-THE HISTORY OF TAIHO JUTSU -
From the early feudal era to the present the groups responsible for using tactics and techniques of police arrest are -
- The Samurai
- The Shinsengumi
- Kepeitai-Tokeitai (Military Police)
- Police Forces -
- Tokubetsu Kōtō Keisatsu (Special Police Corps created in 1910)
- Keisatsu-chō (National Police Agency created in 1954)
THE SAMURAI -
The Samurai was an elite bushi, with certain privileges depending on the rank or period in which he served. In the social structure of Japan they were framed immediately below the nobility.
The etymology of the word "Samurai" 侍 within the Japanese language corresponds to the conjugation of the verb "Saburau" (to serve), therefore, Samurai means "He who serves."
The use of the word "samurai" in Japanese was evolving until the 10th century, at which time it acquires the military meaning that we know today and that refers to the one who serves a lord.
Throughout history, the samurai class had been distinguished from the peasant class for economic reasons: samurai was the one who could afford their equipment and training. This generated a specialization within the army and granted them the status of "elite warriors" compared to more "plebeian" classes such as the Ashigaru.
For the Tokugawa period, the formation of a samurai was very organized and advanced, generating much more skilled warriors with not only military, but also administrative or cultural skills.
In the military field, each clan leader had several martial arts teachers in charge of teaching the lord's army. These teachers were treated with the utmost respect and obedience and not only taught fencing or martial arts.
Being experienced warriors, they held an important position in the army of the Lord, although their main function was to instruct youth. Within each samurai clan there used to be several experts specialized in arrest techniques, these being those who at the request of the shogun or the damyo made the arrests to make them available to their bosses.
The techniques of arrest used by the samurai were based mainly on neutralizing the enemy proceeded to immobilize his body through effective tying techniques (Hojo Jutsu). If the enemy managed to escape or free himself from control, he was considered a dishonor and was punished by seppuku.
Due mainly to political and social changes and to the hasty intention to modernize Japan, the Japanese administration through the Dampatsurei edict (1871) and the Haitorei edict (March 28, 1876) prohibited the wearing of samurai clothing and wearing the chonmage (traditional samurai hairstyle with knot shape), and vetoed the use of swords to anyone who was not a member of the imperial armed forces with the clear objective of ending samurai privileges. Hereditary distinctions, domains and estates of the samurai were also abolished. These events caused a deep discontent in the samurai class, social and political tension and the appearance of groups loyal to the old traditions, caused this discontent to materialize in riots, murders, battles and clashes with the imperial armed forces. It was the end of the samurai era.
Almost at the end of the Edo period, in the twilight of the samurai caste, the figure of the Shinsengumi appeared, which was an internal police force of the Shogun. Most of its members were reputed samurai, although members of politics, priests and doctors were also integrated. There are 298 members documented within the Shinsengumi.
The Shinsengumi had to honor the entire clan with its behavior for what basic rules were governed, the violation of any of them involved the punishment of suicide (seppuku).
The most important norms were -
- You cannot leave the samurai path, which means complying with the Bushido code.
- You cannot leave the Shinsengumi.
- You cannot save money on your own.
- You cannot interfere in third party matters.
- You cannot fight for personal causes.
- Kill all enemies during battle
- If the commander dies continue fighting until victory or death
No doubt the Shinsengumi was the intermediate step between the former samurai and the Japanese police forces that were born from 1890-1900.
TAIHO JUTSU IN THE MODERN JAPANESE POLICE BODIES -
From the last century to the present, police training and the development of Taiho Jutsu or the art of reducing and arresting, has as one of its main objectives the arrest of a criminal by the agents of the authority causing him the least possible damage. The Japan of 1924 had a long martial tradition since ancient times and among those traditions, there were methods used by medieval police officers. These techniques, derived from different schools of Koryu JuJutsu, the disciplines in which law enforcement officers were trained, were known by different names: Edo Machi Kata or Torite.
Edo period police officers (1603-1868) who practiced Edo Machi Kata arrest techniques were called Edo Machi Kata Doshin. They were Samurai of lower rank under the orders of the Yoriki or rank of officers. In modern times, this martial art became more commonly known as: Taiho Jutsu or art of detention and arrest techniques.
EDO PERIOD PERIOD MEIJI -
The following images correspond to one of the first specialized written books in Taiho Jutsu, entitled "Kempo Zukai", edited in 1887 by Tetsutaro Hisatami (He was reputed teacher of Koryu Jujutsu, Soke of the seventieth generation of the Shibukawa ryu school, being a consultant and coordinator of the JuJutsu faculty in the police).
Testsutaro, in the introduction of his book said the following -
"A Westerner once said:" If you combine a robust physical form with a vigorous mind, you will end up with a body that is strong and a mind that is active. Such a person could succeed in any effort he chooses to undertake. "
and in the same text he added -
"The success or failure of a country also depends on the strength of its people. Although there are all kinds of methods by which one can strengthen the body, there is none that can exceed the benefits of JuJutsu.
This JuJutsu of which I speak contains the essence of military techniques, martial arts, from Japan. Through JuJutsu techniques, a body that is strong and healthy can be created, while the mind is conditioned to remain calm.
If an incident occurs, there is no doubt that you can control the unexpected with skill and dexterity.
There are two precepts within JuJutsu that can be of great benefit -
The first corrects the fundamental character of a person's physical form. Then, through Jujutsu, that person can take down bigger and stronger enemies easily and fluently.
The second aspect is to use the eight Kentai, or blows with the body and the long and short sword, and hit the six Kyusho, or vital points of the body, to easily subdue and tie a stronger opponent.
