Interview overview
Interviewee: Dan Pearson and Richard Strausbaugh (Capital Area Jodokai)
Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo – 神道夢想流杖術
Moderator: Deborah Klens-Bigman (NY Iaikai)
We had the opportunity to interview Dan Pearson and Richard Strausbaugh from Capital Area Jodokai located in Washington D.C. Jodo is a Japanese martial art that involves a short staff called a jo, Jodo developed as a way to keep unruly samurai at bay. Because of its non-lethal, controlling nature, this policing art is still practiced by Japanese police officers. Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo is practiced at the Capital Area Jodokai. Shindo Muso Ryu jodo began as a dueling art just at the beginning of the Tokugawa era, but it has survived for over 400 years because it is a superb self-defense and policing art.
Dan Pearson instructs Shindo Muso Ryu jodo at the Capital Area Jodokai in Washington, D.C. He has a teaching license (menkyo) in the art from Kaminoda Tsunemori, who is a master instructor with over 60 years of practice. Dan has almost 20 years of work under Sensei’s direction.
Richard Strausbaugh is an assistant instructor in Shindo Muso Ryu jodo at the Capital Area Jodokai. He has a oku iri sho (scroll of admission into the ryu) from Kaminoda Sensei.
More about the seminar that was held at our gallery can be found here: resobox.com/jodo-seminar-with-dan-pearson/