Tantojutsu - Martial Art of Tanto (knife)

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword."  - Matthew 10:34

Samurai arts

Japanese Samurai arts include many disciplines all incorporated into one category. The Samurai Arts taught in Arizona include many different arts under the same umbrella - these employ weapons such as: 

(1)  Samurai Sword (iaido & kenjutsu), 

(2) Knife (tantojutsu), 

(3) Fan (tessenjutsu)

(4) Spear (sojutsu)

(5) Polearm (naginata),

(6) Throwing Arts (jujutsu), 

(7) Striking Arts (Kempojutsu),

(8) Restraining arts (hojojutsu)

(9) 6-foot pole (bojutsu), and offshoot arts such as the Half- (hanbojutsu) which includes similar arts like Walking cane (tsutekki), and even the short sticks (tebo and kuboton). 

And then there are even more Samaria arts such as Japanese archery, guns, etc. 

 

Prior to the pandemic, Hall of Famer Soke Hausel taught all of these arts to his students, but the worldwide invasion of our homelands closed the Hombu dojo in Mesa, and now Soke only teaches a few select students in a private dojo in Mesa.

The Japanese martial arts include many sub-martial arts, and each art has many, many aspects. These include:

Tantojutsu - the art of the knife!

Tantōjutsu (短刀術), the art of tantō (短刀), or short sword, approximately one shaku length,  more commonly known as a knife in the West. The tantō, a blade often carried in a samurai's obi, or hidden from others for use in close quarters combat. And students also learn to use karambit, a Filipino curved blade used in knife fighting.

Historically, some Japanese women carried a variety of tantō (短刀術), known as kaiken for self-defense. The warrior women (onna-bugeisha), who were part of the samurai class, trained in tantojutsu and even were known to sleep with a knife under their pillow.

The traditional length of tanto is one shaku (11.93 inches), which included blade, handle, and hand-guard (tsuba). Some tanto varied from traditional size and became known as O-tanto or Sunobi tanto. The blade was typically single-edged, most were curved, and many had blood grooves and some elaborately decorated.

Kyle trains with Glenn at the Seiyo Hombu
dojo in Mesa, Arizona.

The tanto became common in the Heian Period (795-1192 AD) of Japan, and according to Wikipedia, it was developed as a weapon during the Kamakura Period (1192-1333 AD). While many were for common use, others were employed by samurai. 

Tanto were classified as: (1) traditional tanto, which had a guard known as tsuba; (2) aikuchi tanto in which the tsuka and saya met without a tsuba, and (3) hamadashi tanto which had a small tsuba that barely protruded beyond the saya and tsuka, and was designed for comfort when carrying the weapon in the obi (belt).

Other styles of tanto differed by shape of blade. These include: (1) hira-zukuri - a flat, narrow and thick blade, used for slashing and piercing blows, (2) shobu-zukuri - a blade with a ridge line and blood groove, (3) moroha - a double edged tanto, (4) kissaki-moroha-zukuri - a long blade with sharp point (o-kissaki), and (5) kaikan - short tanto with small guards, usually carried by women.

When tanto was used on the battlefield it was designed to penetrate armor of other samurai. The tanto was usually carried in a wide cloth belt (obi) with the edge up and the handle turned to the right. In the home of the samurai, tanto was often placed with wakizashi (short sword).

Parts of the tanto

In Seiyo no Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai, this is one of many kobudo/samurai arts taught to our members. It includes many bunkai and one kata. Since it is an extension of our empty hand (kara-te) techniques, it can be applied to most bunkai. In addition to the classical tanto, we also teach members to use the Filipino karambit. Both types of knives have similar bunkai with the exception that the tanto has many bunkai for piercing armor requiring the blade to be thrust into an attacker. This may be one of the reasons why most tanto have tsuba - to basically stop the hand from sliding forward over the blade. But the weapon is also used to slice an opponent like a karambit as well as to strike an opponent with the pommel end.

Ben Corley demonstrates how to cut an attacker with his own knife at the
University of Wyoming White Crane karate clinic

All tied up? Samurai Martial Arts in Arizona

Ben Moeur volunteers at the Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Hombu
 to be tied up. His hands are tied with Sageo (cord attached
to a samurai's saya (scabbard) of a katana (samurai sword),
while his arms, legs and neck are restricted using hojo cord.

During the 2015 Utah gasshuku, Soke Hausel, from Arizona traveled to Salt Lake City to teach a variety of martial arts including kobudo, self-defense, tameshiwara, and hojojutsu to the Utah Shorin-Ryu karate group. The Utah Shorin-Ryu Karate group is led by another Hall-of-Fame martial artist - Hanshi Rob Watson, 9th dan.  

