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Taido is a scientific martial art which has taken the essence of the traditional Japanese martial arts and transformed it into one which can meet the needs of a modern society. In both Japanese print and television media Taido has been recognised as a martial art having "philosophical depth" and "creativity". It has been deemed as "the martial art of the 21st century".
Dr. Seiken Shukumine, former Grand Master of the Japan Gensei-school of karate, realised the shortcomings of the unscientific approach taken by other martial arts and decided to develop a new martial art that was both scientific and relevant in the context of the modern world. For thirty years he underwent rigorous training and research in the theory of martial arts and based upon the results, in 1965, he created the three dimensional art which he called Taido.
Taido is not a martial art where punching or kicking techniques are executed along a one dimensional line. Rather Taido's techniques are delivered by changing the body axis and balance. It is also characterised by the use of elaborate footwork in changing the angle of attack and by the use of one's entire body in the martial art. Taido, moreover, is not simply a sport as many forms of karate have become, but also involves a special type of training which requires a tremendous amount of self-discipline in terms of spiritual concentration. The essence of Taido lies not in the techniques of the art itself but in the utilisation of the training acquired in Taido for the development and benefit of both self and society.
Taido's techniques are designed with a dual purpose in mind. Not only are they used for one's personal defence but they play an important role in keeping one's internal organs healthy. Based upon the theories applied in the medical art of acupuncture, Taido has studied the effect of the angle of body movement upon the internal organs. This is realised, in part, through the Hokei, which are systemised routines of techniques and movements. These improve the students' offensive and defensive techniques while promoting the development of their health. Taido also encompasses, and emphasises strongly, the breathing techniques. This is indeed another unique aspect of Taido as compared to other martial arts.
Sentai
Untai
Hentai
Nentai
Tentai
Hokei
Team Hokei
Jissen
Team Jissen
Tenkai
Towards the end of World War II, Seiken Shukumine Saiko Shihan (supreme instructor ) of the Gensei school, received secret orders to carry out a special forces style attack on an enemy ship off the coast of Okinawa. He thought long and hard about the most effective means of attack. The answer he came up with was based upon the gymnastic principles of turning, moving, changing, twisting and rolling. In this way he invented a technique which could be adapted to spatial movement in three dimensions.
Shukumine worked on these techniques of moving ( Ungi ), changing ( Hengi ), and tumbling ( Tengi ).... first, in the mountains of Meiji Village in the Minami Kaifu Country area of Oita Prefecture....
.... and later on an uninhabited island belonging to Kunigami Nakushi village in Okinawa Prefecture....
He gave the first public demonstration of these techniques in Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
For the next ten years, while constructing and experimenting at more than 120 dojos around the Tokyo area -- places such as universities, the Defence Forces, and corporate groups -- he formulated the basic principles necessary to establish a new martial art.
With the final integration of the spiralling ( Sengi ) and twisting ( Nengi ) techniques, the new martial art was complete. Shukumine named it Taido -- the way of the Body and the Mind.
1963
By way of scientific elucidation of the five practical techniques of Taido, Shukumine formulated a fundamental theory based on the interdependent relationship between human existence, the structure of society, our attitude towards the universe, the self-evident "truth" which is the underpinning of every martial art, and the concept of perfect form.
1965
The various elements of Doko ( principles of physical control ), Seigyo ( principles of combat ), Taiki ( principles of breathing ), Hokei ( body, form, mystery ) and Keiraku ( harmonisation of yin and yang ), and the different aspects of physiology, psychology and emotion were all brought together in the unified theory of Taido.
It has been said that in 1969 when film footage of Neil Armstrong in space and on the moon was sent back to earth and into people's homes across the globe, Shukimine was watching. He saw, as did many, that gravity had almost no effect on Armstrong, that there was little resistance to his twisting and turning. Armstrong could change the axis of his body with ease. This gave Shukimine much inspiration and reinforced his beliefs in what he was trying to achieve with Taido, especially in the way of changing one's body axis at any time and in any situation.
Since then, Taido has won many new enthusiasts and is currently
practised in 12 foreign countries, including European countries,
the United States and Australia. The first martial art to explore
the possibilities of attack and defence by adjusting the body
axis, Taido promises to evolve and develop to meet the challenge
of the 21st century.
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