Seido juku

Seidō juku

Seido Juku

Japanese Name
Japanese	誠道塾
Kana spelling	せいどうじゅく
Rōmaji (Hepburn)	Seidō juku

is a style of Karate founded by Kaicho (Grandmaster) Tadashi Nakamura in 1976.

History

The World Seido Karate Organization was founded by Tadashi Nakamura. Well known and respected for his karate skills, Nakamura is a ninth dan (degree, title:Kaicho) black belt with over 50 years of experience in practicing and teaching in the martial arts. An expert in the use of oriental weapons, Nakamura has given numerous martial arts lectures and demonstrations in many countries around the world. He still travels and teaches regularly.

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.

Aged nineteen, Tadashi Nakamura earned his ni-dan rank, and entered his first tournament, winning first place in the All-Japan Student Open Karate Championship. The following year, 1962, he became a national hero in Japan by knocking out a Thai kickboxing champion.

During these years, Nakamura began teaching karate to others. He 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. During this period he trained and developed many skilled karate-ka.

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 translates from Japanese as SEI: "sincere," and DO: "way." With the guiding principles of love, respect, and obedience as the foundation stones of Seido Karate, Tadashi Nakamura ensured that his students would develop spiritually and morally, as well as physically. His students continue to develop to be complete individuals, ones committed to improving themselves and their communities. Seido Karate represents the personal ideals of Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura that the sincere practice of karate can help all people to better understand themselves and others in their lives. Seido Karate programs around the world strive to continue Nakamura's vision and help to develop individuals who make significant contributions to their societies.

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.

Seido Karate is an international organization with strong and growing branches in seventeen countries, with more than 20,000 students practicing the 'sincere way' worldwide. The World Seido Karate Organisation headquarters (Honbu) are at 61 West 23rd Street, New York City, New York, 10010, U.S.A., and has over 100 dojos 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.

Philosophy

The Japanese word seido means "sincere way." (sei: sincerity, truth; do: way, path). It comes from the Chuyo (Confucius's book "The Middle Path", or "The Doctrine of the Mean"), which states,

Sincerity is the way of heaven.
To follow this sincerely
Is the way of mankind.

The Seido philosophy is encapsulated in three words: sonkei (respect), ai (love), and jujun (obedience). These three principles are represented as the three circles within the ume blossom logo of the Nakamura family chest. These principles 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.

Syllabus

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.

10 Kyu White Belt
9 Kyu Adv. White Belt + black tab
8 Kyu Blue Belt
7 Kyu Adv. Blue Belt + black tab
6 Kyu Yellow Belt
5 Kyu Adv. Yellow Belt + black tab
4 Kyu Green Belt
3 Kyu Adv. Green Belt + black tab
2 Kyu Brown Belt
1 Kyu Adv. Brown Belt + black tab
1 Dan Shodan (the student receives the title Senpai, meaning Senior student)
2 Dan Nidan (Senpai)
3 Dan Sandan (Senpai)
4 Dan Yondan (the student becomes Sensei, meaning Teacher)
5 Dan Godan (the student becomes Kyoshi), meaning Advanced Teacher A Godan over the age of 80 receives the rank of Seishi. Kyoshi Akira Nakamura also carries the title Nidaime meaning Successor)
6 Dan Rokudan (the student becomes Jun-Shihan after 5 years of obtaining this rank they become Sei-Shihan, meaning Master)
7 Dan Nanadan (the student becomes Shuseki Shihan, meaning Chief Instructor / Master
8 Dan Hachidan (the student becomes Hanshi), Master of masters, or teacher of teachers
9 Dan Kudan (the level Kaicho Nakamura is at now; the highest level attained so far in Seido Karate), Grand Master.

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 6 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.

Taikyoku (General overview) kata (1,2,3)
Seido (Sincere way) Kata (1,2,3,4,5)
Pinan (Peace and Harmony) Kata (1,2,3,4,5)
Sanchin (Three points) kata
Gekisai-dai (Breaking down the large fortress) kata
Yansu (Striving for purity) kata
Tsuki-no (Fortune and Luck) kata
Saiha kata (Great wave)
Tensho (Fluid / rolling hand) kata
Gekisai-sho (Breaking down the small fortress) kata
Kanku (Sky gazing) kata
Seido Empi-no kata dai
Seido Empi-no kata Sho
Gojushio (54 steps)
Seienchin

As well as katas with Okinawan kobudo weapons, including the Bō, the Jō, the Sai, and Tonfa.

References

Nakamura, Tadashi. 'KARATE, Technique and Spirit'. Shufu No Tomo-Sha (January 1988)
Nakamura, Tadashi. 'The Human Face of Karate, my life, my karate-do'. Tokyo, Japan: Shufunoto Co., Ltd., (1989)* Nakamura, Tadashi. 'Karate Kyohon'. Shufunotomo Co. Ltd (December 2001)
Nakamura, Tadashi. One Day - One Lifetime An Illustrated Guide to the Spirit, Practice and Philosophy of Seido Karate Meditation'. World Seido Karate Organisation. (1992)