The ancient martial art of capturing/arresting with rope, sometimes referred to as “Nawajutsu”.
Also called Hobakujutsu and the other literal reading if the Kanji, “Torinawajutsu”
Shibari gets its beginning as an adaptation of a classical martial art called Hojō-Jutsu or hojojutsu, which is the art and techniques used for restraining a person using cord or rope. During the Edo Period, which was from 1603 to 1868, hojojutsu was how Japanese police and samurai captured and kept prisoners restrained. The Edo period is also marked by a near total isolation of Japan from the rest of the world as a response to the fervent efforts by Europeans in the early 1600s to convert Japanese people to Christianity. This allowed hojojutsu to throve while the rest of the world developed shackles and handcuffs. In hojojutsu, there are two main types of restraint techniques.
The first involves using a thin but strong cord (hayanawa) about 3-4mm (1/8 inch) thick for quickly subduing suspects. Law enforcement officers would carry this restraining cord, known as torinawa, in a special bundle design that allowed for rapid deployment. During arrests, a single officer needed to quickly secure an uncooperative subject by wrapping the cord around their body, neck and arms. Officers sometimes also utilized the sageo cord that was traditionally carried with samurai swords for this purpose.
The second type employed one or two primary restraining ropes, known as 'honnawa.' These ropes were typically made of jute/hemp and were considerably thicker than the hayanawa at around 6mm (1/4 inch) in diameter, with lengths reaching up to 25 meters (80 feet). Their purpose was to provide more secure, lasting restraints for prisoner transport, courtroom containment, and in cases of serious crimes, public exhibition before capital punishment.
The application of honnawa required a team of at least four people, enabling more complex and decorative binding patterns than those possible with hayanawa. The patterns and designs often communicated the prisoner’s station or social class, the crime they were accused of, and whether it was their first offense. Both styles achieved their practical purpose while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Modern understanding of these binding techniques reveals a sophisticated knowledge of human physiology. The methods incorporated ways to reduce leverage by positioning limbs and discouraged resistance through rope placement that could severely injure if resisted. Loops around specific body points could limit mobility and cut off circulation, nerve function, or both to the extremities with excessive movement. Avoiding bodily harm was not a concern in the practice of hojojutsu, but rather viewed as a tool and deterrent to escape attempts.
In the 1850s Japan saw many visitors from Western countries and formally invited trade with countries like the United States in 1858. This broad exposure brought with it the knowledge of shackles and handcuffs which made the art of hojojutsu obsolete. In contemporary times, Hojōjutsu has limited practical applications. While some elements, specifically Torinawa binding methods, are still incorporated into Japanese law enforcement training, the art primarily persists within specialized jujutsu dojos. Like many traditional Japanese martial disciplines, these techniques have spread internationally, though their practice remains largely ceremonial or academic in nature.
Check out https://www.hojojutsu.org/ — EDIT as of 3/22/2025 this site has been taken down for construction… I don’t know if it will come back and can’t remember who manages it. If the link works for you, please submit a revision for us to remove this notice :)