Reason why I again declare that you should strive to strengthen your body.
In addition, employees as police officers must often use these techniques when submitting to ruffian gangs without law and tying them with rope.
In the past, training and study of JuJutsu were of paramount importance to such people. The editors of this volume have come to feel that the study of these techniques is essential. "
Having abolished the samurai class and in the period of modernization of the country, martial arts schools had to adapt to survive. In 1885 the Japanese Police trained with great hardness in the art of Koryu JuJutsu and Kendo, the JuJutsu Master and founder of Judo Jigoro Kano, was able to observe since 1879 how the Totzuka Ha of Yoshin Ryu and his representative, Master Totsuka Hikosuke, they trained with that rudeness. He practiced and trained with them, but that excess of strength and lack of energy economy, made him think that he should redirect his training.
He collected, studied and practiced techniques from the largest possible number of Koryu JuJutsu schools that were disappearing. He was able to train with many teachers from these schools, listen to his advice and receive the Densho or technical documents from those schools. He became Menkyo Kaiden (teacher) of the Tenjin Shin´yo Ryu, a fusion of the Yoshin Ryu and the Shin no Shinto Ryu. Also from Kito Ryu, a school with influences from Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, prestigious traditional school of Ken Jutsu and Ryoi Shinto Yawara (the word Yawara is a synonym for JuJutsu).
In 1896 there was a crucial moment for Jigoro Kano Shihan and his new JuJutsu: the Kodokan Judo. Frequently, their students trained and fought with police JuJutsu teams and, on the other hand, students from other schools, including teachers, threw Dojo Yaburi or challenges to the Kodokan of Kano. What unfortunately they had to face, all this led to a decline in the Koryu JuJutsu since as the importance of everything feudal fell, many JuJutsu practitioners were involved in street fights of very low morality, being their cruel response, they brushed sadism because of the way they were angry with their contestants.
Kano Shihan, rejected that attitude and his JuJutsu, the Kodokan Judo, kept growing, because everyone had a place in it. From the youngest to the not-so-young, police and military forces and women could practice it, all in a democratic climate, away from medieval militarism.
The teachers of Koryu JuJutsu, came to think that Kano had "softened" so much his JuJutsu that he would have no chance with his new methods, when it came to beating the old schools of Koryu JuJutsu.
In June 1886 the Tokyo Metropolitan Police organized a Shiai, competition between the Judokas of the Kodokan and the JuJutsukas of the Totsuka Ha Yoshin Ryu JuJutsu who was in charge of the police instruction in JuJutsu.
It was the moment of truth and demonstrate the solid scientific basis of the Jigoro Kano method.
The confrontation took place outside the Yayoi Monastery in Shibuya Park in Tokyo.
As students of Kano Shihan, the so-called "Four Gods of Judo" were introduced: Yokoyama Sakujiro, Saigo Shiro, Tomita Tsunejiro and Yamashita Yoshikazu.
Facing students from the following Koryu JuJutsu schools:
Yoshin Ryu Totsuka-Ha, Sekiguchi Ryu, Ryoi Shinto Ryu, Kito Ryu, Takenouchi Santo Ryu, Tenjin Shin´yo Ryu, Shinmei Sakkatsu Ryu, Yagyu Shingan Ryu and six other schools from which no data is collected.
Out of fifteen matches, the Kano Judokas won twelve, lost two and drew one.
The only rules that were established, was the ban on using Atemi Waza or beating techniques. Atsukomi Waza (pressures). Yubi Basami Waza (pinches). Kumate or Nekote Waza (tears) and Fumi Waza (crushing).
Even so, it could be projected in any way (Nage Waza), dislodge all joints, (Kansetsu Waza), strangle (Shime Waza) and Freeze (Osae Waza) without taking into account the danger of the techniques employed. With these results, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police accepted Judo Kodokan as JuJutsu's new method of training its agents.
SHIRO SAIGO -
Undisputed protagonist of the fighting between Kodokan and the old Jujutsu schools.
Kano Shihan, far from humiliating the schools of Koryu JuJutsu, welcomed them in his Kodokan, where teachers could continue to teach their traditions to all Judokas willing to drink in the Japanese martial past. Some teachers accepted Kano Shihan's offer, others, on the contrary, did not accept defeat.
The close relationship of Judo Kodokan with the Japanese Police served to lay the foundations of what modernization and integration of Taiho Jutsu as a self-defense system within the various Japanese police forces would be along with other Bujutsu methods.
In the debut of the Meiji restoration (1868-1912) the police were not an institution as such, being part of the Administration of Justice. When the Country of the Rising Sun opened to Western culture things began to change. It was in the year 1874 when the police began to depend exclusively on the Ministry of Interior.
The Police Administration at that time was in a new context and it was necessary that every police officer at the request of his officers be prepared to reduce and arrest a criminal without causing unnecessary damage. Clear contrast with what happened in the feudal era in which that aspect was not taken into account as something essential.
With the abolition of the feudal regime in 1868 and the disappearance of the samurai warriors as a prominent military caste, the passing of the years resulted in the leaders of the Japanese police having a common goal: to modernize and systematize personal defense techniques with and No weapons for all police officers. The role of the samurai as guarantor of order had disappeared and the renewal of the methods of arrest to train the agents was evident.
KEISHITAI (POLICE OFFICIALS) -
It was from the 20s when, through a common Governing Commission to the Police of all Japan, they decided to give a solution to the urgent problems that had to be solved through the performance of a modern Police.
