Karate master, Seiken Shukumine created Taido as a modern martial art.
With its foundations in the martial traditions of Okinawan Karate, Taido was Shukumine's attempt to crate a budo that evolved to meet the changing demands of modern society. This was only after establishing his Genseiryu Karate school in 1953.
After ten years of teaching Genseiryu, Shukumine saw karate as uninspired and dead. He determined that the limitations of karate lay in its linearity. In 1965, he expanded his theories of motion beyond the confines of what could be considered karate and founded Taido.
Shukumine meditated on how to make defense movements more adaptable and universal. Taido's techniques 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 "art 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 purpose was, and continues to be, the application of scientific methodology and traditional values to the evolution of the martial arts. According to its founder, Taido's ultimate objective is to enable its practitioners to perform at a high level in society.
There are five main principles in Taido. Keep your mind as clear and calm as the reflective surface of a mirror. This allows you to understand the reality of things. Having the right attitude will help you avoid confusion. Be composed. Body and mind should be as one. Hold yourself correctly and you need never feel inferior. Invigorate your spirit from the source of energy deep in your abdomen. With the right intention you will never be threatened. In every thing you do, follow the principles you have trained. By doing so, you cannot act wrongly. Be adaptable in your techniques and keep freedom of physical movement. The right technique will prevent you from being dominated.
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.
Competitions in Taido include Jissen, Hokei, and Tenkai, which is a pre-arranged fight between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges give scores to the teams in a similar manner as is done in figure skating.
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 an evolving art, so no explanation can really encompass all that Taido is. Everyone eventually forms their own ways to apply Taido to what they do and skills. Taido itself emphasizes creativity and the development of new techniques. It is not a martial art that will stand in one place for long.
Taido is currently taugh in Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and the USA.
With its foundations in the martial traditions of Okinawan Karate, Taido was Shukumine's attempt to crate a budo that evolved to meet the changing demands of modern society. This was only after establishing his Genseiryu Karate school in 1953.
After ten years of teaching Genseiryu, Shukumine saw karate as uninspired and dead. He determined that the limitations of karate lay in its linearity. In 1965, he expanded his theories of motion beyond the confines of what could be considered karate and founded Taido.
Shukumine meditated on how to make defense movements more adaptable and universal. Taido's techniques 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 "art 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 purpose was, and continues to be, the application of scientific methodology and traditional values to the evolution of the martial arts. According to its founder, Taido's ultimate objective is to enable its practitioners to perform at a high level in society.
There are five main principles in Taido. Keep your mind as clear and calm as the reflective surface of a mirror. This allows you to understand the reality of things. Having the right attitude will help you avoid confusion. Be composed. Body and mind should be as one. Hold yourself correctly and you need never feel inferior. Invigorate your spirit from the source of energy deep in your abdomen. With the right intention you will never be threatened. In every thing you do, follow the principles you have trained. By doing so, you cannot act wrongly. Be adaptable in your techniques and keep freedom of physical movement. The right technique will prevent you from being dominated.
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.
Competitions in Taido include Jissen, Hokei, and Tenkai, which is a pre-arranged fight between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges give scores to the teams in a similar manner as is done in figure skating.
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 an evolving art, so no explanation can really encompass all that Taido is. Everyone eventually forms their own ways to apply Taido to what they do and skills. Taido itself emphasizes creativity and the development of new techniques. It is not a martial art that will stand in one place 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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