What is Taiho-Jutsu?

[TonyU]

I was wondering if anyone can give me some background on Taiho Jutsu. I never heard of it untill it was mentioned in another thread not to long ago. That person is no longer with us. I picked up a book today by the same title authored by Don Cunninham. I appears to me, at first glance, that it's an old law enforment system of the samurai era. How is it taught now? Any other referances? I want to read up on it since it's new to me.

Thanks in advance.

[David Craik]

I recently got that book as well, and had a little conversation with Don about it via PM. He's very knowledgeable on the subject, so I'll ask Jeff Cook if he could move this to the Koryu forum, and see if Mr. Cunningham will elaborate more on the thread. Should make for a really good one.

[TonyU]

Thanks. When I looked for a response and noticed it was moved, I got nervous. I thought I commited a forum faux pas :o . I look forward to the responses.

[David Craik]

Hehe...sorry. Hey, I need some activity in this forum! :D

I PM'ed Don and asked him to come on down. Also, perhaps Mekugi (Russ Ebert) will stop by...he seems to know a bit about this.

How far along in the book are you? It's really interesting stuff. Don't know if you noticed, but I brought up this book fairly recently as well:

http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=6514

Russ provided some good links there about the modern sasumata, as pictured in the book.

[TonyU]

Hehe...sorry. Hey, I need some activity in this forum! :D

I PM'ed Don and asked him to come on down. Also, perhaps Mekugi (Russ Ebert) will stop by...he seems to know a bit about this.

How far along in the book are you? It's really interesting stuff. Don't know if you noticed, but I brought up this book fairly recently as well:

http://www.budoseek.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=6514

Russ provided some good links there about the modern sasumata, as pictured in the book.

I just bought it today. Right now I just started Chapter 2. If you don't mind I'll ask questions as I go along. this is good for me because I usually read a book put on the shelf with the 100 other books and forget what I read.
Also I noticed in the link you train in MCMAP. Awesome. I just lost my grappling partner who is a Staff Sergeant in the USMC and certified in MCMA. He just got transfered to Virginia to get his commission.
I also notice that you were asked about MCMAP. From my friends perspective I understand a little. Did the USMC print a manual like the ARMY's and if so is it available.

[Webmaster]

I also notice that you were asked about MCMAP. From my friends perspective I understand a little. Did the USMC print a manual like the ARMY's and if so is it available.
Tony, see my PM about this.

[Crusader Rabbit]

Hi Tony,

As Dave mentioned, he sent me a notice about this thread. Due to classes starting this week and that I am going to be teaching two sections of COM 101 - University Writing, I've been really busy preparing my syllabus and finishing my Qualifying Exam essay. Therefore, I haven't been keeping up much with what's going on in the various forums.

I'll be glad to help answer any questions you have and I am always willing to discuss the subjects in either of my books. However, I am mostly a historian with an interest in the Edo period arresting arts and implements.

I am a practitioner of Kodokan Judo and lived/worked in Japan for a long time. Many of my judo friends from there are Japanese policemen. There should be a distinction made between modern taiho-jutsu and Edo period arresting arts. Technically, Edo period arresting arts were called by many different names. Taiho-jutsu is the name of the arresting arts currently taught to Japanese policemen since around WWII or shortly before. The modern taiho-jutsu is a combination of some older arts as well as new arresting techniques.

The Japanese police are sort of secretive about modern taiho-jutsu, claiming they are concerned criminals would learn how to escape or evade them if they knew much about it. Some of my judo policemen friends did show me quite a bit about modern taiho-jutsu due to my historical interests. Frankly, it seemed to be mostly applications of judo and jujutsu, maybe a bit of aikido, to me. The baton work was identical in most respects to U.S. police baton techniques I've seen in many commercially available training manuals. Although we practiced judo together, I can't claim to have "trained" in modern taiho-jutsu, although much of it is very similar to judo without the competitive concerns. Donn Drager wrote a bit about modern taiho-jutsu, including some photos of a Japanese police officer demonstrating basic techniques, but I forget which one of his books it was in. There wasn't much about it in his book, either.

My interest began with researching jutte and later expanded into other aspects of Edo period arresting arts, such as torinawa or hojojutsu, the use of ropes to arrest and restrain suspects. Most of this is not really applicable in today's environment, although I guess there are some self-defense applications which might still be relevant.

I sincerely hope you enjoy the book. I would be interested in your frank and honest opinion (unless they are too critical :wink2: ) about the book and the illustrations. Please feel free to contact me if you have any more questions. I won't be lurking on the forum too much until the semester gets rolling and things quiet down a bit. My e-mail is don@e-budokai and my web site e-Budokai.com (http://www.e-budokai.com) may have some other articles which might also be of interest.

Sincerely,

Don

[TonyU]

Thank you Don for your response.
So far I'm on Chapter 2. But from what I gather the book is very well put together.
I look forward to finishing it.

[Keelhaulhim]

I was wondering if anyone can give me some background on Taiho Jutsu. I never heard of it untill it was mentioned in another thread not to long ago. That person is no longer with us. I picked up a book today by the same title authored by Don Cunninham. I appears to me, at first glance, that it's an old law enforment system of the samurai era. How is it taught now? Any other referances? I want to read up on it since it's new to me.

Thanks in advance.