The classical martial arts with their combative and spiritual connotations were considered very useful in their purest form, for the resolution of civil problems. Since the Meiji era (1868), the disciplines chosen for the training of agents were mainly JuJutsu and subsequently Judo along with Kendo and Jojutsu. These disciplines were also good methods of physical education to maintain the health of all police officers. But it was essential to design a purely police method with the particularities of police intervention in conflict situations and in which they could defend their physical integrity or help the citizen. They should therefore have an authentic police personal defense system more appropriate to their needs.
A technical committee was convened by the Tokyo Central Police Office in 1924. The committee had several members, all of them high grades in Japanese fencing (Kenjutsu, kendo and Iaido).
On the other hand there were also specialists in Goshin Jutsu, mainly in the methods of self-defense based on JuJutsu and Judo), thus laying the foundations of the foundation of a modern method of personal defense for the Japanese police
The Masters who made up this committee were -
-Shuichi Nagaoka 10 Dan by Judo Kodokan.
-Kyuzo Mifune 10 Dan by Judo Kodokan.
-Goro Saimura 10 Dan from Kendo.
-Hyakudo Nakayama 10 Dan from Shindo Munen-Ryū.
-Yoshihitsu Hiyama and Shitejiro Hotta from KenJutsu.
-Kinosuke Sato, Tadashi Kawakami and Seizo Nakano, the 3 belonging to the Kodokan representing the teachers of Goshin Jutsu.
The committee had to develop a series of self-defense techniques that allowed law enforcement officers to be unarmed, to be able to deal with any type of aggression and of course intervene in general situations of civil disobedience; a system that covers all kinds of contingencies.
This group of Teachers developed a wide variety of techniques, adapting them to police work and including them in the training program.
The first phase of what would be the future Taiho Jutsu, was completed, although it was basically Bujutsu modified by the fundamentals and principles of Kodokan Judo. Undoubtedly, this work was taken as a link between the ancient and the modern as an evolutionary JuJutsu.
What prevailed in the development of the created method, were the postures, grips, controls, conductions, Te hodoki (free hands), displacements of the body and the elusions of Jigoro Kano Shihan's method; All fully integrated. Projection techniques were an important basis of the system, together with techniques that allowed dealing with situations in which the agent and the person to be reduced were in a seiza or idori position. On the other hand, techniques were also practiced to reduce and evict individuals who were not cooperative with the orders or indications of the agent.
This first methodology did not imply concern to avoid causing excessive damage to the offender, something that on the other hand was not essential at that time.
BOJUTSU TECHNIQUE WITHIN THE TAIHO JUTSU PROGRAM -
To formalize and standardize some of the techniques of Taiho Jutsu, the Torite No kata was created in 1926 for the police. With the approval of Jigoro Kano, and the head of the Administrative Division of the Police, Mr. Ishii Tamotsu, a group of Judo Teachers began to investigate and develop a representative Kata for the police, based on basic techniques of Judo Kodokan, It was undoubtedly of great interest for the situation so critical that it was socially lived in the Japan of the 1920s.
Taking advantage of Budo Kenshukai event, the teachers who decided to participate in this research were:
Yamashita Yoshiaki 10 Dan as director of that committee, along with Instructors Yamaguchi, Moriyama, Kawano, and Kunio. All of them teachers of Judo Kodokan and Goshin Jutsu of the Japanese Police, in the case of Master Yamashita, would be for thirty years.
They worked on this project from September 1924 until in April or May 1926, their work resulted in Torite no Kata. Torite no kata is a Judo Kata, but not being regarded as a Kata within the Kodokan curriculum, it has fallen into disuse from the perspective of formal kata training, but since its techniques are of great formative value and extremely effective they were and they are used by most of the world's police forces in their Taiho Jutsu programs.
It is evident that Kodokan Judo has played an important role in the development of Taiho Jutsu, but other disciplines such as Kenjutsu, JutteJutsu, Karatedo, Aikido and Jojutsu also played a decisive role.
After 20 years a review was conducted and in 1947, the Tokyo Police Department formed a new committee to review the police system. the renewed Taiho Jutsu that would lead to the modern self-defense system in the Japanese police institution. With what we can continue seeing the close contact between both institutions: the Kodokan and the Keisatsu, the Police.
With the end of World War II, the second phase for the concretion of Taiho Jutsu begins.
This committee of experts consisted of -
-Goro Saimura, 10th dan from kendo, a member of the previous commission,
-Shuchi Nagaoka, 10th Dan of Judo Kodokan, a member of the previous commission,
-Takaji Shimizu, Master of Shinto Muso Ryu jojutsu and of ikkaku ryū juttejutsu,
-Hironori Ohtsuka (1892-1982), founding teacher of wadō ryū karatedō and master of shinto yoshin ryū jūjutsu.
-Tsuneo Horigushi, weapons and western boxing instructor.
The result is the publication of the Taihojutsu kihon kozo manual that divides the system as follows:
-Toshu (bare hands techniques)
-Keibo (short stick techniques)
-Kihon waza (14 basic techniques)
-Oyo waza (16 advanced techniques)
-Seijo (6 handcuff techniques)
-Soken (search technique)
-Hiki tate oyobi (permanent control technique)
STUDY OF THE VITAL POINTS OF THE TITLE BOOK
TAIHO JUTSU KYOHAN WRITTEN IN 1948
The Japanese Police had to face new situations after the defeat of their country in the conflict and its occupation by the US Armed Forces.
General Douglas Mc. Arthur - In the photo next to Hiro Ito in 1945.
The victors imposed a series of restrictions regarding the practice of martial arts with the SCAP treaty of General Mc Arthur. So the Tokyo Police Department had to make a great effort to reformulate an effective system based on ancient and modern martial arts. Obtaining, of course, the authorization of the Allied Government occupation.
