Taido is a Japanese martial art belonging to the group of systems defined as Budo.
Taido was developed from Gensei-ryu Karate-do by the founder of both systems, Seiken Shukumine.
Taido is at the same time both traditional and modern. Taido being a tradi- tional Budo means that training is carried out under oldfashioned Japanese principles for learning fighting techniques. Training of a traditonal Budo also means that the Budo-ka (a person that trains Budo) follows a certain set of rules for behavior in the Dojo (training-area). Most of all, training a traditional Budo means that a Budo-ka can train with the sole purpose of cultivating the "art" of the Budo system. Taido is modern in the sence that the system is in continous development and deploys modern sports-physiology in training. Being modern also means that Taido functions as a dynamic, competitive sport.
Taido's principles for movement and development of power in techniques are new creations. However, parts of the techniques, like movement of arms and legs in punches and kicks, can be recognized from Karate. Taido offers opportunity of highly acrobatic moves while at the same time less athletic persons can participate on an equal basis. The most well endowed Taido-kas deploy movements as summersaults and backward flipflaps. The experience and joy of movement and the phycical exercise which is naturally contained
in performing Taido is in itself part of the purpose of training.
Taido is frequently called "The martial art of the 21st century". What lies behind this statement is the technical and theoretical principles which distinguish Taido from other martial arts. Japanese martial arts are, in general, refined versions of old Bujutsu techniques. Budo and Bujutsu techniques work mainly in the two-dimentional space, meaning; forwards - backwards, and from side to side. The three-dimentional principle of Taido is new and does not exist in other systems of Budo or Bujutsu. The methods for altering position towards an opponent is equally new and exclusive of Taido.
Taido and self-defence
Taido was developed from Gensei-ryu Karate-do by the founder of both systems, Seiken Shukumine.
Taido is at the same time both traditional and modern. Taido being a tradi- tional Budo means that training is carried out under oldfashioned Japanese principles for learning fighting techniques. Training of a traditonal Budo also means that the Budo-ka (a person that trains Budo) follows a certain set of rules for behavior in the Dojo (training-area). Most of all, training a traditional Budo means that a Budo-ka can train with the sole purpose of cultivating the "art" of the Budo system. Taido is modern in the sence that the system is in continous development and deploys modern sports-physiology in training. Being modern also means that Taido functions as a dynamic, competitive sport.
Taido's principles for movement and development of power in techniques are new creations. However, parts of the techniques, like movement of arms and legs in punches and kicks, can be recognized from Karate. Taido offers opportunity of highly acrobatic moves while at the same time less athletic persons can participate on an equal basis. The most well endowed Taido-kas deploy movements as summersaults and backward flipflaps. The experience and joy of movement and the phycical exercise which is naturally contained
in performing Taido is in itself part of the purpose of training.
Taido is frequently called "The martial art of the 21st century". What lies behind this statement is the technical and theoretical principles which distinguish Taido from other martial arts. Japanese martial arts are, in general, refined versions of old Bujutsu techniques. Budo and Bujutsu techniques work mainly in the two-dimentional space, meaning; forwards - backwards, and from side to side. The three-dimentional principle of Taido is new and does not exist in other systems of Budo or Bujutsu. The methods for altering position towards an opponent is equally new and exclusive of Taido.
Taido and self-defence
Taido techniques can be percieved as a form of phycical art, while at the same time the training of the techniques develop and sharpen the body and mind of the Taido-ka. As with other Budo-systems one purpose of training is to enable the Taido-ka to defend himself. However, as Taido is much more than a form of self-defence, the training does not primarily focus on teaching the Taido-ka the quickest way of becomming efficient in close quarter's combat. In real life self-defence situations, Taido techniques are not meant to be deployed in the way they are performed in daily training. The techniques are not to be evaluated solitarily but as a whole which, at a high level of physical skill and mental development, enables the Taido-ka to improvise and deploy all possible ways of utilizing the body in attack and defence, when combat is unavoidable.
The name Taido
The Japanese character "Tai" is composed of two parts; "Mi" (Shin) and "Karada". "Mi" can be translated as mind, "Karada" can be translated as body. Together the two signs form the concept "Tai" which is difficult to translate directly but usually translates into the combination of the human body and mind. In daily use "Tai" is translated human being. "Taido" is most often translated into "the way of the body".
You can read a more thorough explanation of the concept of "Do" under the link "About Budo".
The Taido symbol
The design of the Taido symbol is inspired from an old Chinese anecdote.
An arm's dealer of old China was advertising his products by claiming that his weapons were invincible. An old man heard him and decided to put the arm's dealer to the test. The arm's dealer indulged the old man and a spear and a shield were chosen for the test. The result of the test was that the shield was penetrated but at the same time the spear was damaged in the process. The Taido symbol illustrates the morale of the anecdote, namely that both attack and defence are neccesary, one of these alone is not sufficient to protect the human (Tai).
Symbol : outer form - spearpoint symbolizing attack,
inner form - shield symbolizing defence,
Japanese characters inside shield are "Tai"
An arm's dealer of old China was advertising his products by claiming that his weapons were invincible. An old man heard him and decided to put the arm's dealer to the test. The arm's dealer indulged the old man and a spear and a shield were chosen for the test. The result of the test was that the shield was penetrated but at the same time the spear was damaged in the process. The Taido symbol illustrates the morale of the anecdote, namely that both attack and defence are neccesary, one of these alone is not sufficient to protect the human (Tai).
Symbol : outer form - spearpoint symbolizing attack,
inner form - shield symbolizing defence,
Japanese characters inside shield are "Tai"
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