At the clinic, members trained in kama and hanbo - weapons of self-defense. The kama is considered to be an Okinawan kobudo weapon and hanbo a Japanese martial art weapon. A special request to learn tameshiwara led Soke to teach the group about rocks & rock identification before moving on to breaking rocks with bare hands. 

During the weekend clinic, Soke taught self-defense techniques against an assailant armed with handgun and a rifle. Then the group moved onto the jujutsu art of hojojutsu -basically methods used to restrain prisoners with rope.

Logan and Thadd are prisoners of the Utah samurai during the Utah
Gassaku clinic at the East Canyon resort in the Wasatch Mountains.

Group photo of kobudo participants at the August 2015 Gassaku at the East Canyon Resort,
east of Salt Lake City.

Kris Watson prepares to throw Renshi Todd Stoneking, 7th dan at the Gassaku

Hanbo - weapon of self defense

The principal focus is Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo in Mesa and for members of Seiyo No Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kai worldwide, is karate & kobudo (Okinawan Weapons). But in addition to these traditional Okinawan martial arts, students train in self-defense and learn to defend against a variety of attacks including assailants with guns, knives, clubs, rifles etc. Many of the students also train in Samurai Arts including iaido (samurai sword), kenjutsu (samurai sword techniques), naginata (halberd), yari (spear), bo (staff), hanbo (half-staff), jo (4-foot staff), hojo (rope), kobuton (short stick), and jujutsu.

Group photo at Corbett Gym, University of Wyoming

Many students also train with weapons of the Japanese Samurai including hanbo (or short staff). Similar weapons to the hanbo include kioga (or kebo) better known as the expandable baton (Asp), tsune (cane), kobuton (short stick) and manrikigusari (chain or rope). 

Hanbo training at the Hombu, East Valley Phoenix, Arizona

Members of Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa, learn how to use the hanbo in dozens of different situations for the street. But they also practice against an uke (partner) with a samurai sword as is tradition (as well as against an attacker with other weapons such as tanto [knife]). As they progress, they work up to juji-kumite to develop spontaneity and accuracy of action - in other words, to learn how to react without thinking. Restraints are important so that the hanbo can be used as a pragmatic instrument for law enforcement.

The Hanbo and Kioga are common weapons used by police departments around the world. As a Kyoju of Budo (professor of martial arts) at the University of Wyoming, Soke Hausel taught many law enforcement officials in these arts. But, you don't need to law enforcement officer to learn to use these valuable weapons.  



The hanbo (半棒) is considered to be a ‘half-bo’ and is taught in several traditional jujutsu and ninjutsu styles in addition to Seiyo Shorin-Ryu karate. This weapon was added to the kobudo curriculum of Seiyo Shorin-Ryu because it is such a practical weapon and is an extension of many of our empty hand self-defense techniques. Hanbo also goes well with kioga and cane and many techniques are similar between these weapons - so when you learn one, you are essentially learning all three.

In Seiyo Shorin-Ryu, to progress in hanbojutsu, students demonstrate basic strikes, blocks and stances and several self-defense ippon kumite against unarmed and armed assailants. They also learn very restrictive juji-kumite or sparring with the weapon. The kumite must be controlled and done with safety in mind. 



The origin of the hanbo is uncertain. Some researchers suggest it originated quite by accident. According to a summary on Kukishin Ryu, legend suggests that during battle between Kuriyama Ukon and General Suzuki Tangonokami Katsuhisa in 1575, Kuriyama was armed with yari (spear) and Suzuki with katana (sword). During the battle, Suzuki sliced through Kuriyama’s spear cutting it in half, but Kuriyama was still able to overwhelm Suzuki with the remaining spear handle.



Kuriyama realized the importance of the short staff for self-defense and developed hanbo-jutsu. Our members also train in katana and yari and learn these weapons along with many traditional Okinawan kobudo weapons such as nunchaku, sai, tonfa, kama, bo, and others.

Hanbo has been incorporated into several martial arts including taijutsu (体術). Taijutsu is a term used interchangeably with jujutsu. Most koryu (old style) jujutsu styles use arresting techniques for law enforcement. In particular, munadori waza (lapel grab techniques) are the focus of many of these arts. 

Hanbo is a half bo and is traditionally three shaku (35.8 inches) long, or essentially half the length of a traditional bo. A bo can be referred to as roku-shakubo, or a stick of 6 shaku. 

