Shintaido - A Martial Arts Combining Meditation & Weapons Training

Shintaido is a hybrid martial arts that combines Karate, Kenjutsu and Bojutsu with spiritual and meditation elements. Students practice open-hand techniques as well as training with weapons such as the Bo (staff) and Bokken/Bokuto (wooden sword). Shintaido students also practice kata (i.e. Taimyo kata). Shintaido is not "hard" self-defense weapons-based martial arts. Rather, Shintaido is focused on more relaxed and "open body" techniques that combine martial arts training with "self development" and elements that cultivate "the spirit".

According to Shintaido of America, "Founded by Hiroyuki Aoki, an actor, painter, and master of Shotokai karate, Shintaido was born in Yokohama in 1965. There Mr. Aoki formed “Rakutenkai”, or “Meeting of Optimists.“ This group of approximately 30 people, including some of Japan’s top martial arts instructors and a variety of artists, musicians, actors, and men and women young and old, set out to create a new art — they did not yet know what — from their own ideals and sense of optimism".

According to British Shintaido, "Shintaido has changed and evolved since the early days, becoming more inclusive and slightly more gentle. Despite these changes the main emphasis of the movement is on developing a soft, open body, and on developing ideas of “giving and receiving” rather than “attack and defence”. The modern curriculum is very broad, incorporating both open vigorous movements and soft or meditative movements, while encouraging joyful self-expression".

Reference Sources

1. Shintaido of America, What is Shintaido, http://shintaido.org/docs/history.htm, Added - 10/31/16
2. British Shintaido, What is Shintaido, http://www.shintaido.co.uk/what-is-shintaido, Added - 10/31/16

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