HISTORY OF TAIHO JUTSU

 
  Taiho Jutsu was redeveloped in the mid 1940s by the Japanese Police Department. The Japanese Police consulted with the top masters in various Japanese Martial Arts in an attempt to determine a specific style that would be best suited for police officers. Police administrators found themselves in a unique position of requiring officers to subdue and control subjects, without injuring them if possible. These masters combined their expertise and incorporated techniques from Karate, Judo, Ju Jutsu, Aikido, and Bo Jutsu (baton techniques) and recreated Taiho Jutsu.
 
  From these masters and Tokyo Police a technical committee was established to review the techniques (both classical and modem) 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 jujitsu 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 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 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 in 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.”
 

United States Taiho Jutsu Federation

Monday, March 18, 2024