Taido – An Evolving Martial Art
October 12, 2009 by Bill Williams · 2 Comments
Taido was thought up Seiken Shukumine. He founded this Japanese budo school in the early 1960s. The meaning of Taido karate is “way of the body, and it is based on a classical Okinawan fighting method known as Te. Taido was not the only time that Shukumine had founded a unique martial arts style. When he was not yet 30 years old, he created a new kind of karate he called Gensei-Ryu.
Karate and other martial arts have been widespread in the West for a number of years. In the 1960s, prior to the founding of Taido, most teaching was rudimentary and the original techniques for this “empty handed” style of fighting saw little change. yet, society was changing and Shukumine was a student of philosophy and tried to anticipate what would have to be rethought as far as how classical karate ideas of training were concerned.
Shukumine understood that there were some problems with karate that limited the way it was able to be applied and taught. There was a lack of innovation and originality and the repetitions of the essential punches and kicks would quickly cease to challenge many students.
This martial arts teaching consisted of rigid and uninspired movements. Karate never seemed to adapt over the years with new methods and instructions that were given to the students.
Shukumine saw that the martial arts would be accepted as a defensive art form if he could conceive a way to generate more movements and innovations. He wanted to allow students the opportunity to be inspired by their training and for this to happen the work and teacher had to inspire them. These thoughts became the driving force that would help him to create Taido karate. Before he founded Taido, Seiken Shukumine launched a martial arts form that was called Genseiryu karate. This was quite popular, but still he knew it wasnt enough.
He felt that he could expand upon traditional karate techniques and training methods, and finally after ten years of experimenting his new Taido karate form opened. Taido is a contemporary, sophisticated styleof martial arts that used many aerial moves. It requires a student to make use of twists, spins, speed and changing angles of the body. Shukumine’s wish was to use Taido karate to evolve the study and practice of karate and other martial arts.
The purpose of Taido is to improve the awareness of the students who train this martial arts form. Shukumine had one ultimate goal as far as the study of Taido karate was concerned. He expected to be able to help all Taido practitioners reach their maximum potential in everything they do.
Taido Principles
Taido practitioners must make sure that their mind is calm and relaxed. The mind needs to be as reflective as a polished mirror. Then they can understand the very heart of any situation. If the mind is kept calm and clear it will keep a student from being confused.
Taido teaches students that the mind and body must be united in their purpose. They must function as a single entity. When a person conducts himself in the right manner, any type of threats will not bother him.
Taido students are encouraged to learn to call upon the deepest power that is at the center of their being. Once a Taido karate practitioner has achieved this level, they will not experience any anxiety of confrontation or battle.
If a Taido student follows these actions, he will always manage to conduct themselves in an honorable and correct manner.
Taido teaches creativity, adaptability and flexibility in both movements and ideas. When a person has the correct moves, their opponents cannot best them.
Taido’s Technical Movements
Sen- Taido techniques that involve vertical spinning. Un – movements making use of wave like motion that ascends and descends. Hen – techniques that are initiated by a toppling motion resulting in changes to the axis of the body. Nen – movements with horizontal spinning. Ten – diving or rolling motions.
Besides the punches and kicks, there are two movement ways to set up the strikes. Unsoku – fast and strategic stepping movements for controlling space and angle to the opponent. Unshin – locomotion movements that are acrobatic in nature and dont involve actual stepping on the floor.
Taido Tournaments
There are a few special types of Taido Karate competitions that students can engage in. Jissen is the act of sparring, Taido style. Taido forms are called Hokei – closely related to kata in Karate. Tenkai- these are bouts that are acted out by teams of Taido members in which the central hero must stand against five of his “opponents” and demonstrate challenging or unique techniques.
Taido – An Evolving Martial Art
October 11, 2009 by Sven Person · Leave a Comment
Taido was thought up Seiken Shukumine. He founded this Japanese budo school in the early 1960s. The meaning of Taido karate is “way of the body, and it is based on a classical Okinawan fighting method known as Te. Taido was not the only time that Shukumine had founded a unique martial arts style. When he was not yet 30 years old, he created a new kind of karate he called Gensei-Ryu.
Karate and other martial arts have been widespread in the West for a number of years. In the 1960s, prior to the founding of Taido, most teaching was rudimentary and the original techniques for this “empty handed” style of fighting saw little change. yet, society was changing and Shukumine was a student of philosophy and tried to anticipate what would have to be rethought as far as how classical karate ideas of training were concerned.
Shukumine understood that there were some problems with karate that limited the way it was able to be applied and taught. There was a lack of innovation and originality and the repetitions of the essential punches and kicks would quickly cease to challenge many students.
Older martial arts tactics consisted of rigid and uninspired movements. Karate didn’t adapt over the years as far as the methods and instructions for the students.
Shukumine felt that the martial arts would be accepted as a defensive art form if he could devise a way to generate more movements and techniques. He wanted to allow students the chance to be inspired by their work and for this to happen the work and teacher had to inspire them. These thoughts became the driving force that would help him to create Taido karate. Before he founded Taido, Seiken Shukumine taught a martial arts form that was called Genseirvu karate. This was widely accepted, but still he felt it wasnt enough.
He felt that he would have to update traditional karate movements and training methods, and finally in 1965 his new Taido karate form opened. Taido was a modern, unique form of martial arts that includes many aerial moves. It requires a student to make use of twists, spins, speed and changing angles of the body. Shukumine’s hope was to use Taido karate to promote the study and training of karate and other martial arts.
The purpose of Taido is to improve the awareness of the students who practice this martial arts form. Shukumine had one ultimate goal as far as the study of Taido karate was concerned. He wanted to be able to help all Taido practitioners reach their highest potential in all aspects of their lives.
Taido’s Five Principles
Taido practitioners must make sure that their mind is calm and relaxed. The mind needs to be as reflective as a polished mirror. Then they can understand the very heart of any situation. If the mind is kept calm and clear it will keep a student from being confused.
Taido teaches students that the mind and body must be united in their purpose. They must work together as a single entity. When a person acts in the correct manner, any type of threats will not bother him.
Taido students are taught to practice calling upon the deepest power that is at the center of their being. Once a Taido karate practitioner can do this, they will not experience any fear of confrontation or battle.
If a Taido student follows these actions, he will always manage to conduct themselves in an honorable and correct manner.
Taido teaches creativity, adaptability and flexibility in both movements and ideas. When a person has the correct moves, their opponents cannot best them.
Taido’s Technical Movements
Sen- Taido techniques that involve vertical spinning. Un – movements with wave like motion such as jumping techniques. Hen – kicks that involve a toppling motion resulting in tilting of the axis of the body. Nen – movements displaying horizontal spinning. Ten – diving or flipping motions.
Besides the punches and kicks, there are two different methods that are used to prepare to deliver the strikes. Unsoku – fast and wide footwork for adjusting space and angle to the opponent. Unshin – locomotion movements that are acrobatic in nature and dont involve actual stepping on the floor.
Taido Tournaments
There are a few special types of Taido Karate competitions that students can engage in. Jissen is the act of sparring, Taido style. Taido forms are called Hokei – closely related to kata in Karate. Tenkai- these are bouts that are acted out by teams of Taido members in which the central hero must stand against five of his “opponents” and demonstrate challenging or unique techniques.