Introduction: 20 Jo Suburi are the 20 basic solo movements with staff in Aikidō. Theses movements are divided into five parts (bu).
The first are five thrusting moves, in which the three moves are basic, and the fourth and fifth are thrusts combined with counters and strikes. The next part consists of five striking movements. The third part includes three one-handed movements. In the fourth parts, movements start from the Hasso(eight directions) stance. Finally, the last group is composed of two flowing movements, from turning to both side to turn completely back. Below are the names of the 20 Jo Suburi in Aikidō.
* Tsuki no bu [ 突きの部 – Thrusting movements] : First part, five thrusts
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Choku tsuki [ 直突き- Direct thrust]
Thrust the staff directly to the front.
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Gaeshi tsuki [ 返し突き- Counter thrust]
Rotate the staff, then thrust forward
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Ushiro tsuki [ 後ろ突き- Rear thrust]
Thrust to the rear.
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Tsuki gedan gashi [ 突き下段返し – Thrust with low counter]
Thrust to the front, rotate the staff back, then sweep low.
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Tsuki jodan gaeshi ( uchi) [ 突き上段返し(打ち) – Thrust with high counter (strike)]
Thrust forward, rotate the staff upward, change hand, then strike forward.
* Shomen no bu [ 正面の部- Frontal movements] : Second part, five forward striking movements
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Shomen Uchi Komi [ 正面打ち混み- Front strike]
Strike vertically forward.
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Renzoku Uchi Komi [ 連続打ち混み – Continuous front strike]
Strike vertically forward in rapid succession.
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Shomen Uchi Gedan Gaeshi [ 正面打ち下段返し- Front strike with low counter strike]
Strike vertically forward, rotate the staff and sweep low.
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Shomen Uchi Ushiro Gaeshi [ 正面打ち後ろ返し- Front strike, rear thrust]
Strike vertically forward, then thrust to the rear.
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Gyaku Yokomen Ushiro Tsuki [ 逆横面後ろ突き- Reverse side-of-the-head strike, rear thrust]
Reverse the hand, strike to the side of the head or neck (Yokomen Uchi), then thrust to the rear.
* Katate no bu [ 片手の部 – One handed movements] : Third part, three one handed strikes
Katate Gedan Gaeshi [ 片手下段返し – One handed low counter]
Hold the staff in one hand, rotate and swing upward.
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Katate Toma Uchi [片手遠間打ち]
Hold the staff in one hand, estimate the range, then swing forward in a circle.
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Katate Hachi Noji Gaeshi [片手八の字 返し]
Hold the staff in one hand, then swing to the front in a figure eight and return to the hasso stance.
* Hassho no bu [ 八相の部 – Figure Eight movements] : Fourth part, five strikes from hasso stance (Swing the staff in a figure eight)
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Hassho Gaeshi Uchi [ 八相返し打ち- Figure Eight counter strike]
Rotate the staff in a figure eight and enter the Hasso stance, then strike vertically forward.
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Hassho Gaeshi Tsuki [ 八署返し突き- Figure Eight counter thrust]
Rotate the staff in a figure eight and enter the Hasso stance, rotate again and thrust forward.
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Hassho Gaeshi Ushiro Tsuki [ 八署返し後ろ突き- Figure Eight counter, rear thrust]
Rotate the staff in a figure eight and enter the Hasso stance, then thrust to the rear.
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Hassho Gaeshi Ushiro Uchi [ 八署返し後ろ打ち – Figure Eight counter, rear strike]
Rotate the staff in a figure eight and enter the Hasso stance, then strike to the rear.
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Hassho Gaeshi Ushiro Harai [ 八署返し後ろ – Figure Eight counter, rear sweep]
Rotate the staff in a figure eight and enter the Hasso stance, turn around and sweep.
* Nagare no bu [ 流れの部 – Flowing movements ] : Fifth part, two rapid moving movements
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Hidari Nagare Gaeshi Uchi [ 左流れ返し打ち- Flowing to the left, counter strike]
Strike vertically forward, turn (counterclockwise) around guarding, then strike forward.
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Migi Nagare Gaeshi Tsuki [ 右流れ返し突き- Flowing to the right, counter thrust]
Reverse hand, strike to the side of the head or neck (Yokomen Uchi), turn (clockwise) around guarding, then thrust forward.
Images are taken from https://youtu.be/HKj6eyNoMwU
(Picture: An aiki-ken seminar with Sensei Horiwaki at AYS dojo on October 12, 2014)