The Shindo Trust - Chinese Martial Arts

Chinese Martial Arts

In the Shindo Trust we are keen to examine martial traditions other than our core system, Okinawan Shorin ryu. If we identify a useful principle or exercise then we will happily incorporate it into our training, as long as it fulfills the following criteria:

it is consistent with our core art

it adds something of value not already emphasised in our core art

This is precisely what the Okinawans did in the 19th century and earlier. Their training was generally eclectic, absorbing whatever useful material they could from whatever source. So, in a sense, we are simply carrying on a longstanding Okinawan tradition.

The martial arts of Okinawa have been heavily influenced by those of China. However, we have found a number of useful exercises and principles found in some Chinese arts that, whilst present in Okinawan systems, are not perhaps as strongly emphasised. So we have incorporated some aspects of these arts into our training. Chiefly we have drawn on the following two arts:

Tai Ji Chuan - from Tai Ji we have taken the Cheng Man Ching form. Tai Ji is generally practised very relaxed and very slowly. This form is an excellent tool for teaching students to stay relaxed and to move in a flowing manner, unlike the stop-start movements of many Karate systems. The slowness of the form is an excellent training tool for improving balance and coordination.
Wing Chun - from this art we have taken some of the sticking hands exercises, enabling students to practice staying in contact with an assailant in order to improve their control of a violent situation.

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