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Karate master, Seiken Shukumine created Taido as a modern martial art.
Taido has its roots in classical Okinawan Budo. Sensing that the martial arts, particularly karate, were failing to meet the needs of the post-War era, Shukumine founded a school of Karate called Genseiryu in 1953.
After ten years of teaching Genseiryu, Shukumine grew to see karate as stagnant and unchanging. He realized that the limitations of karate lay in its two-dimensional nature. In 1965, he expanded his theories of motion beyond the confines of what could be considered karate and founded Taido.
Shukumine thought about how to make techniques more flexible and universal. Taido's movements offered many innovations: the addition of spinning and twisting movements, gymnastic maneuvers, speedy and effective footwork, and a changing body angle. The name Taido means "way of the body."
So what makes Taido unique? Taido techniques utilize changes of the body's bearing in order to facilitate simultaneous defense with attacking movements. Taido also relies on the use of footwork to take advantageous angles and distance to the opponent. This footwork is functionally connected to the body mechanics that form the basis of each kick, punch, or other technique. Taido uses dynamic body movement to create powerful strikes and manipulate the spatial relationship with the opponent.
Taido's thought process is based on appropriate reaction to dynamic situations instead of preset patterns of attack and protection. Taido's movements are also designed for improving health and longevity.
Taido's original ideal was, and continues to be, the application of scientific thought and traditional values to the improvement of the martial arts. According to its founder, Taido's ultimate goal is to enable its practitioners to function at a high level in society.
There are five essential principles in Taido. Keep your thoughts as clear and calm as the reflective surface of a mirror. This way you will see the reality of your environment. Having the right attitude will help you make the best decisions. Be well-prepared. Body and spirit should be as one. Carry yourself with dignity and you need never doubt yourself. fill your spirit with proper breathing methods. With the right spirit you will never be threatened. In every action, follow the principles you have practiced. By doing so, you will decide easily. Be adaptable in your thought and maintain freedom of physical movement. The best methods will prevent you from being defeated.
Taido makes use of five types of body movements: vertical spinning movement, rising and falling jumping movement, dropping movement characterized by changing the body's axis, horizontal spinning movement, and rolling and tumbling movements.
These movements are followed by strikes, kicks, and other techniques. The last category, called "tentai," includes gymnastic movements, for instance back-flips, which makes Taido fun to watch. Taido has a unique kind of footwork, known as unsoku, as well as non-stepping locomotion, called unshin.
Tournaments in Taido include Jissen, forms, and Tenkai, which is a pre-arranged combat between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges give scores to the players in a similar manner as is done in many Olympic sports.
Even after this explanation, unless you've actually experienced Taido, you probably still won't have any solid idea of what Taido is about. Also, just seeing the techniques doesn't tell you what Taido is intended for. To truly grok any martial art, you have to get an idea of why the techniques are performed as they are.
Of course, Taido is changing martial art, so no definition can really encapsulate everything that Taido is. Each student eventually develops their own ways to apply Taido to what they do and how they move. Taido itself emphasizes creativity and the development of new techniques. It is not a martial art that will remain the same for long.
Taido is currently taugh in Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and the USA.
Taido has its roots in classical Okinawan Budo. Sensing that the martial arts, particularly karate, were failing to meet the needs of the post-War era, Shukumine founded a school of Karate called Genseiryu in 1953.
After ten years of teaching Genseiryu, Shukumine grew to see karate as stagnant and unchanging. He realized that the limitations of karate lay in its two-dimensional nature. In 1965, he expanded his theories of motion beyond the confines of what could be considered karate and founded Taido.
Shukumine thought about how to make techniques more flexible and universal. Taido's movements offered many innovations: the addition of spinning and twisting movements, gymnastic maneuvers, speedy and effective footwork, and a changing body angle. The name Taido means "way of the body."
So what makes Taido unique? Taido techniques utilize changes of the body's bearing in order to facilitate simultaneous defense with attacking movements. Taido also relies on the use of footwork to take advantageous angles and distance to the opponent. This footwork is functionally connected to the body mechanics that form the basis of each kick, punch, or other technique. Taido uses dynamic body movement to create powerful strikes and manipulate the spatial relationship with the opponent.
Taido's thought process is based on appropriate reaction to dynamic situations instead of preset patterns of attack and protection. Taido's movements are also designed for improving health and longevity.
Taido's original ideal was, and continues to be, the application of scientific thought and traditional values to the improvement of the martial arts. According to its founder, Taido's ultimate goal is to enable its practitioners to function at a high level in society.
There are five essential principles in Taido. Keep your thoughts as clear and calm as the reflective surface of a mirror. This way you will see the reality of your environment. Having the right attitude will help you make the best decisions. Be well-prepared. Body and spirit should be as one. Carry yourself with dignity and you need never doubt yourself. fill your spirit with proper breathing methods. With the right spirit you will never be threatened. In every action, follow the principles you have practiced. By doing so, you will decide easily. Be adaptable in your thought and maintain freedom of physical movement. The best methods will prevent you from being defeated.
Taido makes use of five types of body movements: vertical spinning movement, rising and falling jumping movement, dropping movement characterized by changing the body's axis, horizontal spinning movement, and rolling and tumbling movements.
These movements are followed by strikes, kicks, and other techniques. The last category, called "tentai," includes gymnastic movements, for instance back-flips, which makes Taido fun to watch. Taido has a unique kind of footwork, known as unsoku, as well as non-stepping locomotion, called unshin.
Tournaments in Taido include Jissen, forms, and Tenkai, which is a pre-arranged combat between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges give scores to the players in a similar manner as is done in many Olympic sports.
Even after this explanation, unless you've actually experienced Taido, you probably still won't have any solid idea of what Taido is about. Also, just seeing the techniques doesn't tell you what Taido is intended for. To truly grok any martial art, you have to get an idea of why the techniques are performed as they are.
Of course, Taido is changing martial art, so no definition can really encapsulate everything that Taido is. Each student eventually develops their own ways to apply Taido to what they do and how they move. Taido itself emphasizes creativity and the development of new techniques. It is not a martial art that will remain the same for long.
Taido is currently taugh in Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and the USA.
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Learn more about Taido Karate. Stop by Taido/Blog site where you can find out all about unsoku and unshin and how it makes Taido creative and unique.
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