Pacific Shintaido
‘Shintaido: a martial art for mind, body and spirit’
Pacific Shintaido is dedicated to nurturing a vibrant and inclusive community of practitioners in the San Francisco Bay Area. Developed in Japan in the 1960’s, shintaido draws on ancient martial arts traditions of sword, karate, long staff and meditation to create a uniquely peaceful and dynamic practice.
Pacific Shintaido coordinates local classes and organizes workshops and retreats. It is affiliated with Shintaido of America (SOA) (Note: this link opens in a new tab).
Pacific Shintaido Board of Directors: (as of 2026)
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- President: Jennifer Peringer
- Treasurer: Tom Abbott
- Secretary: Martha Rodríguez-Salazar
- Member at large: Jason Ravitz
- Member at large: Matthew Spigelman
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Have a question? Find a contact form below.
Visit the PacShin Events page to find the PacShin belt patch ordering information along with all current and upcoming PacShin sponsored events.
About Shintaido
How is Shintaido different from other martial arts?
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- Offers outdoor practice with an emphasis on fostering an energetic connection with nature
- Approaches the martial arts from a spiritual and artistic perspective, rather than as fighting arts
- All practitioners wear white gis and belts. Instructors wear white hakamas.
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How is Shintaido similar to other martial arts?
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- Builds confidence and develops energetic awareness
- Draws on fundamental physical forms and movements (kata)
- Offers a body-mind discipline and path of personal development
- Includes both hard and soft forms, “empty hand” techniques as well as practice with traditional weapons
- Has cultural influences from its country of origin, Japan, creating a bicultural context for learning
- Offers rigorous examinations to assess practitioners’ abilities
- Uses certain forms and etiquette to encourage respect, responsibility and safety during practice
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Who are the instructors and how are they trained?
All Pacific Shintaido Instructors have been examined and certified by Shintaido of America and/or the International Technical and Examination Committee. When taking an examination, Shintaido Instructors are judged on technical expertise and overall leadership qualities.
The five levels of Shintaido Core instructors are: Graduate,, Instructor, Senior Instructor, General Instructor, and Master Instructor. The five levels of rank for instructors specializing in bohjutsu, karate or kenjutsu are: Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, and Godan.
Learn more about shintaido curriculum on the SOA Curriculum pages (Note: this link opens in a new tab).
Who practices Shintaido?
Around the world, practitioners range from children to seniors, from the extremely athletic to those physically challenged. Shintaido is open to everyone. Students are encouraged to expand their range of movement and explore their own physical and mental limits.
Where to Practice Shintaido:
Visitors and newcomers of all ages and abilities are always welcome. Wear loose, light-colored exercise clothing or a white martial arts gi. It’s advisable to call the instructor before attending.
For current PacShin classes and instructor information, visit the SOA Where to Practice page (Note: this link opens in a new tab).
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