Describing an Evolving New Budo
Taido is a fighting style created in Japan by Seiken Shukumine.
Taido has its beginnings in old-style Japanese martial arts. Believing that Japanese Budo, particularly karate, were failing to meet the needs of modern society, Shukumine developed a style of martial art called Genseiryu in 1953.
After ten years of teaching Genseiryu, Shukumine grew to see karate as narrow and static. He realized that the limitations of karate lay in its linearity. In 1965, he expanded his theories of motion beyond the confines of what could be considered karate and founded Taido.
Shukumine thought about how to make defense movements more flexible and universal. Taido’s movements offered many innovations: the addition of spinning and twisting movements, acrobatic maneuvers, speedy and useful footwork, and a changing body angle. Taido’s characters translate as “way of the body.”
So what makes Taido different from karate? Taido techniques utilize changes of the body’s axis in order to facilitate simultaneous defense and 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 launch each kick, punch, or other technique. Taido uses exciting body movement to create powerful strikes and determine the spatial relationship with the opponent.
Taido’s strategic element is based on creative reaction to dynamic challenges instead of pre-determined algorithms of aggression and defense. Taido’s movements are also designed for improving health and longevity.
Taido’s original ideal was, and continues to be, the use of scientific methods and classical values to the improvement of the martial arts. According to its founder, Taido’s ultimate objective is to equip its practitioners to perform at a high level in society.
There are five main principles in Taido. Keep your thoughts as clear and uncluttered as the reflective surface of a mirror. This allows you to see the truth of your environment. Having the correct attitude will help you avoid confusion. Be composed. Body and spirit must be as one. Hold yourself correctly and you need never fear insult. Invigorate your feelings from the source of energy deep in your abdomen. With the right intention you will never be threatened. In every thing you do, follow the correct precepts you have practiced. By doing so, you will decide easily. Be adaptable in your techniques and keep freedom of physical movement. The right technique will prevent you from being defeated.
Taido employs five types of body movements: vertical spinning movement, rising and falling jumping movement, lever-like movement achieved by changing the body’s axis, horizontal spinning movement, and gymnastic movements.
These movements are combined with strikes, kicks, and other attacks. The last category, called “tentai,” includes gymnastic movements, for instance flips, which makes Taido exciting to watch. Taido has a unique mehtod of footwork, which is called unsoku, as well as acrobatic locomotion, called unshin.
Tournaments in Taido include Jissen, Hokei, and Tenkai, which is a pre-arranged fight between one “hero” and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges give points 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 probably still won’t have any real concept of what Taido is about. Also, just watching the techniques doesn’t show you what Taido is necessarily about. To really get any martial art, you have to get an idea of why the techniques are performed as they are.
Of course, Taido is changing martial art, so no explanation can really encompass everything that Taido is. Everyone eventually forms their own ways to apply Taido to their own situation 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 practiced all over the world.
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Tagged with: Budo • karate • martial art • Taido • taido karate
Filed under: Martial Arts
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