Hojōjutsu

Japanese art of restraining person with rope

Hojōjutsu
(捕縄術)File:Hojōjutsu.svg

hojōjutsu illustration

Also known as| Torinawajutsu (捕縄術) or Nawajutsu (縄術)
Focus| Weaponry
Hardness| Non-competitive
Country of origin| Japan
Creator| unknown
Parenthood| ancient
Olympic sport| No

Hojōjutsu (捕縄術, lit. "Restraining Rope Technique") or Torinawajutsu (捕縄術, lit. "Restraining Rope Technique") or just Nawajutsu (縄術, lit. "Rope Technique"), is the traditional Japanese martial art of restraining a person using cord or rope (called Nawa (縄, lit. "Rope") in Japanese), as a precursor to modern-day handcuffs. Encompassing many different materials, techniques and methods from many different schools, Hojōjutsu is a quintessentially Japanese art that is a unique product of Japanese history and culture.[1]

As a martial arts practice, Hojōjutsu is seldom if ever taught on its own but as part of a curriculum under the aegis of the body of study encompassed by a larger school of bugei or budō, often as an advanced study in jujutsu. Regardless of the source, Hojōjutsu techniques and methods are seldom demonstrated outside Japan.

## Contents

* 1 Techniques and methods
* 2 Persistence in modern times
* 3 See also
* 4 Notes
* 5 References
* 6 External links

## Techniques and methods[edit | edit source]

Generally speaking, Hojōjutsu can be divided into two broad categories. The first is the capture and restraint of a prisoner that was effected with strong, thin cord (usually 3–4 millimeters in diameter) called a hayanawa (早縄, lit. "Fast Rope"), and sometimes the sageo carried by samurai on the sword-sheaths was used.[2] In law-enforcement, this cord was carried by constables who secreted the rope in a small bundle that fed cord from one end. This torinawa ("capture-rope") was coiled so that the cord would pay out from one end as the bundled cord was passed around the prisoner's body, neck and arms as he or she was tied. This was usually accomplished by one constable in the course of performing an arrest while the prisoner was actively resisting and had to be accomplished quickly.

Even at this stage, attention was still paid to visual and aesthetic concerns in the tying method as well as to the cultural needs of Japanese society. According to experts, an accused but not convicted prisoner would be tied using methods which allowed the prisoner to be securely restrained but which contained no knots to save the prisoner the shame of being publicly bound.[3][4] Instead of securing the tie with knots, the constable held on to the free end of the rope and walked behind the prisoner to keep him or her under control as the prisoner was taken for an interrogation which could involve the application of one or more forms of judicial torture to elicit a confession.

The second category utilized with one or occasionally two “main ropes” or “honnawa” which, like the hayanawa, could be any one of many different lengths, but was usually hemp in material. The thickness of this rope averaged at six or more millimeters in diameter,[5] while the length could be as much as 25 meters long. This was used to provide a more secure, long-term binding than is possible with the hayanawa for transportation to a place of incarceration, restraint at legal proceedings, and—in the case of particularly severe crimes—for the public display of the prisoner prior to execution by such methods as beheading, crucifixion (i.e., the prisoner was displayed tied to a cross before spears were driven through the body), or, in arson convictions, death by fire.

Honnawa ties were applied by a group of people, usually not less than four, whose presence allowed the use of more intricate and ornate patterns than was the case with the hayanawa. Both forms combined effective restraint with a distinct visual aesthetic.

In either form, the Hojōjutsu ties known today display a shrewd understanding of human anatomy through several recurrent themes. This can include leverage-removal (tying limbs in positions that decrease the force they can generate),[6] rope-placement to discourage struggling or to make it less effective by placing one or more loops of rope around the neck and constricting restraint around points on the upper arms where determined struggle put pressure on blood vessels and nerves numbing the extremities.[7]

## Persistence in modern times[edit | edit source]

Hojōjutsu shows limited survival in the modern world, both in Japan and elsewhere. Torinawa techniques are taught as part of the curriculum learned by modern Japanese police officers and it remains an advanced topic within schools of jujutsu, following it and other Japanese traditional martial arts as they make their way around the world from Brazil to Eastern Europe. Yoshida ha Shidare Yanagi ryu, art of the late Don Angier, contains an extensive hojōjutsu curriculum.