Shaku is the archaic unit of measure used until the Japanese adopted the metric system in 1961. Prior to 1961, shaku was a common unit of measure equal to 11.93 inches, or nearly one-foot. The shaku was derived from nature and is the average length between mature bamboo nodes.



But the Japanese also had a second shaku - to make things confusing. This latter shaku was equal to 14.9 inches or the length of an average whale’s whisker which was adopted in 1881 to measuring cloth. To distinguish between these two, the cloth shaku was referred to as kujirajaka (kujira meaning whale); and the bamboo shaku was referred to as kanejaku. For me, I was surprised to find out that whale's had whiskers.

The hanbo is still used in training by many Japanese law enforcement agents. And it became very promintent during the late 19th Century during the Edo Period, when some law enforcement officers were armed with wooden staffs and were responsible for disarming samurai. These people worked in teams and attacked criminals simultaneously to disarm and restrain them with a rope - another art taught at our dojo - hojojutsu.

Following the Edo period, the Meiji Restoration began in 1868, known as the beginning of the modern era of Japan. During the Edo period, samurai were still important and privileged individuals. But a chain of events led major changes in the political and social system in Japan resulting in opening their door to gaijin of the Western World. During the Meiji, members of the samurai class were eliminated and the honor of wearing swords was prohibited. This was followed by all Japanese males being required to serve in the military for 4 years. 

These events caused considerable unrest with samurai, who prior to this event, were allowed to bear arms – unlike peasants. A samurai rebellion resulted and many hanbo waza were developed at this time to evade strikes by katana followed with follow-up strikes to head or sword hand, or thrusts to the attacker's body. Included in this were many take downs followed by restraints.



Our classes at the Arizona School of Traditional Karate in Mesa, Arizona at 60 W. baseline Road, across the street from SunDevil Auto and learn this and other weapons.

Osensei Bill Borea applies yubi uchi (toe strike).

Jujutsu - Fighting Art of the Samurai



Soke Hausel teaches pressure point defense followed by nage waza (throw) to stop
 a grabbing attacker. Soke is assisted by Laramie Police officer and
University of Wyoming alumni.

Jujutsu is a combat art developed by samurai centuries ago (both armed and unarmed). Karate, which focuses on kicks and punches is indigenous to Okinawa and became a combat form and later an art for peasants and Okinawan royalty. Jujutsu, was indigenous to the Japanese empire separate from Okinawa and had a different purpose. It was designed primarily as hand to hand combat to defend against heavily armed samurai with armor. Punching an enemy wearing armor with bare hands and feet does not seem like a bright idea, thus samurai developed throwing techniques (nage waza), foot sweeps and trips to defend against other armored and armed samurai.

Arm bar (ude garuma)

Along with throws, the jujutsuka (practitioner of jujutsu) learned unique strikes (atemi) to disturb the balance of the samurai. These atemi were designed to unbalance an opponent and generate a shock wave that propagated through armor.

FORMS OF JUJUTSU

Today we recognized two general categories of jujutsu: (1) Koryu (ancient) traditional jujutsu which was designed to defend against armed samurai with or without armor, and (2) modern Gendai jujutsu that favors self-defense applications used in sport and modern self-defense. Most Gendai schools lack lineage and traditions (i.e., Brazilian jujutsu).

In both old style and modern jujutsu, atemi is important. Before one can effectively throw an attacker, the aggressor’s balance should be disturbed. In Arizona we find people sweat more than in any other state (now did we need Federal Grants from the Obama Adminstration to discover this?). To grab and throw someone in Arizona is more difficult than in Wyoming (where it is dry and cold), simply because sweaty people are slippery and difficult to grasp. In Wyoming, throwing someone while standing on ice or snow may not be a very good idea either.

According to the Overlook Martial Arts Dictionary, atemi translates as "body strikes". It refers to "…a method of attacking the opponents pressure points". In A Dictionary of the Martial Arts there is a more detailed description. It states that an atemi is... "…aimed at the vital or weak points of an opponent's body in order to paralyze by means of intense pain. Such blows can produce loss of consciousness, severe trauma and even death…the smaller the striking surface used in atemi, the greater the power of penetration and thus the greater the effectiveness of the blow". This may be true in modern jujutsu, but in the ancient styles of jujutsu, pressure points for armored samurai were not important on a battlefield. A samurai covered with armor, had few if any exposed pressure points.

Kris applies wrist lock (te kubi) to Logan at Arizona Hombu clinic

Today, atemi is used to provide a distraction leading to a throw, joint lock, or choke. This is done by redirecting an opponent into a throw through attacking vital points to cause pain or loss of consciousness. In other words, it is easier to throw an unconscious or disoriented aggressor and one who is moving in the direction of the throw. One common atemi is a palm strike along the jaw line, ear (mimi) or neck (kubi). This also was likely used against armored samurai. Even with a helmet, a powerful open hand "teisho uchi" strike to the side of a helmet would ring one’s bell.

