Hojōjutsu
Japanese art of restraining person with rope
捕繩術 · 捕縄術
- Country of origin
- Japan
- Type
- martial arts
- Part of
- Bugei jūhappan
Hojōjutsu (捕縄術, lit. "restraining rope technique"), 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, "rope") in Japanese), as a precursor to modern-day handcuffs. Encompassing many different materials, techniques and methods from various schools, hojōjutsu is a classic Japanese art that is a unique product of Japanese history and culture.
As a martial arts practice, hojōjutsu is rarely 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 rarely demonstrated and disseminated outside Japan.
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q1319206 (CC0); quoted introduction from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.