Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu江戸町形逮捕術
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Research organization · 2009–2018 · Archive reconstructed 2026

The arresting arts of Edo-period Japan — and the people who studied them.

In Edo-period justice a suspect was to be taken alive. Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu was founded to research, preserve and share knowledge of the techniques and implements that made that possible.Source B1Source A15

The five grades:OkappikiKomonoDōshinYorikiMachi-bugyō

1603–1867The Edo periodSource A7

5grades, named after Edo police ranksSource A25

14regional representatives listed, August 2013Source A26

1,147archived files recovered for this siteSource E38

Chapter · HandscrollPolicing EdoMagistrates, patrols, assistants and informants — the people who kept order in the shogun’s city, and why they took suspects alive.The organizationFive grades, five cordsFrom Okappiki to Machi-bugyō: how the organization borrowed the ranks of Edo law enforcement.ObjectsThe Cunningham collectionFifty-seven jutte, iron fans, pole arms and other implements, catalogued by the founder.Original publicationsReading roomThirteen of Dr. Cunningham’s articles, reproduced in full from the archive.

Mission

“Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu is dedicated to researching, preserving, and disseminating information about traditional Japanese arresting arts and implements.”Source A15

— the organization’s introduction, 2010–2013

It was never a standalone martial art. Members studied the arresting arts alongside their existing training in jujutsu, kenjutsu or iaido.Source A20

Founder

Dr. Don Cunningham 1953–2014

Author of Taiho-Jutsu: Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai (Tuttle, 2004) and collector of Edo law-enforcement implements.Source B45Source A7

His life and legacy

Certificate with a gold phoenix border licensing the rank of Okappiki, with the kanji 岡引免状 at left and 江戸町形逮捕術 at right
The 2009 Okappiki certificate designed for the organizationSource D3

Chronology

Full timeline
  1. 1603–1867

    Edo period. The Tokugawa shogunate governs from Edo and polices it through magistrates, yoriki and dōshin.Source A7Source A24

  2. 2004

    Tuttle publishes Taiho-Jutsu: Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai.Source B45

  3. 2009

    e-budokai.com becomes the home of Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu. Certificates for four grades are designed in August; the first representatives page lists Cunningham as founder and director.Source A14Source D3Source A26

  4. 19 July 2013

    Citing his health, Cunningham steps down. Four regional directors take over; he becomes Director Emeritus. A new website is planned.Source D39Source A26

  5. 28 November 2014

    Dr. Don Cunningham dies at home after a decade-long illness.Source B35Source A40

Every claim, sourced

This site was rebuilt from the organization’s archived web pages, the founder’s documents and independent records. Each statement carries a marker — A original organizational material, B independent sources, D owner-supplied files, E new research — that links to its source.Source E38

Explore the archive · Source register

Sources for this page

  1. B1M. Street, review of Taiho-Jutsu, The Asian Reporter. asianreporter.com · 2004 · Independent source
  2. D3Blank EMKTJ rank certificates (Okappiki, Komono, Dōshin, Yoriki). owner files, Taiho Jutsu Cert/ · created 2009-08-12 · Owner-supplied file
  3. A7Book page, Taiho-Jutsu: Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai. e-budokai.com/books/taiho.htm · updated 2010-10-19 (capture 2013-05-21) · Original organizational material
  4. A14e-budokai.com homepage, 69 dated versions. e-budokai.com/ · 2002-11-23 to 2024 · Original organizational material
  5. A15Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu, “Introduction”. e-budokai.com/index.htm · 2013 (Wayback capture 2013-10-02) · Original organizational material
  6. A20Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu, “Membership”. e-budokai.com/members/index.htm · updated 2013-07-19 (capture 2013-10-01) · Original organizational material
  7. A21Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu, “Organization”. e-budokai.com/members/organization.htm · 2009–2013 (capture 2013-10-01) · Original organizational material
  8. A24D. Cunningham, “Samurai police”. e-budokai.com/hibuki/police.htm · © 2002 Budo Kai, Ltd; updated 2005-03-18 (capture 2009-01-10) · Original organizational material
  9. A25Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu, “Ranking System”. e-budokai.com/ranks/index.htm · 2009–2013 (capture 2013-10-01) · Original organizational material
  10. A26Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu, “Representatives” (18 dated versions). e-budokai.com/members/representatives.htm · versions 2009-08-22 to 2013-10-01 · Original organizational material
  11. B35Obituary of Don Aaron Cunningham, Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory, Radford, Virginia. mullinsfuneralhome.com · 2014 · Independent source
  12. E38Reconstruction research for this website (archive recovery, asset catalogue). project documentation · 2026 · New editorial / project research
  13. D39D. Cunningham, “Reorganization of Edo Machi-kata Taiho Jutsu” (email). owner files (private correspondence) · 2013-07-19 · Owner-supplied file
  14. A40taiho-jutsu.net, “Introduction” with memorial notice. taiho-jutsu.net/index.html · © 2013 (capture 2017-09-25) · Original organizational material
  15. D41Screenshot of taiho-jutsu.net “Ranking system” page. owner files, Website/Screenshot 2024-03-13 at 20-05-20 · 2024-03-13 · Owner-supplied file
  16. B45Tuttle Publishing, Taiho-Jutsu: Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai, ISBN 978-0-8048-3536-7. tuttle.co.jp · 2004; accessed 2026-11-03 · Independent source

Full source register and method