The term ‘jūjutsu’ was coined in the 17th century, after it became a blanket term for a wide variety of grappling combat forms. Jujutsu (柔術) translates as the "art of softness" or "way of yielding".

The oldest forms of jujutsu are referred to as Sengoku jujutsu or Nihon Koryu Jujutsu. These were developed during the Muromachi period (1333–1573 AD) and focused on techniques that assisted samurai in defeating unarmed, lightly armed, and heavily armed and armored samurai – thus a greater emphasis was placed on joint locks and throws.

Daughter and father train in jujutsu at the Hombu
dojo in Mesa.

Later in history, other koryu developed that are similar to many modern styles. Many of these are classified as Edo jūjutsu and were founded in the Edo Period (1625-1868 AD) of Japan. Most are designed to deal with opponents without armor. Edo jujutsu commonly emphasized use of atemi waza. Inconspicuous weapons such as a tantō (knife) and tessen (iron fans) were included in Edo jūjutsu curriculum.

Another interesting art taught in Sengoku and Edo jujutsu systems is known as hojojutsu. This discplined involve using a cord to restrain or strangle an attacker. Such techniques have faded from most modern jujutsu styles, although Tokyo police units still train in hojojutsu and carry hojo in addition to handcuffs.

Weapons training were extremely important to Samurai. Koryu schools included the bo (six-foot staff), hanbo (three-foot staff), jo (4-foot staff), tachi (sword), wakizashi (short sword), tanto (knife), jitte (short one hook truncheon), yari (spear), naginata (halberd), ryofundo kusari (weighted chain) and bankokuchoki (knuckle-duster).

Edo jujutsu was followed by development of Gendai Jujutsu at the end of the Edo Period. Gendai, or modern Japanese jujutsu shows influence of traditional jujutsu. Goshin Jujutsu styles developed at about the same time, but the Goshin styles are only partially influenced by traditional jujutsu and have mostly been developed outside of Japan.

Today, many Gendai jujutsu styles have been embraced by law enforcement officials and continue to provide foundations for specialized systems by police officials. The best known of these is Keisatsujutsu (police art) or Taihojutsu (arresting art) formulated by the Tokyo Police.

Jujutsu is the basis for many military unarmed combat training programs for many years and there are many forms of sport (non-traditional) jujutsu, the most popular being judo, now an Olympic sport.

Some examples of martial arts that have been influenced by jujutsu include Aikido, Hapkido, Judo, Sambo, Kajukenbo, Kudo, Kapap, Kempo and Ninjutsu as well as some styles of Japanese Karate, such as Wado-ryu Karate, which is considered a branch of Shindō Yōshin-ryū Jujutsu.

Special training in kiogajutsu. This is an example of modern jujutsu using an expandable police baton for 
self-defense training. The kioga can be used very effectively similar to a hanbo and kobuton all rolled
 into one weapon. Many police departments carry this weapon but unfortunately, few officers are properly
 trained in its use. Sensei Brett Philbrick of the Laramie Police department applies joint lock on Shihan-Dai 
Kyle Gewecke from the Gillette, Wyoming dojo.

The training uniform (keikogi) provides an excellent indicator of traditions in a jujutsu dojo. Traditional schools wear plain white gi often with a dark hakama (the most colorful uniform might be plain black



or the traditional blue of quilted keikogi. Lack of ostentatious display, with an attempt to achieve or express the sense of rustic simplicity is common in traditional arts. The use of the traditional (Shoden, Chuden, Okuden, Kirigami and Menkyo Kaiden) ranking system is also a good indicator of traditional jujutsu. These are parallel to the common dan-i (kyu/dan) ranking used in traditional karate.

Ryan Harden applies yubi waza on Neal Adam

Melinda applies choke on Dr. Neal Adam

Soke restrains Todd Stoneking (8th dan) after dropping him to the
ground.

Soke demonstrates wrist throw on Josh at a Wyoming clinic held in Casper, Wyoming

Hojojutsu - the art of restraining



Hojojutsu, the art of restraining prisoners with a rope

Feudal samurai were well-known for their variety of koryu (old) weapons which evolved into a number of modern (gendai) martial arts that are practiced today such as iaido, iaijutsu, sojutsu, hanbojutsu, naginatajutsu, jujutsu, judo, kendo, kenjutsu, kyudo, and others. One of the stranger disciplines was that of hojōjutsu (捕縄術), known as the skill of restraining prisoners. No other culture in the world placed so much emphasis on restraining prisoners in this complex skill.

