jo. Students who are actively training practice every possible "what if he does this?" question and scenario imaginable. Never forget as a casual watcher that you are only seeing snapshots in time from several hours and days of basic teachings for new students. Advanced practitioners spar and free-respond much more off camera. Those techniques and sessions are not for public knowledge or consumption. Thanks for your comment.