Taiho Jutsu is simply arrest & restraint tactics. There are situations involved in making an arrest that might not come up in a self-defense situation, and there are specific techniques which are designed to restrain a resisting individual, such as someone who won't let go of a street light, or refuses to get up off the ground, or who grabs your leg and won't let go, or won't go into the paddy wagon, etc. Not only the dangerous and extremely violent hoodlum, but the drunk, elderly, and homeless street people with severe mental health problems.

I joined a small Judo club and this topic came up as I was discussing my prior Judo experience. It appears there is a small dojo out in central Massachusetts that teaches Taiho Jutsu. I could send you their address via private mail if you like.
_______________________________
Allen J. Sullivan

[TonyU]

Taiho Jutsu is simply arrest & restraint tactics. There are situations involved in making an arrest that might not come up in a self-defense situation, and there are specific techniques which are designed to restrain a resisting individual, such as someone who won't let go of a street light, or refuses to get up off the ground, or who grabs your leg and won't let go, or won't go into the paddy wagon, etc. Not only the dangerous and extremely violent hoodlum, but the drunk, elderly, and homeless street people with severe mental health problems.

I joined a small Judo club and this topic came up as I was discussing my prior Judo experience. It appears there is a small dojo out in central Massachusetts that teaches Taiho Jutsu. I could send you their address via private mail if you like.
_______________________________
Allen J. Sullivan

Thank you. I have a better understanding of it from this thread and the book. I appreciate the offer for the address, but since I'm in New Jersey, it won't be easy for me to visit.

[Mekugi]

"Taihojutsu" could be translated as "arresting technique or method" and is what the Japanese police developed in the 1947 as a couse of individual study. The police are continuing to develop it and it takes on new forms as the technology changes. However, the "idea" or practice that has been going on for a long time in koryu bujutsu, which was the primary contributor to the modern apperation. I think all of this has been covered so far.

There is a great deal of information about it in the book written by Don Cunningham as he mentioned, as seen here:
http://www.e-budokai.com/taihojutsu/
In the Aikido-based influence, it's good to mention Yoshinkan Aikido which offers "riot police" training called the Senshusei, which has some of the aspects of taihojutsu incorporated into it, I do believe. While I am at it check out "Angry White Pyjamas" by Robert Twigger, who went through the ordeal.
http://www.yoshinkan-aikido.org/contents/iyaf_information/senshusei?language=english

I've also attached two photographs illustrating the Hojo Jutsu of Shinto Muso Ryu, which could be said is similar in theory to taihojutsu.
-Russ


I was wondering if anyone can give me some background on Taiho Jutsu. I never heard of it untill it was mentioned in another thread not to long ago. That person is no longer with us. I picked up a book today by the same title authored by Don Cunninham. I appears to me, at first glance, that it's an old law enforment system of the samurai era. How is it taught now? Any other referances? I want to read up on it since it's new to me.

Thanks in advance.

[Mekugi]

Here are some more pics to further illustrate and contrast to what I posted earlier...the "modern" techniques. These are from Donn F. Draeger's collection.

[TonyU]

Great replies and pictures. Like I said in another thread, Ive learned alot on this forum. I'm halfway through Mr. Cunningham's book. I'm enjoying it tremendously. It appears that modern arresting techniques can be traced to Taiho-Jutsu. Do you agree?

[Crusader Rabbit]

I'm glad you like the book. And yes, many modern taiho-jutsu techniques are directly linked to the same techniques in koryu bujutsu. The pictures posted are the same ones I mentioned from Donn Drager's book.

[TonyU]

I finished the book last night. I enjoyed it very much. Thanks to Mr. Cunningham and Soulend I have a beter understanding of Taiho-Jutsu and Koryu Bujutsu.

[Eric Joyce]

Don,

I loved your book. I thank you for writing about a topic that rarely gets discussed in jujutsu and aikido circles. I think the book does a wonderful job in explaining the history and the contributions the doshin had made in jujutsu applications. Hopefully, we will see another book from you :)

Eric Joyce

[Crusader Rabbit]

Hi Eric,

Glad you liked the book. I always enjoying reading such comments since I wasn't exactly sure how the book would be received, especially by the martial arts readers. While it does include arresting techniques, the major portion of the book is more historical and political science related than martial arts.

As for another book, it will have to wait until I finish my dissertation. The subject of my dissertation is researching curriculum for science and business journalism/technical communication and is taking up all my time for the next year or so. After that, who knows? :wink2:

[Jon O'Neall]

Mr. Cunningham,

Just wanted to add my praise for your Taihojutsu book as well. Excellent book, and I personally really enjoyed its historical and politcal tone, great information, and to me what made the book so valuable/enjoyable. I look forward to anything else you write on the topic. (I have your Secret Weapons of Jujutsu book as well which I very much enjoyed too.)

[Crusader Rabbit]

Mr. O'Neall,

Thank you for your kind remarks. I'm still plugging away on my dissertation, plus I now have two papers to present, one in March in San Diego and a second in July at the University of Limerick in Ireland. Both are chapters of my dissertation, so it will be published even before it is approved.

I've been thinking about the subject for my next book. Any suggestions or recommendations would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,

Don Cunningham

[David Craik]

Just a thought Don, but I've always wanted to find a good book on the evolution of Japanese castle design with descriptions of their defensive features (like the "right-turn-gate", etc), and possibly with some in-depth descriptions of some of the more major ones. As a historian it may be right up your alley, and you would have plenty of material for some great pictures in the book as well.

Or, for some "light" work you could always do a complete translation of the Bugei Ryuha Daijiten...:laugh:

Be great for busting frauds, though - "Nope, you're not in the book. Next!" :D