TAIHO JUTSU EXHIBITION -
The techniques to be used should be appropriate for the situations that the Japanese police had to face. The Yakuza was engaged in trafficking in white women, prostitution, black market of medicines, food, clandestine play, the trade of children for slavery of all kinds, robberies and assaults were commonplace.
The confrontations between allied soldiers and nationalist corpuscles that continued to exist in hiding. They occurred very frequently, such was the case of the ultra-right members of the Black Dragon Society or Kokuryu Kai. Although the extreme left also tried to form its organizations that were beginning to make a place in Japan because of Soviet influence.
The Police Instruction within the institution for the maintenance of order, should be really effective as well as appropriate. Koryu JuJutsu, Judo Kodokan, Kendo, Kenjutsu, Jojutsu, Jodo, Toshin Kenpo, Karate Jutsu, including Western Boxing were taken into account for the agents' instruction; Regarding the latter discipline, especially in defense against someone versed in this type of combat art. A new reality was brewing in the martial and it is in 1947 when it appears as a formally constituted system: the Taiho Jutsu or Arrest and Control Method.
The techniques of use of auxiliary weapons such as the Tambo, the Jo or medium police baton, Keijo Jutsu, the Hojo Jutsu or art of handling a criminal that would be completed with the techniques of frisking, (Soken) and shackling (Seijo) were adapted thanks to the presence of master Shimizu Takaji in this new committee, representative of the school of weapons, Shindo Muso Ryu. Within the Kobudo Kenkyukai section of the Kodokan, judokas were taught the art of handling different types of cane at the request of Kano Shihan.
JOJUTSU IN THE KOBUDO KENKYULAI OF THE KODOKAN (SUIDOBASHI) -
Master Takagi sitting starting on the left, next to several Koryu JuJutsu Masters. All of them flanking Master Jigoro Kano who organized seminars in his Kodokan Kobudo Kenkyukai, "Association for the Study of Traditional Japanese Martial Arts of Kodokan." As a curiosity, behind the young Takagi, we can see a no less young Nagaoka Suichi.
The search for maximum realism to face the new social challenges and its new crime, made it possible to have the expert in Pistol Shooting and Western Boxing, Tsuneo Horiguchi.
The Japanese police were frequently involved in confrontations with agitators of all kinds, including martial arts practitioners. Therefore, this new methodology should be pragmatic and have omnipresent efficacy in all aspects of the confrontation. Every situation should be contemplated with the concern of proportionality in the response that the agent should face the aggression.
Taiho Jutsu thus became an evolutionary method, complete and perfectly regularized, reflecting the influence of the values of Western culture.
The purpose of applying the techniques was to cause as little damage as possible, avoid hurting criminals, offenders and criminals. The confrontation, the control in the reduction of violent individuals, would be carried out in a safe way, both for law enforcement officials and for criminals. Killing, massacring, mutilating as contemplated by ancient martial arts or BuJutsu would be avoided at all times.
Only in situations of extreme gravity for citizens and for the police officer, could a maximum degree of force be used. There is no other resource to alleviate the situation of public disorder or attack against people and their property.
With this approach, it was achieved that the Occupation Government authorized the members of the Police from that moment to be trained in Taiho Jutsu for the maintenance of public order, making this discipline an indispensable part of the training of any police officer .
At the same time the SCAP treaty rose and the rest of the Japanese martial arts found their place in a modern Japan, a democratized country.
It was at that time, the late 40s and early 50s when the North American Air Forces implemented a training program for the so-called SAC, "Strategic Air Command" in which all Physical Education instructors would go through a period of training in the ancient Kodokan in order to instruct them in different Budo: Judo, Karatedo, Aikido, Goshin Jutsu and Taiho Jutsu.
With the implementation of this training plan in Japanese Martial Arts, these disciplines would enter the West, showing their martial variety.
NORTH AMERICAN MILITARY ENTERING THE OLD KODOKAN OF THE SUIDOBASHI NEIGHBORHOOD IN TOKYO -
We cannot forget to finish, of two great teachers of the Kodokan who were important referents in police training as teachers in the Japanese Police Academies.
These are the teachers Kenji Tomiki 8th Dan Judo and Aikido who instructed in Goshin Jutsu and Aikido the instructors of the Martial Arts Training Program of the SAC of the American Air Forces and the Master Kusuo Hosokawa 8th Dan of Judo and 7th Dan of Aikido that He did it in Taiho Jutsu, within the same curriculum that was carried out at the former Kodokan Judo Institute in Suidobashi, Tokyo.
KENJI TOMIKI TOMIKI - PAPER ON THE KODOKAN -
Master Tomiki demonstrating various techniques of Aikido and Goshin Jutsu with the very young Shizuya Sato (founder of the Nihon JuJutsu method Goshin Jutsu) as Uke. The watchful eyes of the students of the SAC were a continuous examination for those teachers.
Master Kusuo Hosokawa, 8th Dan Judo and 7th Dan Aikido instructed members of the activities of the SAC or "Strategic Air Command" in Taiho Jutsu throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.
Hosokawa Sensei showing a stab defense, using the Keibo or short police baton. His Uke, Mr. Emilio Bruno, coordinator of the SAC course and 5th Dan de Judo del Kodokan.
Master Hosokawa shows Mr. Bruno an empty-handed defense technique (Toshu waza) against a direct attack of atemi with his fist. It is the part of Goshin jutsu (self defense) within the Taiho Jutsu.
From the 50s and 60s to the present, numerous modern methods of Taiho Jutsu have appeared both in Japan and in the West, adapting to the new times, to the new legal system, using new materials and mainly prioritizing the physical integrity of the detainee.
