Taido is a fighting style developed in Japan by Seiken Shukumine.
Taido has its roots in old-style Okinawan martial arts.
Believing that Japanese Budo, particularly karate, were failing to meet the needs of the post-War era, Shukumine founded a school of Budo called Genseiryu in the early 1950s. Later, Shukumine saw karate as simplistic and dead. He decided that the limitations of karate lay in its linear mode of training.
In 1965, he expanded his theories of motion beyond the boundaries of karate and established Taido. Shukumine thought about how to make techniques more flexible and applicable.
Taido's movements offered many innovations: the inclusion of spinning and twisting movements, gymnastic maneuvers, speedy and effective footwork, and a changing body angle. The word Taido means "art of the body."
So what makes Taido unique? Taido techniques make use of changes of the body's bearing in order to allow simultaneous defense and attacking techniques. 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 exciting body movement to create powerful strikes and control the spatial relationship with the opponent. Taido's strategic element is based on creative reaction to dynamic challenges rather than preset patterns of aggression and defense. Taido's movements are also designed for improving health and longevity.
Taido's original objective was, and continues to be, the application of scientific methods and classical values to the evolution of the martial arts. According to its creator, Taido's ultimate objective is to equip its students to function at a high level in society.
There are five main rules in Taido. Keep your thoughts as clear and calm as the polished surface of a mirror. This allows you to understand the heart of things. Having a responsive attitude will help you avoid confusion. Be confident. Body and spirit should be as one. Hold yourself correctly and you need never feel inferior. fill your spirit with proper breathing methods. With the right spirit you will never feel weak. In every action, follow the correct precepts you have been taught. By doing so, you cannot act wrongly. Be adaptable in your thought and maintain freedom of physical movement. The best methods will prevent you from being beaten.
Taido includes five classes of body movements: vertical spinning movement, ascending and descending wave-like movement, dropping movement characterized by tilting the body's axis, horizontal spinning movement, and rolling and tumbling movements. These movements are combined with strikes, kicks, and other techniques. The last category, called "tentai," includes acrobatic movements, for instance back-flips, which makes Taido spectacular to watch.
Taido has a unique method of footwork, which is called unsoku, and non-stepping locomotion, termed unshin. Tournaments in Taido include Jissen, forms, and Tenkai, which is a mock fight between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges give scores to the competing teams in a similar manner as is done in many Olympic sports.
Even after this explanation, unless you've actually experienced Taido, you likely still won't have any solid idea of what Taido is about. Also, merely watching the techniques doesn't tell you what Taido is intended for. To truly understand any budo, you must get an idea of why the techniques are developed as they are.
Of course, Taido is an evolving martial art, so no definition can really encompass all that Taido is. Everyone 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.
This is not a martial art that will remain the same for long. Taido is currently practiced in Japan, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Denmark, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, and the USA. - 30300
Believing that Japanese Budo, particularly karate, were failing to meet the needs of the post-War era, Shukumine founded a school of Budo called Genseiryu in the early 1950s. Later, Shukumine saw karate as simplistic and dead. He decided that the limitations of karate lay in its linear mode of training.
In 1965, he expanded his theories of motion beyond the boundaries of karate and established Taido. Shukumine thought about how to make techniques more flexible and applicable.
Taido's movements offered many innovations: the inclusion of spinning and twisting movements, gymnastic maneuvers, speedy and effective footwork, and a changing body angle. The word Taido means "art of the body."
So what makes Taido unique? Taido techniques make use of changes of the body's bearing in order to allow simultaneous defense and attacking techniques. 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 exciting body movement to create powerful strikes and control the spatial relationship with the opponent. Taido's strategic element is based on creative reaction to dynamic challenges rather than preset patterns of aggression and defense. Taido's movements are also designed for improving health and longevity.
Taido's original objective was, and continues to be, the application of scientific methods and classical values to the evolution of the martial arts. According to its creator, Taido's ultimate objective is to equip its students to function at a high level in society.
There are five main rules in Taido. Keep your thoughts as clear and calm as the polished surface of a mirror. This allows you to understand the heart of things. Having a responsive attitude will help you avoid confusion. Be confident. Body and spirit should be as one. Hold yourself correctly and you need never feel inferior. fill your spirit with proper breathing methods. With the right spirit you will never feel weak. In every action, follow the correct precepts you have been taught. By doing so, you cannot act wrongly. Be adaptable in your thought and maintain freedom of physical movement. The best methods will prevent you from being beaten.
Taido includes five classes of body movements: vertical spinning movement, ascending and descending wave-like movement, dropping movement characterized by tilting the body's axis, horizontal spinning movement, and rolling and tumbling movements. These movements are combined with strikes, kicks, and other techniques. The last category, called "tentai," includes acrobatic movements, for instance back-flips, which makes Taido spectacular to watch.
Taido has a unique method of footwork, which is called unsoku, and non-stepping locomotion, termed unshin. Tournaments in Taido include Jissen, forms, and Tenkai, which is a mock fight between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges give scores to the competing teams in a similar manner as is done in many Olympic sports.
Even after this explanation, unless you've actually experienced Taido, you likely still won't have any solid idea of what Taido is about. Also, merely watching the techniques doesn't tell you what Taido is intended for. To truly understand any budo, you must get an idea of why the techniques are developed as they are.
Of course, Taido is an evolving martial art, so no definition can really encompass all that Taido is. Everyone 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.
This is not a martial art that will remain the same for long. Taido is currently practiced in Japan, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Denmark, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, and the USA. - 30300
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