This page will serve you as a reminder to practice the basics of Aiki-jo (合気杖). 

The place of weapons in Aikido

Many of O Sensei's students have added a patchwork of weapon techniques in a more or less codified way to their own empty-handed teaching, and today we see many teachers introducing elements of iaido, jodo, and even other classical schools in their teaching. Although not essential, weapons practice can be very beneficial for progression, but the body mechanics governing different weapon systems vary widely. The main thing is therefore less which weapon system one uses than whether the mechanics that govern the movements are in phase with the way in which one moves with bare hands.

Note that the emphasis on the sword is quite representative of the educational nature of budo. In this sense, the weapons of the samurai (武器, buki) should be seen as mere utensils (器, ki). If accomplished, a warrior may well use any other utensil than a sword or spear, or even a pair of chopsticks. The way he uses his body will dictate how he wields the buki, not the other way around.

The sanjuichi no jo (三十一の杖) is the first of a series of three jo kata taught in Aikido. It consists in a relatively long sequence of various strikes put together based on the teachings of Ueshiba Morihei. Practice starts by the memorization of the sequence and understanding of every strike and its body positioning. Once this is acquired, it then develops with the study of a partnered version called bunkai (分解).