(Note - Extract from the USJJF's Book - TAIHO JUTSU)
- The Samurai
- The Shinsengumi
- Kepeitai-Tokeitai (Military Police)
- Police Forces -
- Tokubetsu Kōtō Keisatsu (Special Police Corps created in 1910)
- Keisatsu-chō (National Police Agency created in 1954)
THE SAMURAI -
The Samurai was an elite bushi, with certain privileges depending on the rank or period in which he served. In the social structure of Japan they were framed immediately below the nobility.
The etymology of the word "Samurai" 侍 within the Japanese language corresponds to the conjugation of the verb "Saburau" (to serve), therefore, Samurai means "He who serves."
The use of the word "samurai" in Japanese was evolving until the 10th century, at which time it acquires the military meaning that we know today and that refers to the one who serves a lord.
Throughout history, the samurai class had been distinguished from the peasant class for economic reasons: samurai was the one who could afford their equipment and training. This generated a specialization within the army and granted them the status of "elite warriors" compared to more "plebeian" classes such as the Ashigaru.
For the Tokugawa period, the formation of a samurai was very organized and advanced, generating much more skilled warriors with not only military, but also administrative or cultural skills.
In the military field, each clan leader had several martial arts teachers in charge of teaching the lord's army. These teachers were treated with the utmost respect and obedience and not only taught fencing or martial arts.
Being experienced warriors, they held an important position in the army of the Lord, although their main function was to instruct youth. Within each samurai clan there used to be several experts specialized in arrest techniques, these being those who at the request of the shogun or the damyo made the arrests to make them available to their bosses.
The techniques of arrest used by the samurai were based mainly on neutralizing the enemy proceeded to immobilize his body through effective tying techniques (Hojo Jutsu). If the enemy managed to escape or free himself from control, he was considered a dishonor and was punished by seppuku.
Due mainly to political and social changes and to the hasty intention to modernize Japan, the Japanese administration through the Dampatsurei edict (1871) and the Haitorei edict (March 28, 1876) prohibited the wearing of samurai clothing and wearing the chonmage (traditional samurai hairstyle with knot shape), and vetoed the use of swords to anyone who was not a member of the imperial armed forces with the clear objective of ending samurai privileges. Hereditary distinctions, domains and estates of the samurai were also abolished. These events caused a deep discontent in the samurai class, social and political tension and the appearance of groups loyal to the old traditions, caused this discontent to materialize in riots, murders, battles and clashes with the imperial armed forces. It was the end of the samurai era.
Almost at the end of the Edo period, in the twilight of the samurai caste, the figure of the Shinsengumi appeared, which was an internal police force of the Shogun. Most of its members were reputed samurai, although members of politics, priests and doctors were also integrated. There are 298 members documented within the Shinsengumi.
The Shinsengumi had to honor the entire clan with its behavior for what basic rules were governed, the violation of any of them involved the punishment of suicide (seppuku).
The most important norms were -
- You cannot leave the samurai path, which means complying with the Bushido code.
- You cannot leave the Shinsengumi.
- You cannot save money on your own.
- You cannot interfere in third party matters.
- You cannot fight for personal causes.
- Kill all enemies during battle
- If the commander dies continue fighting until victory or death
No doubt the Shinsengumi was the intermediate step between the former samurai and the Japanese police forces that were born from 1890-1900.
TAIHO JUTSU IN THE MODERN JAPANESE POLICE BODIES -
From the last century to the present, police training and the development of Taiho Jutsu or the art of reducing and arresting, has as one of its main objectives the arrest of a criminal by the agents of the authority causing him the least possible damage. The Japan of 1924 had a long martial tradition since ancient times and among those traditions, there were methods used by medieval police officers. These techniques, derived from different schools of Koryu JuJutsu, the disciplines in which law enforcement officers were trained, were known by different names: Edo Machi Kata or Torite.
Edo period police officers (1603-1868) who practiced Edo Machi Kata arrest techniques were called Edo Machi Kata Doshin. They were Samurai of lower rank under the orders of the Yoriki or rank of officers. In modern times, this martial art became more commonly known as: Taiho Jutsu or art of detention and arrest techniques.
EDO PERIOD PERIOD MEIJI -
The following images correspond to one of the first specialized written books in Taiho Jutsu, entitled "Kempo Zukai", edited in 1887 by Tetsutaro Hisatami (He was reputed teacher of Koryu Jujutsu, Soke of the seventieth generation of the Shibukawa ryu school, being a consultant and coordinator of the JuJutsu faculty in the police).
Testsutaro, in the introduction of his book said the following -
"A Westerner once said:" If you combine a robust physical form with a vigorous mind, you will end up with a body that is strong and a mind that is active. Such a person could succeed in any effort he chooses to undertake. "
and in the same text he added -
"The success or failure of a country also depends on the strength of its people. Although there are all kinds of methods by which one can strengthen the body, there is none that can exceed the benefits of JuJutsu.
This JuJutsu of which I speak contains the essence of military techniques, martial arts, from Japan. Through JuJutsu techniques, a body that is strong and healthy can be created, while the mind is conditioned to remain calm.
If an incident occurs, there is no doubt that you can control the unexpected with skill and dexterity.
There are two precepts within JuJutsu that can be of great benefit -
The first corrects the fundamental character of a person's physical form. Then, through Jujutsu, that person can take down bigger and stronger enemies easily and fluently.
The second aspect is to use the eight Kentai, or blows with the body and the long and short sword, and hit the six Kyusho, or vital points of the body, to easily subdue and tie a stronger opponent.
Reason why I again declare that you should strive to strengthen your body.
