History of Taiho Jutsu

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The first phase of the Japanese police force art was a result of the fact that classical budo with its variety of techniques (some severe, others more spiritual) did not meet the specific needs of a modern police force. Civil problems were unique. From the late Mejii era, both kendo and judo had proved useful to the police but more as a form of physical education. The police had to design their own specific systems of hand-to-hand combat that were more suitable to the times and modern culture.

To that end, the Tokyo Police set up a formal study committee of ranking specialists from the existing arts. They included kensetsu, kendo, iai-do, and goshi-jutsu. The committee had to develop a series of self-defense techniques that would enable an unarmed policeman to meet the usual contingencies accompanying civil disturbances of various kinds. Then the police board approved this series of techniques and implemented them into police training procedures.

The early phase of what was to become Taiho Jutsu used classical disciplines modified by modern judo fundamentals. Hence, posture, grip, and body movements were integrated into the system. Throws were a basis of the system with an admixture of responses dealing with sitting posture and some that dealt with leading an unwilling perpetrator away. Concern for the safety of the perpetrator was not much of an issue at this time.

After the Second World War, the police had to deal with a new environment. Restrictions had been placed on the practice of the martial arts. The ban was due, in part, to ignorance of their intent and purpose, or due to a perceived need to preserve order. The police, however, still needed a means to preserve order amid unrest and protest.

Hence, the Tokyo Police undertook a new effort to formulate an effective system and established a technical committee to review the techniques (both classical and modern) that would be appropriate in a new cultural and historical environment. Everything came under review from ju-jitsu, karate-jutsu, kendo, and judo as well as Western boxing and some classical techniques from jojutsu and kenjutsu. A formalized system emerged and it was called Taiho Jutsu. The date of the new system was 1947. It has undergone revisions as needed since then.

The new system reflects the influence of Western cultural values. Techniques are applied so as to cause minimal damage to the perpetrator. Confrontation, control and subduing are done with the safety of both the officer and the prisoner uppermost. Killing or maiming is to be avoided except in the most extreme circumstances. Hence, proficiency in hand-to-hand combat becomes foremost in importance.

A number of specialized devices are now employed. Some have historical roots and members of classical schools taught their mastery, as the new use was adapted from an older set of techniques. Examples of this are the keibo (a short wooden club), seijo (handcuffs — obviously a modern addition), soken (searching), and hiki-tate oyobi (restraining methods).

An interesting addition is the state of mind that modern budo practitioners will recognize. It is called heijo-shin (keeping a normal and calm state of mind). This is practiced along with breathing exercises. All in all, other modern developments have come from various ryu and employ weapons that either are adaptations of traditional weapons or new ones.

The combination of wrist controls, arm controls, holds and locks used in Ju Jutsu, Aikido and Judo, make Taiho Jutsu an ideal art for police officers. The “harder” karate techniques were added in case the use of force escalates and a stronger amount of force is necessary. Combined together, this martial art is without equal, not only for police work, but all around self-defense.

Officers who study Taiho Jutsu will enhance their confidence in their ability to control a situation. When encountering a potentially violent situation, the officer will be more calm and lessen the chance that a violent attack will occur.

Officers will also be more aware of their own capabilities when confronting an individual. This will lessen the chance that the “adrenaline rush” will cause the officer to over compensate for the situation and result in an injury.

Officers will find that they are more confident in their abilities, less likely to get into a physical confrontation and should a confrontation occur, are more likely to control the subject without causing injury.

Taiho Jutsu’s strength is in the fact that it does not rely on one style, but incorporates both soft and hard styles of martial arts. Taiho Jutsu will teach officers to let the subject’s actions dictate the control technique that the officer will use. As one police trainer once said, “Let the situation dictate the tactics”.

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