Since the samurai regarded restraining prisoners to be beneath their social status they apparently relied on servants or local constables to apply ropes to restrain an individual: all which had to be done properly. So complex was this discipline that entire books have been written in Japanese about the skill.

When we examine the Japanese word hojojutsu, we will have a better understanding of this skill. The character ho (also pronounced tori) means to catch, seize and restrain. The character for jo (also pronounced nawa) means rope. And the character for jutsu means skill, or martial skill. Thus hojojutsu (torinawajutsu, nawajutsu) is the skill of catching and restraining a prisoner with a rope. For those in Montana and Wyoming, I guess this could even extend to cattle roping (just kidding).



Soke introduces members of the Casper
Seiyo Shorin-Ryu Karate Club in Wyoming to hojojutsu.

In modern times, hojojutsu is taught as part of a various bugei or budo (traditional martial arts) curriculum during advanced training on many Japanese jujutsu and ninjutsu schools. It is still taught to some Japanese law enforcement officials.

Historically, hojo techniques were developed during the Sengoku (warring states) period of Japan (15^th to 17^th centuries) which was known as a time in history when Japanese society was in upheaval and various factions were at war with one another. The discipline continued during the Edo period (1600-1868) when hojo was a tool of law-enforcement under the Tokugawa Shogunate. However, hojojutsu began to decline with the Meiji restoration (modern Japan) following the Edo Period.

Hojojutsu consists of three parts. The first part was the capture of the person. This sometimes was accomplished using a kaginawa rope that had a barbed hook at one end used to ensnare clothing. The second part was the initial tie used to restrain the individual after capture. The third part was the use of elaborate and intricate ties before a prisoner was transported or executed. These had to respect the person’s social status.

Following capture, a constable would use capture cords known as hayanawa or torinawa. The hayanawa was a strong, thin, cord used with a sageo cord attached to the sheath (saya) of the sword (katana) The sageo passed through the hole in the kurigata of the saya for a katana (sword). This was used with a torinawa which was a much longer rope carried in a bundle on one’s hakama. This rope fed from one end and was passed around the prisoner’s body, neck and arms.

After the prisoner was secured, honnawa cords were employed for transportation or execution. More than one constable worked with others to secure the prisoner. This allowed the officers time to tie intricate and ornate rope patterns with ropes. The constable had to learn a variety of knots and understand which rope colors were required to bind prisoners based on social status.



For example, an accused prisoner yet to be convicted had to be tied with no visible knots. This was to save embarrassment from being publicly bound. Instead of securing with knots, the constable held on one end of the rope and walked behind the prisoner. Sometimes this involved securing one’s ankles so that if the prisoner tried to escape, the constable would simply jerk the prisoner’s feet out. Ties also were designed to restrict mobility of limbs and placed the ropes to discourage any kind of struggle by activating various pressure points, by numbing extremities, or simply by choking the struggling prisoner.

According to rank and social status, each method of tying required a constable denote the social class of the person. If a person had been found guilty of a particular offense, he was tied in a manner that indicated the offense committed. Because the style of tying varied with both crime and status of a prisoner, the length of rope varied considerably. Various experts report that the honnawa was measured in lengths of 78, 66, 54, 42 and 30 feet. The hayanawa was typically 15 feet. The length of the kaginawa was around 13 feet. In cases, prisoners were restrained facing distinct compass directions, depending on the season of the year.

During the Edo period colored ropes became popular. A white rope was used on someone who committed a minor crime and a blue rope was used to secure offenders who had committed serious crimes. If a person was of high social rank, a violet rope was sometimes used: if of low social rank, a black rope was used.



Hanshi Finley from Casper, Wyoming is all tied up.

The prisoner was subjected to an intricate web of rope to make him completely immobile. Unlike the kaginawa, the hayanawa had a small loop at one end or a small metal ring that functioned similar to handcuffs and allowed the constable to pass the other end of the rope through this loop. In addition to all of the above ropes, another short rope of 14 inches long (one shaku) was sometimes used on a suspect as they sat in seiza while both arms were pulled behind the person and the thumbs and big toes were tied together.

Two books on this subject: (1) Nawa, Yumio, 1964, Studies in jitte and torinawa: Yuzakaku Shuppan, Tokyo, and (2) Nawa, Yamio, 1985, An illustrated encyclopedia for historical studies: constables’ tools: Shinjinbutsu Orai-sha, Tokyo.