I wrote someplace, maybe the old judo forum, about jo instruction in the Kodokan. It was not normally Shimizu sensei, but another gent who tied back to Fukuoka. There was an entire series in the old Judo magazine (1930's) covering the proto basic form of Shinto Muso ryu jojutsu before it was finalized.
Kano shihan wrote the foreword and explained why he thought the jo, which he called 'bo', to be the most practical weapon for self defense. In short, as it was illegal and impractical for most people to caryy a sword, and its training long and difficult, jo techniques could be used with about anything - a stick, mop, umbrella, or an openly carried walking stick.
His ultimate plan, as written in the foreword to that series on jojutsu, was that all senior judoka would be versed in jojutsu and it would spread throughout the world as an integral part of judo. At one point before his death there were classes with a number of senior judoka at the Kodokan. It seems to have been stopped shortly not long after his death; I cannot determine why and by whom.
His plan to incorporate kendo into judo must be discussed in the context of his vision for judo. That vision was abandoned by the later leadership of the Kodokan and judo instructors for a number of reasons and circumstances, so much so that trying to recap it out today is probably a pointless history recitation in which no one is interested.
Here's a German blog that captures some of that and lifted my translation of Kano shihan's foreword to the jojutsu series:
http://www.judo-blog.de/wordpress/allgemein/kano-judo-und-kodokan-bojutsu/
The foreword by Kano shihan, translated by me, scrambled by some Italian then modified by a German (hence the odd extra word and a couple of scrambled sentences for Lord only knows what reason, but I'm not retranslating and editing it today) :
“The reason why the Kodokan has made available to the teaching of Bojutsu (Practice Staff) to anyone who is interested.”
Jigoro Kano – Kodokan Shihan
When I was young, I practiced bojutsu of Yagyu-ryu with a man named Oshima.
As my practice of this discipline has not reached the level of shugyo (depth study), usually do not mention it. However since then I thought there was value in the shugyo bojutsu. As I said previously, I am convinced that larger studies are desirable, those of Jujitsu, the Bojutsu (stick) and kenjutsu (sword).
Looking at the reality of our current society, we are talking about men, women, young or old, excluding the few people who actually jobs that give opportunity to bring a sword in his belt, no one carries weapons. Consequently, in the event of something unexpected, the martial art that is more useful that can defend themselves without weapons. Considering things from this point of view, today the value of kenjutsu is relatively poor, but are convinced that this, along with Jujitsu, has had in our country for many years a great value as a method of spiritual development (lit. development laws of moral culture). In addition to Jujitsu, we must consider the experience of Bojutsu, which is a very important thing and that seems to be overlooked by many people today.
That is about eight years ago (Showa 2, 1927), we gathered people interested in the Kodokan and we started practicing in bojutsu Tamai Sensei, Sensei Shiina, Ito Sensei and Sensei of Katori Shinto Ryu Kuboki, all from the prefecture of Chiba. About four years ago we received, from Fukuoka, Shimizu Sensei of Shindo Muso Ryu (jojutsu), and still continue the practice of this technique. Today, thanks to Sensei and Takeda Sensei Hioki, and with the help of others, we are increasingly able to practice these arts. In addition to the beginner we recently about 50 participants, so that we must practice the principal of the Kodokan Dojo.
In the future, in addition to the efforts made so far, we intend to continue to invite the great masters of Bojutsu.
As we took the essence of various schools of jujutsu to develop the basics of judo, we have had great success in gathering techniques bojutsu many schools and doing searches of these.
Now, as a branch of the Kodokan Judo, we created the Kodokan Bojutsu.
I hope that we will be able to spread throughout the world.
Although I said you put my energy in the development of Bojutsu, I still think that the unarmed martial arts have a greater value. After that, I think, however, that the study recommended the most is the one where you learn to attack and defend with the use of weapons. About weapons, I think is more important than the study of Kenjutsu (sword arts) rather than that of the Yari (spear) or naginata (halberd). People normally have easy access to tools such as sticks (Jo – short stick), walking sticks or umbrellas. It is usually easy to have at hand something like a stick or a piece of wood that, in case of emergency, can be used as an improvised weapon. In any case, the Bojutsu is useful not only for the reasons described above, but also because it is suitable for routine practice.
Similarly, all Bujutsu (fighting arts) requires practice. As I say constantly about Atemi Jutsu (art of hitting with your bare hands), used in Seiryoku zen’yo Taiiku that I have developed and which uses Atemi Jutsu, that the following consideration. As you study Atemi Jutsu, in practical case it is very difficult to make best use of this art. Consequently, the great value of these techniques is that their practice can be used as a means of physical education.
It ‘also important to consider that the technique of hit and dell’afferrarsi takes a large part of the exercises, and practice from the beginning that it requires simple equipment to obtain (for example, just a jo bare hands or the same).
So recently I did some research Bojutsu and I decided to share it. I urge the start of the practice of this art as soon as possible for those who are interested in the whole country, region by region, under the guidance of instructors qualified to be a new branch of judo.
In developing the Kodokan, becoming capable in these practices, we will be successful and train instructors to be sent around the world. In a bit of years I think, such as Judo is spreading throughout the world, there will come a time in which to spread abroad also Bojutsu.”
(Magazine “Judo”, year Showa 10 (1935) April)
NBK
Home
The stick if wielded properly could be used as a defensive weapon against a sword, as sword carry had been banned years before, but were still used in political violence. 
