Taido - Evolving Martial Style
Taido was the brainchild of Seiken Shukumine. He started this Japanese martial art form in 1965. The meaning of Taido karate is “way of the body, and it is based on an older Okinawan fighting method known as Te. This was not the only time that Shukumine had developed a unique martial arts style. When he was only 25, he created a new kind of karate that was known as Gensei-Ryu.
Karate and other martial arts had been popular in the West for a number of years. In those years, prior to Taido, most practice was very basic and the common techniques for this “empty handed” style of fighting remained essentially unchanged. yet, peoples perception of martial arts was going through a transition and Shukumine was a student of philosophy and noticed what needed to be altered as far as how old-style karate styles of training were concerned.
Shukumine thought that there were some issues with karate that limited the way it could be applied and learned. There wasnt enough creativity and independence and the repetitions of the essential punches and kicks would quickly cease to challenge most trainees.
Older martial arts techniques involved set and uninspired movements. Karate didn’t change over the years with new methods and instructions that were given to the students.
Shukumine saw that a martial art would be accepted as a defensive art form if he could conceive a way to include more adaptable movements and innovations. He wanted to provide students the chance to become inspired by their training and this required that the work and instructor had to inspire them. These thoughts became the driving force that would lead him to create Taido karate. Before he founded Taido, Seiken Shukumine developed a martial arts form that is still practiced today called Genseiryu. This was universal in its appeal, but still he knew that he could do more.
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 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 harmoniously composed. They must work together as a single entity. When a person acts in the right manner, any type of threats will not worry him.
Taido students are taught to learn to call upon the inner spirit that is at the core of their being. Once a Taido karate practitioner has achieved this level, they will cease to experience any anxiety of confrontation or battle.
If a Taido student follows these actions, they will always manage to act in an honorable and right manner.
Taido teaches creativity, adaptability and flexibility in both movements and ideas. When a person has the correct moves, their opponents cannot best them.
Basic Techniques of Taido
Sen- Taido movements that involve vertical spinning. Un - movements making use of wave like motion that ascends and descends. Hen - kicks that involve a toppling motion resulting in changes to the axis of the body. Nen - movements with horizontal spinning. Ten - tumbling or flipping motions.
Besides the punches and kicks, there are two different ways to execute the strikes. Unsoku - fast and strategic footwork for controlling space and angle to the opponent. Unshin - propulsion movements that are acrobatic in nature and dont involve actual stepping on the floor.
Taido Tournaments
There are some unique types of Taido Karate competitions that students can participate in. Jissen is the act of sparring, Taido style. Taido forms are called Hokei - closely related to kata in Karate. Tenkai- these are routines that are enacted by teams of Taido members in which the central hero must stand against five of his “opponents” and show challenging or new techniques.