FAQs
WHAT ARE THE BASIC TYPES OF CLASSES?
Here are the five primary forms of Shintaido with brief descriptions of the benefits
1. Open-hand Shintaido: movements focused on opening the body and voice. These movements are intended to unlock and express yourself. Practice with other class members is also involved.
2. Soft-hand Shintaido: meditative movement using gentle flowing patterns. These help you to relax, relieve stress and calm your mind and body. Often, many seniors are attracted the meditative movements for healthy, easier exercise and group involvement.
3. Shintaido karate: exercises using punches, kicks, and rolling. This lets you concentrate, focus and express your energy. Also, it teaches you basic self-defense techniques.
4. Shintaido bojutsu: exercises using a 6-foot staff. Bojutsu is a unique form of practice that gives you a chance to work with wooden staffs. It adds a different dimension to Shintaido hand movements.
5. Shintaido kenjutsu: exercises using wooden swords. The sword is the classic Japanese warrior weapon. You learn precise/sharpened movements while cutting with the sword. We see this practice as the sword of peace.
Shintaido movement: Two important characteristics of Shintaido movement are opening and cutting. When we open our bodies, we open to life; we can receive and connect with others. But it also makes us vulnerable. When we use cutting movements our intention is not to defeat our opponent, but to help the people we practice with to cut what no longer serves.
WHAT HAVE OTHER PEOPLE SAID ABOUT BENEFITS TO STUDYING SHINTAIDO?
Jim Sterling gives a powerful recommendation about the study of Shintaido. He states that he has gained insight that personal transformation drives social change. Shintaido has provided that personal tool for personal change. Other benefits are mindfulness, also called awareness or focus. A third benefit is resilience, that ability to ‘get up after being rolled on the mat’.
SOA Examination FAQs
- What certification and licensing is offered by SOA?
- Why does SOA offer examinations?
- When does a person consider becoming an instructor or assistant?
- Who directs or teaches a gasshuku?
- How do I schedule a gasshuku?
- How do I select a Gasshuku Manager?
- How do I select the Director of Instruction?
- How do I invite Instructors?
- How do I invite a Guest Instructor?
- How do I schedule exams?
- How do I invite a Guest Examiner?
- How do I schedule an Advanced Workshop?
- How do I select a Gasshuku Consultant?
WHAT CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING IS OFFERED BY SOA?
National-level certification is awarded to qualified applicants challenging for examination as Assistant, Graduate and to nidan level in karate, bojutsu, and kenjutsu. Instructors are encouraged to advance their practice and when offered attend advanced workshops.
WHY DOES SOA OFFER EXAMINATIONS?
SOA offers examinations as a part of its certification and licensing program, so that members can choose to be examined for technical proficiency and integration in shintaido practice. SOA offers examinations for position in Shintaido core curriculum and martial ranks to nidan in shintaido karate, shintaido bojutsu, and shintaido kenjutsu.
Examinations provide encouragement as well as information on areas where further work is needed. Teaching rank also ensures that instructors can perform shintaido techniques effectively.
Visit SOA Curriculum for details about the Shintaido of America’s curriculum branches, study, and examinations.
WHEN DOES A PERSON CONSIDER BECOMING AN INSTRUCTOR OR ASSISTANT?
After reaching a certain level of keiko, some practitioners will wish to further develop their own keiko by working with a group. They may then apply to become Assistants or Instructors. This means that they are willing to take on greater responsibilities.
WHO DIRECTS OR TEACHES A GASSHUKUS?
SOA-certified instructors are available to direct and teach at gasshukus around the United States and Canada. However, the planning and administration of gasshukus is the business of regional groups. SOA provides guidelines for the production of these events, and offers such assistance as a national mailing list. It is recommended that a “national gasshuku” include an advanced workshop and upper-level examinations. An advanced workshop is defined as a workshop led by a General Instructor or above, intended for Graduates and above, and sometimes open to other SOA members with permission of the instructor.
For information about producing an SOA-affiliated gasshuku, see below on “How do I schedule a gasshuku?”
