Shaku-jo The Shaku-jo is a Buddhist monk's staff for use when traveling outside the temple. At the upper end of the Shaku-jo is an iron cap with six rings dangling from it. When the monk walks along a path he hits the ground every two or three steps and causing the rings to rattle. The practical purpose of this is to scare off poisonous snakes. The symbolic function of the Shaku-jo, which is as practical to the monk as scaring off snakes, is to assist the monk in his path to enlightenment. The six rings symbolize the six sense organs. As the monk wonders along the path he would chant "rokkon sho jo," or "purify the six senses," thus trying to rid himself from hindrances to enlightenment. Of course, a staff with an iron pointy cap and six iron rings could be a very effective weapon for a monk, or a yamabushi, traveling in the mountains where often there were lawless people who attacked travels. In the photographs below Tanemura sensei demonstrates the use of the Shaku-jo against an attacker with a sword. The attacker is Genbukan Tokyo Shibu-cho Ron Tosen. . Both stand in seigan no kamae. . As the attacker changes to Jodan no kamae, the receiver moves in to stab the attacker's foot with the pointy iron of the Shaku-jo. The pain is shocking and the attacker stops his attack. . . . . . . .. . . . . . The receiver then changes direction to the left and strikes the attacker's wrists and head deflecting the sword and injuring the attacker at the same time. . . .The receiver changes his position again shifting to the right and striking the attacker directly on the head with the iron cap and rings of the Shaku-jo. The final decisive strike brings the confrontation to an end. . . more Copyrights (c). 1999-2006. Any use or reproduction of the material in this site, in full or in part, requires a written authorization by Roy Ron. All rights reserved.