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.: shin tai do :: wholistic body movement :.
the short version
"Shin Tai Do" means "new body way." It was developed in Japan in the 1960s. It is an offshoot of the traditional marital arts, but it is not a fighting technique. It is a way to re-discover the natural condition of the body and mind.
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the version for people who like to read
- The purpose of Shin Tai Do -
Shin Tai Do is a container for ancient knowledge which was developed and refined over thousands of years. The traditional martial arts include profound wisdom about the mind and body, the Tao of living in harmony with nature, and how to find true inner strength. But in the 21st century, with the existence of guns, airplanes, bombs, and many hi-tech weapons, the techniques of hand-to-hand combat are obsolete.
Shin Tai Do addresses this philosophical question: who are the "enemies"? Perhaps the enemies are not other people, but the conditions of modern life itself, such as feelings of alienation and lonliness; stress and fear; lack of contact with the natural world; toxic chemicals in the environment; etc. What would a "martial art" look like if it embodied a gesture of openness to other people, a love of the earth and sky, a fearless exploration of creative expression?
Shin Tai Do is both a container for preserving the essence of the ancient wisdom of East, and a mind-body toolbox for the global culture of the present. The tools of Shin Tai Do are written in the language of body movement, but they are more than athletic exercises. They can help us to confront the challenge of living a creative life, to become warriors for mother earth, to go beyond self-imposed limitations, and to find the inner light of our humanity.
- The story of Shin Tai Do -
In the 1950s in Japan, Mr. Hiroyuki Aoki was a student of fine arts and theater. His acting teacher, feeling that his physical expression was not powerful and effective, suggested he study karate to strengthen his body for acting.
He became completely immersed in the world of traditional martial arts, and with intense study he attained the 5th degree (highest) black belt under his teacher, Master Shigeru Egami. He was positioned to take over as head instructor of the old master's school, but Aoki was not satisfied.
He was a child when the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, and several members of his family were killed. He was deeply idealistic, and felt driven to create a movement practice beyond the limits of traditional martial arts. Aiming to develop a holistic movement that could express his highest spiritual aspirations and artistic creativity, while still preserving the ancient knowledge, he left the world of karate and formed a group called "Rakutenkai" for research and development.
"Rakutenkai" was a loosely-knit group of martial arts experts, artists, dancers, and other interested people. They studied many aspects of tradtional culture and martial arts, as well as Western art and literature. They worked intensively for several years, often staying up all night and then working regular jobs in the daytime. Some people dropped out because the physical training was too intense. Those who stayed eventually gave birth to a new system of body movement, which later was named "Shin Tai Do" or "new body way."
Foreigners living in Japan began to hear of this "avant-garde" offshoot of martial arts, and over time Shin Tai Do spread to France, England, Australia, the U.S.A., Italy, Germany, Canada and Switzerland.
- What happens in a Shin Tai Do practice -
Participating in Shin Tai Do is more like being in an orchestra than attending a class. The leader of the practice acts as conductor as well as instructor, encouraging members to find authentic expression within the forms.
It is impossible to describe the range of Shin Tai Do practice in a few paragraphs, but usually it includes the following elements:
Warm-ups and "heart-mind opening" exercises
Physical preparation for Shin Tai Do includes extensive stretching, conditioning, and relaxation exercises. In addition, special "heart-mind opening" exercises help to develop grounded movement that originates from the center. These are often extremely vigorous jumping or squatting movements, though they can be modified for people who are weak or injured. They serve to eliminate superfluous movements and develop elasticity and natural power in the hips, legs, and lower spine.
Basic unifying techniques ("toitsu kihon")
Analogous to practicing scales when studying music, these movements are the basic building blocks, the letters and syllables from which the sentences of the Shin Tai Do language will be built. The basic foundation techniques use traditonal stances and stepping. They embody traditional principles of body alignment and unified movement, and point to the openness and attitude of courage that characterize Shin Tai Do.
Three foundation techniques ("dai kihon")
These forms are profoundly simple, yet take a lifetime to master. They contain the essence of Shin Tai Do, distilled into a few simple movements. More like brief yet grand symphonies than mere "techniques," these movements are vast and expansive, and include the fullest expression of the voice and opening of the body, like a flower bursting into bloom or a supernova exploding in the vastness of space.
Voice training
Traditionally the "kiai" or yell was used in martial arts to augment power and focus. Use of voice is integrated into many Shin Tai Do movements as a way to naturally deepen the breathing, while simultaneously unifying the movement of the whole body. Vocalization also serves to open the deeper energies of the body and is a gateway to self-expression.
Partner exercises
Partner exercises in Shin Tai Do rarely take the form of combat, but like traditional martial arts, they sharpen one's senses to become more aware of the other person. Specific exercises focus on spatial relationships, use of timing, or energy sensitivity, while more advanced variations integrate all three elements. Some partner exercises, similar to duets in classical music, allow for limited interpretation within the form; others emphasize improvisation and free expression.