In addition, employees as police officers must often use these techniques when submitting to ruffian gangs without law and tying them with rope.
In the past, training and study of JuJutsu were of paramount importance to such people. The editors of this volume have come to feel that the study of these techniques is essential. "
Having abolished the samurai class and in the period of modernization of the country, martial arts schools had to adapt to survive. In 1885 the Japanese Police trained with great hardness in the art of Koryu JuJutsu and Kendo, the JuJutsu Master and founder of Judo Jigoro Kano, was able to observe since 1879 how the Totzuka Ha of Yoshin Ryu and his representative, Master Totsuka Hikosuke, they trained with that rudeness. He practiced and trained with them, but that excess of strength and lack of energy economy, made him think that he should redirect his training.
He collected, studied and practiced techniques from the largest possible number of Koryu JuJutsu schools that were disappearing. He was able to train with many teachers from these schools, listen to his advice and receive the Densho or technical documents from those schools. He became Menkyo Kaiden (teacher) of the Tenjin Shin´yo Ryu, a fusion of the Yoshin Ryu and the Shin no Shinto Ryu. Also from Kito Ryu, a school with influences from Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, prestigious traditional school of Ken Jutsu and Ryoi Shinto Yawara (the word Yawara is a synonym for JuJutsu).
In 1896 there was a crucial moment for Jigoro Kano Shihan and his new JuJutsu: the Kodokan Judo. Frequently, their students trained and fought with police JuJutsu teams and, on the other hand, students from other schools, including teachers, threw Dojo Yaburi or challenges to the Kodokan of Kano. What unfortunately they had to face, all this led to a decline in the Koryu JuJutsu since as the importance of everything feudal fell, many JuJutsu practitioners were involved in street fights of very low morality, being their cruel response, they brushed sadism because of the way they were angry with their contestants.
Kano Shihan, rejected that attitude and his JuJutsu, the Kodokan Judo, kept growing, because everyone had a place in it. From the youngest to the not-so-young, police and military forces and women could practice it, all in a democratic climate, away from medieval militarism.
The teachers of Koryu JuJutsu, came to think that Kano had "softened" so much his JuJutsu that he would have no chance with his new methods, when it came to beating the old schools of Koryu JuJutsu.
In June 1886 the Tokyo Metropolitan Police organized a Shiai, competition between the Judokas of the Kodokan and the JuJutsukas of the Totsuka Ha Yoshin Ryu JuJutsu who was in charge of the police instruction in JuJutsu.
It was the moment of truth and demonstrate the solid scientific basis of the Jigoro Kano method.
The confrontation took place outside the Yayoi Monastery in Shibuya Park in Tokyo.
As students of Kano Shihan, the so-called "Four Gods of Judo" were introduced: Yokoyama Sakujiro, Saigo Shiro, Tomita Tsunejiro and Yamashita Yoshikazu.
Facing students from the following Koryu JuJutsu schools:
Yoshin Ryu Totsuka-Ha, Sekiguchi Ryu, Ryoi Shinto Ryu, Kito Ryu, Takenouchi Santo Ryu, Tenjin Shin´yo Ryu, Shinmei Sakkatsu Ryu, Yagyu Shingan Ryu and six other schools from which no data is collected.
Out of fifteen matches, the Kano Judokas won twelve, lost two and drew one.
The only rules that were established, was the ban on using Atemi Waza or beating techniques. Atsukomi Waza (pressures). Yubi Basami Waza (pinches). Kumate or Nekote Waza (tears) and Fumi Waza (crushing).
Even so, it could be projected in any way (Nage Waza), dislodge all joints, (Kansetsu Waza), strangle (Shime Waza) and Freeze (Osae Waza) without taking into account the danger of the techniques employed. With these results, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police accepted Judo Kodokan as JuJutsu's new method of training its agents.
SHIRO SAIGO -
Undisputed protagonist of the fighting between Kodokan and the old Jujutsu schools.
Kano Shihan, far from humiliating the schools of Koryu JuJutsu, welcomed them in his Kodokan, where teachers could continue to teach their traditions to all Judokas willing to drink in the Japanese martial past. Some teachers accepted Kano Shihan's offer, others, on the contrary, did not accept defeat.
The close relationship of Judo Kodokan with the Japanese Police served to lay the foundations of what modernization and integration of Taiho Jutsu as a self-defense system within the various Japanese police forces would be along with other Bujutsu methods.
In the debut of the Meiji restoration (1868-1912) the police were not an institution as such, being part of the Administration of Justice. When the Country of the Rising Sun opened to Western culture things began to change. It was in the year 1874 when the police began to depend exclusively on the Ministry of Interior.
The Police Administration at that time was in a new context and it was necessary that every police officer at the request of his officers be prepared to reduce and arrest a criminal without causing unnecessary damage. Clear contrast with what happened in the feudal era in which that aspect was not taken into account as something essential.
With the abolition of the feudal regime in 1868 and the disappearance of the samurai warriors as a prominent military caste, the passing of the years resulted in the leaders of the Japanese police having a common goal: to modernize and systematize personal defense techniques with and No weapons for all police officers. The role of the samurai as guarantor of order had disappeared and the renewal of the methods of arrest to train the agents was evident.
KEISHITAI (POLICE OFFICIALS) -
It was from the 20s when, through a common Governing Commission to the Police of all Japan, they decided to give a solution to the urgent problems that had to be solved through the performance of a modern Police.
The classical martial arts with their combative and spiritual connotations were considered very useful in their purest form, for the resolution of civil problems. Since the Meiji era (1868), the disciplines chosen for the training of agents were mainly JuJutsu and subsequently Judo along with Kendo and Jojutsu. These disciplines were also good methods of physical education to maintain the health of all police officers. But it was essential to design a purely police method with the particularities of police intervention in conflict situations and in which they could defend their physical integrity or help the citizen. They should therefore have an authentic police personal defense system more appropriate to their needs.