When planning a gasshuku or workshop in your region, notify the Chair of the National Technical Council (ntc-chairperson@shintaido.org) of the date you have planned, to make sure that no other gasshukus are scheduled for that same date. You will have access to the SOA mailing list to help you publicize your gasshuku.
When planning an inter-regional event, or when inviting an Instructor from outside your region to teach at a regional event, notify the Chair of the National Technical Council. This avoids scheduling conflicting events, and provides guidance on policy issues and event planning (such as financial issues.) A national Gasshuku is an opportunity to offer an advanced workshop and upper-level examinations.
In return for accrediting instructors who are qualified to teach at gasshukus, SOA asks that all gasshukus offer a registration discount for SOA members. Please plan this discount into your budget.
SOA encourages all gasshuku managers to schedule an Advanced Student event (discussion and/or keiko) as part of the gasshuku.
HOW DO I SELECT A GASSHUKU MANAGER?
The group hosting the gasshuku selects the Gasshuku Manager. The manager should be a member of the host group and if possible, have acted as an assistant to a Gasshuku Manager at previous Shintaido workshops or gasshukus.
The Gasshuku Manager oversees the organization of the gasshuku and in conjunction with the Director of Instruction determines the budget for instruction and keiko schedule. The Manager or his/her designee (e.g., Exam Coordinator) reports examination results to the SoA Membership Secretary on the Board of Directors.
HOW DO I SELECT THE DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION?
The host group and the Gasshuku Manager selects the Director of Instruction. The Director should have extensive teaching experience and does not have to be a member of the host group.
The Director oversees all instructional matters and in conjunction with the Gasshuku Manager determines the budget for instruction and keiko schedule.
The Gasshuku Manager writes a formal invitation to the candidate, informing him/her of the gasshuku dates and remuneration.
If you plan to invite one or more Instructors from outside your region to teach at your gasshuku, you may consult the Chair of the National Technical Council if you wish. To prevent confusion, please always consult the Chair of the National Technical Council before inviting a Shintaido Instructor from outside the United States.
HOW DO I INVITE A GUEST INSTRUCTOR?
The Director of Instruction and the Gasshuku Manager decide who will be invited as Guest Instructor(s). Since the selection of Guest Instructors is an educational as well as budgetary concern, both the Director and Manager need to agree on the candidate(s).
The Gasshuku Manager writes a formal invitation to the candidate(s), informing him/her/them of the Gasshuku dates and remuneration. If necessary, be sure to include a request to serve as an examiner.
SoA exams may be given in conjunction with a gasshuku or independently. To schedule exams at your event, contact the Chair of the National Technical Council. One third of exam fees go to SoA, and the rest are divided among the examiners.
For requirements for examiners, contact the Chair of National Technical’ Council. For fee schedules, see the Fees Section of the Examinations page.
HOW DO I INVITE A GUEST EXAMINER?
The Director of Instruction and the Gasshuku Manager decide who will be invited as Guest Examiner(s). When selecting the Guest Examiner(s), make sure to consider the level of examinations to be given. Refer to the Shintaido Qualification System for required qualifications of examiners. Since the selection of Guest Examiner(s) is an educational as well as budgetary concern, both the Director and Manager need to agree.
The Gasshuku Manager writes a formal invitation to the candidate, informing him/her/them of the Gasshuku dates, level of examinations to be held, examination schedule and remuneration.
HOW DO I SCHEDULE AN ADVANCED WORKSHOP?
SoA Advanced Workshops may be scheduled at any gasshuku with the approval of the Chair of the National Technical Council. An advanced workshop is defined as a workshop led by a General Instructor or above, intended for Graduates and above, and open to others with permission of the instructor.
HOW DO I SELECT A GASSHUKU CONSULTANT?
The Gasshuku Manager decides who to invite as a Gasshuku Consultant. Historically, a Gasshuku Consultant has been hired only for large National and/or International events.
The Gasshuku consultant must have extensive experience in all phases of gasshuku management and must have acted as Director of Instruction for at least one National and/or International Gasshuku.
It may be helpful to hire a person who has exposure to the international Shintaido movement, especially if the gasshuku will include members from other countries.
The Gasshuku Manager writes a formal invitation to the candidate, informing him/her of the Gasshuku schedule and remuneration.