Taido is a fighting style founded in Japan by Seiken Shukumine.
Taido has its foundations in pre-modern Japanese fighting.
Fearing that Budo, particularly karate, were failing to meet the needs of modern society, Shukumine founded a school of Budo called Genseiryu in the early 1950s. Later, Shukumine saw karate as uninspired and unchanging. He became convinced that the limitations of karate lay in its linearity.
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, fast and effective footwork, and a changing body axis. The word Taido translates as "way of the body."
So what makes Taido different from karate? Taido techniques use changes of the body's bearing in order to expedite simultaneous defense with attacking movements. Taido also relies on the use of footwork to take strategic 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 strong techniques and control the spatial relationship with the opponent. Taido's strategic element is based on appropriate reaction to changing challenges instead of preset algorithms of offensive maneuvers and defense. Taido's movements are also designed for improving health and longevity. Taido's original ideal was, and continues to be, the application of scientific methods and classical values to the future of the martial arts.
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 principles in Taido. Keep your thoughts as clear and uncluttered as the polished surface of a still pond. This allows you to understand the heart of things. Having a responsive attitude will allow you to make the best decisions. Be well-prepared. Body and mind should be united. Bear yourself with dignity and you need never fear insult. Invigorate your spirit with proper breathing methods. With the right spirit you will never be threatened. In every action, follow the correct precepts you have trained. By doing so, you react quickly. Be adaptable in your thought and keep freedom of physical movement. The right technique will prevent you from being defeated.
Taido includes five classes of body movements: vertical spinning movement, rising and falling jumping movement, lever-like movement characterized by tilting the body's axis, horizontal spinning movement, and acrobatic movements. These movements are follwed by strikes, kicks, and other attacks. The last category, called "tentai," includes gymnastic movements, for instance somersaults, which makes Taido spectacular to watch.
Taido has a special method of footwork, known as unsoku, and acrobatic locomotion, termed unshin. Tournaments in Taido include Jissen, forms, and Tenkai, which is a mock combat between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges give scores to the teams in a similar manner as is done in many Olympic sports.
Even after saying all that, unless you've actually experienced Taido, you likely still won't have any concrete concept of what Taido is about. Also, merely knowing about the techniques doesn't tell you what Taido is necessarily about. To really get any budo, you have to get an idea of why the techniques are performed as they are.
To really 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 definition can really encompass everything that Taido is. Each student eventually develops 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 remain the same for long. Taido is currently practiced in Japan, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Denmark, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, and the USA.
Fearing that Budo, particularly karate, were failing to meet the needs of modern society, Shukumine founded a school of Budo called Genseiryu in the early 1950s. Later, Shukumine saw karate as uninspired and unchanging. He became convinced that the limitations of karate lay in its linearity.
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, fast and effective footwork, and a changing body axis. The word Taido translates as "way of the body."
So what makes Taido different from karate? Taido techniques use changes of the body's bearing in order to expedite simultaneous defense with attacking movements. Taido also relies on the use of footwork to take strategic 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 strong techniques and control the spatial relationship with the opponent. Taido's strategic element is based on appropriate reaction to changing challenges instead of preset algorithms of offensive maneuvers and defense. Taido's movements are also designed for improving health and longevity. Taido's original ideal was, and continues to be, the application of scientific methods and classical values to the future of the martial arts.
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 principles in Taido. Keep your thoughts as clear and uncluttered as the polished surface of a still pond. This allows you to understand the heart of things. Having a responsive attitude will allow you to make the best decisions. Be well-prepared. Body and mind should be united. Bear yourself with dignity and you need never fear insult. Invigorate your spirit with proper breathing methods. With the right spirit you will never be threatened. In every action, follow the correct precepts you have trained. By doing so, you react quickly. Be adaptable in your thought and keep freedom of physical movement. The right technique will prevent you from being defeated.
Taido includes five classes of body movements: vertical spinning movement, rising and falling jumping movement, lever-like movement characterized by tilting the body's axis, horizontal spinning movement, and acrobatic movements. These movements are follwed by strikes, kicks, and other attacks. The last category, called "tentai," includes gymnastic movements, for instance somersaults, which makes Taido spectacular to watch.
Taido has a special method of footwork, known as unsoku, and acrobatic locomotion, termed unshin. Tournaments in Taido include Jissen, forms, and Tenkai, which is a mock combat between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges give scores to the teams in a similar manner as is done in many Olympic sports.
Even after saying all that, unless you've actually experienced Taido, you likely still won't have any concrete concept of what Taido is about. Also, merely knowing about the techniques doesn't tell you what Taido is necessarily about. To really get any budo, you have to get an idea of why the techniques are performed as they are.
To really 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 definition can really encompass everything that Taido is. Each student eventually develops 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 remain the same for long. Taido is currently practiced in Japan, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Denmark, France, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, and the USA.
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