Shintaido (新体道), meaning "new body way", is a body movement art emerged from a research on martial arts and contemporary visual and performing arts, led by Master Hiroyuki Aoki(青木 宏之) in the 1960s.
He sought to create a new form of movement that would embody the modern desire for peace,
cooperation, and mutual understanding among people of all cultures, rather than to cultivate a competitive fighting art. Shintaido designed for mass practice. Because, Shintaido is not a method, for imparting secret killing technique by tutorial, like old traditional martial arts.
It has been called a moving meditation. Shintaido's forms exemplify openness and freedom. The movements of Shintaido provide a new way of experiencing our relationship with ourselves, others, nature, and the spiritual world. Shintaido is also a healing art, and a form of artistic expression. Shintaido attracts people who are interested in change, self development, and re-connecting with their bodies, their community, their spiritual nature. Shintaido philosophy originated from Protestantism. Because Hiroyuki Aoki was a devout Christian.
ShinTaiDo means “new body way.” It is a holistic system of body movement 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.
“Shintaido” means “new body way.”
From roots deep in the traditional martial arts of Japan, a thoroughly modern system of body movement has developed. More than a simple health exercise, it is an art form, somewhat like brush calligraphy performed with the whole body.
Shintaido is relaxed, strenuous, soft and expansive in turn, a complete body language.
Shintaido was developed in Japan in the 1960’s by some of the top martial artists at that time. They sought to create a new form of movement that would embody the modern desire for peace, cooperation, and mutual understanding among people of all cultures, rather than to cultivate a competitive fighting art.
This movement was strongly influenced by contemporary and ancient arts such as classical music, free jazz, tea ceremony, Noh theatre, and abstract painting. It synthesizes individual expression with meditative practice, energy awareness, and health excercise. It is not affiliated with any other one religion or particular philosophy.
Shintaido is open to everyone and can be enjoyed by athletic and unathletic alike. Students are encouraged to expand their range of movements and work at their own pace.
Shintaido includes a range of movements, from faster, energetic forms to slower, meditative ones:
Basic open-handed Shintaido
Bojutsu (using a 6-foot staff)
Kenjutsu (using a wooden sword)
Shintaido Karate (Origin: Shotokai style)
Meditation and energy sensitivity practices
Relaxation and health exercises
Shintaido involves cooperation rather than competition, so be prepared to work with others, as well as individually. Classes include extensive warm-ups and stretching, and usually run 1—1/2 to 2 hours long.