A technical committee was convened by the Tokyo Central Police Office in 1924. The committee had several members, all of them high grades in Japanese fencing (Kenjutsu, kendo and Iaido).
On the other hand there were also specialists in Goshin Jutsu, mainly in the methods of self-defense based on JuJutsu and Judo), thus laying the foundations of the foundation of a modern method of personal defense for the Japanese police
The Masters who made up this committee were -
-Shuichi Nagaoka 10 Dan by Judo Kodokan.
-Kyuzo Mifune 10 Dan by Judo Kodokan.
-Goro Saimura 10 Dan from Kendo.
-Hyakudo Nakayama 10 Dan from Shindo Munen-Ryū.
-Yoshihitsu Hiyama and Shitejiro Hotta from KenJutsu.
-Kinosuke Sato, Tadashi Kawakami and Seizo Nakano, the 3 belonging to the Kodokan representing the teachers of Goshin Jutsu.
The committee had to develop a series of self-defense techniques that allowed law enforcement officers to be unarmed, to be able to deal with any type of aggression and of course intervene in general situations of civil disobedience; a system that covers all kinds of contingencies.
This group of Teachers developed a wide variety of techniques, adapting them to police work and including them in the training program.
The first phase of what would be the future Taiho Jutsu, was completed, although it was basically Bujutsu modified by the fundamentals and principles of Kodokan Judo. Undoubtedly, this work was taken as a link between the ancient and the modern as an evolutionary JuJutsu.
What prevailed in the development of the created method, were the postures, grips, controls, conductions, Te hodoki (free hands), displacements of the body and the elusions of Jigoro Kano Shihan's method; All fully integrated. Projection techniques were an important basis of the system, together with techniques that allowed dealing with situations in which the agent and the person to be reduced were in a seiza or idori position. On the other hand, techniques were also practiced to reduce and evict individuals who were not cooperative with the orders or indications of the agent.
This first methodology did not imply concern to avoid causing excessive damage to the offender, something that on the other hand was not essential at that time.
BOJUTSU TECHNIQUE WITHIN THE TAIHO JUTSU PROGRAM -
To formalize and standardize some of the techniques of Taiho Jutsu, the Torite No kata was created in 1926 for the police. With the approval of Jigoro Kano, and the head of the Administrative Division of the Police, Mr. Ishii Tamotsu, a group of Judo Teachers began to investigate and develop a representative Kata for the police, based on basic techniques of Judo Kodokan, It was undoubtedly of great interest for the situation so critical that it was socially lived in the Japan of the 1920s.
Taking advantage of Budo Kenshukai event, the teachers who decided to participate in this research were:
Yamashita Yoshiaki 10 Dan as director of that committee, along with Instructors Yamaguchi, Moriyama, Kawano, and Kunio. All of them teachers of Judo Kodokan and Goshin Jutsu of the Japanese Police, in the case of Master Yamashita, would be for thirty years.
They worked on this project from September 1924 until in April or May 1926, their work resulted in Torite no Kata. Torite no kata is a Judo Kata, but not being regarded as a Kata within the Kodokan curriculum, it has fallen into disuse from the perspective of formal kata training, but since its techniques are of great formative value and extremely effective they were and they are used by most of the world's police forces in their Taiho Jutsu programs.
It is evident that Kodokan Judo has played an important role in the development of Taiho Jutsu, but other disciplines such as Kenjutsu, JutteJutsu, Karatedo, Aikido and Jojutsu also played a decisive role.
After 20 years a review was conducted and in 1947, the Tokyo Police Department formed a new committee to review the police system. the renewed Taiho Jutsu that would lead to the modern self-defense system in the Japanese police institution. With what we can continue seeing the close contact between both institutions: the Kodokan and the Keisatsu, the Police.
With the end of World War II, the second phase for the concretion of Taiho Jutsu begins.
This committee of experts consisted of -
-Goro Saimura, 10th dan from kendo, a member of the previous commission,
-Shuchi Nagaoka, 10th Dan of Judo Kodokan, a member of the previous commission,
-Takaji Shimizu, Master of Shinto Muso Ryu jojutsu and of ikkaku ryū juttejutsu,
-Hironori Ohtsuka (1892-1982), founding teacher of wadō ryū karatedō and master of shinto yoshin ryū jūjutsu.
-Tsuneo Horigushi, weapons and western boxing instructor.
The result is the publication of the Taihojutsu kihon kozo manual that divides the system as follows:
-Toshu (bare hands techniques)
-Keibo (short stick techniques)
-Kihon waza (14 basic techniques)
-Oyo waza (16 advanced techniques)
-Seijo (6 handcuff techniques)
-Soken (search technique)
-Hiki tate oyobi (permanent control technique)
STUDY OF THE VITAL POINTS OF THE TITLE BOOK
TAIHO JUTSU KYOHAN WRITTEN IN 1948
The Japanese Police had to face new situations after the defeat of their country in the conflict and its occupation by the US Armed Forces.
General Douglas Mc. Arthur - In the photo next to Hiro Ito in 1945.
The victors imposed a series of restrictions regarding the practice of martial arts with the SCAP treaty of General Mc Arthur. So the Tokyo Police Department had to make a great effort to reformulate an effective system based on ancient and modern martial arts. Obtaining, of course, the authorization of the Allied Government occupation.
