Karate master, Seiken Shukumine created Taido as a modern martial art.
With its foundations in the martial traditions of Okinawan Karate, Taido was Shukumine's attempt to crate a budo that evolved to meet the changing demands of modern society. This was only after establishing his Genseiryu Karate school in 1953.
After ten years of teaching Genseiryu, Shukumine saw karate as uninspired and dead. He determined 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 meditated on how to make defense movements more adaptable and applicable. Taido's movements offered many innovations: the inclusion of spinning and twisting movements, acrobatic maneuvers, fast and effective footwork, and a changing body angle. The word Taido translates as "art 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 techniques. Taido also emphasizes the use of footwork to take advantageous 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 dynamic challenges instead of preset algorithms of attack and protection. Taido's movements are also designed for improving health and longevity.
Taido's original purpose was, and continues to be, the application of scientific methodology and traditional values to the evolution of the martial arts. According to its founder, Taido's ultimate objective is to enable its practitioners to perform at a high level in society.
There are five main rules in Taido. Keep your thoughts as clear and calm as the reflective surface of a mirror. This allows you to understand the reality of your environment. Having the correct state of mind will help you make the best decisions. Be composed. Body and spirit must be united. Hold yourself with dignity and you need never feel inferior. fill your spirit from the source of energy deep in your abdomen. With the right frame of mind you will never be threatened. In every action, follow the principles you have practiced. By doing so, you react quickly. Be adaptable in your thought and keep freedom of physical movement. The right methods will prevent you from being defeated.
Taido makes use of five classes of body movements: vertical spinning movement, rising and falling wave-like movement, lever-like movement achieved by tilting the body's axis, horizontal spinning movement, and acrobatic movements.
These movements are connected with strikes, kicks, and other techniques. The last category, called "tentai," includes gymnastic movements, for instance somersaults, which makes Taido spectacular to watch. Taido has a unique kind of footwork, which is called unsoku, and acrobatic locomotion, termed unshin.
Competitions in Taido include sparring, Hokei, and Tenkai, which is a mock combat between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges award scores to the competing teams in a similar manner as is done in figure skating.
Even after saying all that, unless you've actually witnessed Taido, you likely still won't have any concrete concept of what Taido is about. Also, just knowing about the techniques doesn't tell you what Taido is aiming for. To really grok any budo, you have to get an idea of why the techniques are developed as they are.
Of course, Taido is changing martial art, so no explanation can really encapsulate all that Taido is. Everyone eventually forms their own ways to apply Taido to what they do and how they move. Taido itself emphasizes creativity and the development of new techniques. It is not a martial art that will stand in one place for long.
Taido is currently taugh in Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and the USA.
With its foundations in the martial traditions of Okinawan Karate, Taido was Shukumine's attempt to crate a budo that evolved to meet the changing demands of modern society. This was only after establishing his Genseiryu Karate school in 1953.
After ten years of teaching Genseiryu, Shukumine saw karate as uninspired and dead. He determined 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 meditated on how to make defense movements more adaptable and applicable. Taido's movements offered many innovations: the inclusion of spinning and twisting movements, acrobatic maneuvers, fast and effective footwork, and a changing body angle. The word Taido translates as "art 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 techniques. Taido also emphasizes the use of footwork to take advantageous 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 dynamic challenges instead of preset algorithms of attack and protection. Taido's movements are also designed for improving health and longevity.
Taido's original purpose was, and continues to be, the application of scientific methodology and traditional values to the evolution of the martial arts. According to its founder, Taido's ultimate objective is to enable its practitioners to perform at a high level in society.
There are five main rules in Taido. Keep your thoughts as clear and calm as the reflective surface of a mirror. This allows you to understand the reality of your environment. Having the correct state of mind will help you make the best decisions. Be composed. Body and spirit must be united. Hold yourself with dignity and you need never feel inferior. fill your spirit from the source of energy deep in your abdomen. With the right frame of mind you will never be threatened. In every action, follow the principles you have practiced. By doing so, you react quickly. Be adaptable in your thought and keep freedom of physical movement. The right methods will prevent you from being defeated.
Taido makes use of five classes of body movements: vertical spinning movement, rising and falling wave-like movement, lever-like movement achieved by tilting the body's axis, horizontal spinning movement, and acrobatic movements.
These movements are connected with strikes, kicks, and other techniques. The last category, called "tentai," includes gymnastic movements, for instance somersaults, which makes Taido spectacular to watch. Taido has a unique kind of footwork, which is called unsoku, and acrobatic locomotion, termed unshin.
Competitions in Taido include sparring, Hokei, and Tenkai, which is a mock combat between one "hero" and five opponents. In Tenkai the judges award scores to the competing teams in a similar manner as is done in figure skating.
Even after saying all that, unless you've actually witnessed Taido, you likely still won't have any concrete concept of what Taido is about. Also, just knowing about the techniques doesn't tell you what Taido is aiming for. To really grok any budo, you have to get an idea of why the techniques are developed as they are.
Of course, Taido is changing martial art, so no explanation can really encapsulate all that Taido is. Everyone eventually forms their own ways to apply Taido to what they do and how they move. Taido itself emphasizes creativity and the development of new techniques. It is not a martial art that will stand in one place for long.
Taido is currently taugh in Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Great Britain, Japan, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and the USA.
About the Author:
If you want to find out more about Taido, visit the best Taido information archive for over 100 unique articles about Taido.
No comments:
Post a Comment