| Focus | Hybrid and eclectic |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Creator | Tadashi Nakamura[1] |
| Parenthood | Kyokushin kaikan |
| Olympic sport | No |
Seidō (or Seido Juku) is a style of karate founded by Master Tadashi Nakamura in 1976 in New York City. It is unique for being a physical, traditional style and incorporating Zen meditation in training.
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The World Seido Karate Organization was founded by Tadashi Nakamura, a ninth dan (degree, title: Kaicho) black belt with over 50 years of experience in practicing and teaching in the martial arts.
Tadashi Nakamura was born on Karafuto Island, Northern Japan (now claimed by Russia), on February 22, 1942. Nakamura began his karate training at age 11 in 1953, studying Goju-ryu Karate style under Kei Miyagi Sensei, the son of the Chojun Miyagi (the founder of Goju-ryu Karatedo). Nakamura began studying with Sosai Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate, in 1953, and in 1959, he gained his shodan rank, becoming the youngest Kyokushin karateka in Japan to receive a black belt.
Nakamura was asked by Oyama to be chief karate instructor at Camp Zama, a U.S. military base near Tokyo, from 1961 to 1965. He also coached the Toho Medical University karate team for three years. In 1966 Nakamura was selected by Oyama to bring the spirit of karate to America. Nakamura moved to New York City, formed a small dojo in Brooklyn, and began teaching Kyokushin Karate. The North American Kyokushin Karate headquarters was formed and headed for 10 years by Nakamura.
1976 was a formative year for both Tadashi Nakamura and for Seido Juku. Nakamura respectfully withdrew from Kyokushin Karate, and later the same year, established the World Seido Karate Organization, which more fully reflected his own beliefs as to the true meaning of karate. Seido Karate represented the personal ideals of Nakamura that the sincere practice of karate can help all people to better understand themselves and others in their lives.
June 2006 saw Seido karate celebrate its 30th anniversary with a five day SAITEN (celebration) event in New York City. Thousands of students from across the globe gathered to watch karate masters demonstrate techniques, and to participate in seminars and tournaments.
While performing his many duties as the chairman of the World Seido Karate Organization and the Seido Juku Benefit Foundation, Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura is, first and foremost, still an instructor of karate. He teaches classes at the Seido Honbu daily, and also frequently conducts seminars and gives lectures. He travels regularly, teaching and guiding students at dojos around the world.
The World Seido Karate Organization, chaired by Nakamura, has become an international organization with branches in seventeen countries and more than 20,000 students worldwide. It headquarters (Honbu) are at 61 West 23rd Street, New York City, New York, 10010, U.S.A. Dojos can be found all around the world, including: Australia, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, Singapore, Poland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and across the United States of America.
Seido translates from Japanese as SEI: "sincere," and DO: "way." SEI carries the connotation of "calm" or "silence", while DO carries the connotation of "energy" or "activity". In Seido one strives to reach his or her own individual balance of these two principles.
Nakamura founded Seido on three principles: sonkei (respect), ai (love), and jujun (obedience). These attitudes represented what Nakamura regarded as essential to maximizing one's potential in not only martial arts but in life as well. They are represented by the three circles within the ume blossom logo of the Nakamura family chest, and were suggested to Kaicho Nakamura by a congratulatory letter his mother sent to him after his marriage, which reads:
"Each day I pray for both of you. I want you to live a long life, without regrets, respecting each other, nurturing your love for one another, and always holding feelings of obedience to each other."
As this philosophy is an important part of Seido, Kaicho Nakamura has founded the Seido Juku Benefit Foundation as the charitable arm of the organization.
Like other forms of Karate, Seido Juku Karate-do has a graded syllabus which is required to master in order to promote to the next level.
Because the shodan promotion is rigorous, younger students can become shonen shodan and shonen nidan, which is just a junior level, but when they come of age, they still must pass the shodan promotion.
To pass through the 10 Kyu grades usually takes about 5+ years of continual training. To pass through the next 10 Dan grades will take the rest of your Life.
As the student progresses, they learn six types of training until Shodan: Kumite, Kata, Seido strategies, Self Defense (basic, intermediate, advanced), Kihon Kumite, and Yakusoku Kumite.
Kata: students must learn several new katas at each level.
As well as katas with Okinawan kobudo weapons, including the Bō, the Jō, the Sai, and Tonfa.
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