TAIHO JUTSU EXHIBITION -
The techniques to be used should be appropriate for the situations that the Japanese police had to face. The Yakuza was engaged in trafficking in white women, prostitution, black market of medicines, food, clandestine play, the trade of children for slavery of all kinds, robberies and assaults were commonplace.
The confrontations between allied soldiers and nationalist corpuscles that continued to exist in hiding. They occurred very frequently, such was the case of the ultra-right members of the Black Dragon Society or Kokuryu Kai. Although the extreme left also tried to form its organizations that were beginning to make a place in Japan because of Soviet influence.
The Police Instruction within the institution for the maintenance of order, should be really effective as well as appropriate. Koryu JuJutsu, Judo Kodokan, Kendo, Kenjutsu, Jojutsu, Jodo, Toshin Kenpo, Karate Jutsu, including Western Boxing were taken into account for the agents' instruction; Regarding the latter discipline, especially in defense against someone versed in this type of combat art. A new reality was brewing in the martial and it is in 1947 when it appears as a formally constituted system: the Taiho Jutsu or Arrest and Control Method.
The techniques of use of auxiliary weapons such as the Tambo, the Jo or medium police baton, Keijo Jutsu, the Hojo Jutsu or art of handling a criminal that would be completed with the techniques of frisking, (Soken) and shackling (Seijo) were adapted thanks to the presence of master Shimizu Takaji in this new committee, representative of the school of weapons, Shindo Muso Ryu. Within the Kobudo Kenkyukai section of the Kodokan, judokas were taught the art of handling different types of cane at the request of Kano Shihan.
JOJUTSU IN THE KOBUDO KENKYULAI OF THE KODOKAN (SUIDOBASHI) -
Master Takagi sitting starting on the left, next to several Koryu JuJutsu Masters. All of them flanking Master Jigoro Kano who organized seminars in his Kodokan Kobudo Kenkyukai, "Association for the Study of Traditional Japanese Martial Arts of Kodokan." As a curiosity, behind the young Takagi, we can see a no less young Nagaoka Suichi.
The search for maximum realism to face the new social challenges and its new crime, made it possible to have the expert in Pistol Shooting and Western Boxing, Tsuneo Horiguchi.
The Japanese police were frequently involved in confrontations with agitators of all kinds, including martial arts practitioners. Therefore, this new methodology should be pragmatic and have omnipresent efficacy in all aspects of the confrontation. Every situation should be contemplated with the concern of proportionality in the response that the agent should face the aggression.
Taiho Jutsu thus became an evolutionary method, complete and perfectly regularized, reflecting the influence of the values of Western culture.
The purpose of applying the techniques was to cause as little damage as possible, avoid hurting criminals, offenders and criminals. The confrontation, the control in the reduction of violent individuals, would be carried out in a safe way, both for law enforcement officials and for criminals. Killing, massacring, mutilating as contemplated by ancient martial arts or BuJutsu would be avoided at all times.
Only in situations of extreme gravity for citizens and for the police officer, could a maximum degree of force be used. There is no other resource to alleviate the situation of public disorder or attack against people and their property.
With this approach, it was achieved that the Occupation Government authorized the members of the Police from that moment to be trained in Taiho Jutsu for the maintenance of public order, making this discipline an indispensable part of the training of any police officer .
At the same time the SCAP treaty rose and the rest of the Japanese martial arts found their place in a modern Japan, a democratized country.
It was at that time, the late 40s and early 50s when the North American Air Forces implemented a training program for the so-called SAC, "Strategic Air Command" in which all Physical Education instructors would go through a period of training in the ancient Kodokan in order to instruct them in different Budo: Judo, Karatedo, Aikido, Goshin Jutsu and Taiho Jutsu.
With the implementation of this training plan in Japanese Martial Arts, these disciplines would enter the West, showing their martial variety.
NORTH AMERICAN MILITARY ENTERING THE OLD KODOKAN OF THE SUIDOBASHI NEIGHBORHOOD IN TOKYO -
We cannot forget to finish, of two great teachers of the Kodokan who were important referents in police training as teachers in the Japanese Police Academies.
These are the teachers Kenji Tomiki 8th Dan Judo and Aikido who instructed in Goshin Jutsu and Aikido the instructors of the Martial Arts Training Program of the SAC of the American Air Forces and the Master Kusuo Hosokawa 8th Dan of Judo and 7th Dan of Aikido that He did it in Taiho Jutsu, within the same curriculum that was carried out at the former Kodokan Judo Institute in Suidobashi, Tokyo.
KENJI TOMIKI TOMIKI - PAPER ON THE KODOKAN -
Master Tomiki demonstrating various techniques of Aikido and Goshin Jutsu with the very young Shizuya Sato (founder of the Nihon JuJutsu method Goshin Jutsu) as Uke. The watchful eyes of the students of the SAC were a continuous examination for those teachers.
Master Kusuo Hosokawa, 8th Dan Judo and 7th Dan Aikido instructed members of the activities of the SAC or "Strategic Air Command" in Taiho Jutsu throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.
Hosokawa Sensei showing a stab defense, using the Keibo or short police baton. His Uke, Mr. Emilio Bruno, coordinator of the SAC course and 5th Dan de Judo del Kodokan.
Master Hosokawa shows Mr. Bruno an empty-handed defense technique (Toshu waza) against a direct attack of atemi with his fist. It is the part of Goshin jutsu (self defense) within the Taiho Jutsu.
From the 50s and 60s to the present, numerous modern methods of Taiho Jutsu have appeared both in Japan and in the West, adapting to the new times, to the new legal system, using new materials and mainly prioritizing the physical integrity of the detainee.
(Note - Extract from the USJJF's Book - TAIHO JUTSU)