Although the Honnawa techniques have long been supplanted by handcuffs and leg-irons, some teachers of traditional martial arts in Japan work to continue to maintain the art form. The Soke (head of, and heir to the style) of Masaki-ryu Bujutsu, Nawa Yumio, has written several books on the subject and has worked as an historical consultant on matters dealing with law-enforcement and Mizukoshi Hiro's recently reprinted book Torinawajutsu offers historical background followed by thorough, practical instruction in more than 25 traditional ties including some recreated from rare and very old texts. The Koryu cited are Seigo Ryu Jujutsu, Seishin Ryu Jujutsu, Koden Enshin Ryu Iaijutsu, Nanbu Handen Hojo Jutsu, Kurokawa Ryu Ninjutsu, Kurama Yoshin Ryu Jujutsu, Nagano Ryu Heihou, Mitsuo (Mippa) Muteki Ryu, Bo Ryu and Tenfu Muso Ryu.

That is the late Seiko Fujita’s monumental work, Zukai Torinawajutsu, which could be considered as the encyclopedia of this art, by showing hundreds of ties from many different schools.[8]

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Ittatsu-ryū - School of hojojutsu Japanese martial art - School of hojojutsu Japanese martial art
* Takenouchi-ryū - Japanese martial arts school - Japanese martial arts school
* Jitte - Japanese non-bladed weapon - Japanese non-bladed weapon
* Surujin - Japanese throwing weapon - Japanese throwing weapon
* Bolas - South American throwing weapon - South American throwing weapon
* Marudai - Tool used in kumihimo braiding - Tool used in kumihimo braiding
* Kumihimo - Traditional Japanese artform of making cords and braids - Traditional Japanese artform of making cords and braids
* Mizuhiki - Traditional Japanese paper artform using stiffened rice paper cord - Traditional Japanese paper artform using stiffened rice paper cord
* Obijime
* Knot - Method of fastening or securing linear material - Method of fastening or securing linear material
* List of knots
* Chinese knotting - Decorative handicraft art - Decorative handicraft art
* Macramé - Technique of knotting cords or thick yarns to make lace or fringe - Technique of knotting cords or thick yarns to make lace or fringe
* Cat's cradle - String figure game - String figure game
* Lasso - Loop of rope used as restraint - Loop of rope used as restraint
* Braid - Structure of strands of flexible material - Structure of strands of flexible material
* Child harness - Safety device worn by children - Safety device worn by children
* Rein - Riding tack item used to direct animal - Riding tack item used to direct animal

## Notes[edit | edit source]

1. ^ "ryuha".
2. ^ Cummins, Antony (2015). The Book of Samurai: Book One: The Fundamental Teachings. Translated by Minami, Yoshie. London, United Kingdom: Watkins Publishing. p. 11\. ISBN 978-1780288888.
3. ^ Nawa, Yumio (1963). 拷問刑罰史 [History of torture and punishment]. 雄山閣出版. ISBN 978-4639008859.
4. ^ Nawa, Yumio (1964). 十手捕縄の研究 [Study of the Constables use of Truncheon and Rope].
5. ^ Seiko, Seiko (2000). 図解捕縄術 [The Illustrated Science of Rope Arresting]. 名著刊行会. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-4839002978.
6. ^ Seiko, Fujita (2000). 図解捕縄 [The Illustrated Science of Rope Arresting]. 名著刊行会. p. 169\. ISBN 978-4839002978.
7. ^ Seiko, Fujita (2000). 図解捕縄 [The Illustrated Science of Rope Arresting]. 名著刊行会. p. 78\. ISBN 978-4839002978.
8. ^ Seiko, Fujita (2000). 図解捕縄 [The Illustrated Science of Rope Arresting]. 名著刊行会. ISBN 978-4839002978.

## References[edit | edit source]

* Torinawajutsu (Hojo-jutsu)- Hiro Mizukoshi
* Bugei Ryuha Daijiten

## External links[edit | edit source]

File:Commons-logo.svg

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hojojutsu.

* An article by Richard Cleaver on Hojojutsu, translations from the 1964 works of Headmaster Nawa Yumio
* Images from the Criminal Museum of Meiji University showing torinawa and hojojitsu techniques
* Masaki Ryū
* The ancient art of Hojojutsu
* Kokusai Hojojutsu Kenkyukai / International Hojojutsu Research Society

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