Tai Shin Doh Fighting Techniques

Tai shin doh is a martial arts fighting style that was invented in 1966 by Soke Balas and has been taught to many law enforcement agents and soldiers in the United States. This relatively new martial art incorporates elements of many older traditional martial arts and includes both unarmed katas and weapons techniques.

  1. Katas

    • Tai shin doh, like many other martial arts, has a series of katas (a set combination of positions and movements) that its students learn. Each kata teaches both attacking and defensive maneuvers that can be used when sparring. There are eight katas in all, and each must be learned before attempting to become a black belt.

    Weapons

    • Weapons techniques are an important part of tai shin doh. Weapons used in the fighting style include staffs, kendo swords and nunchakus. Special katas teach students offensive and defensive moves with these weapons.

    Throws

    • Throws are a crucial element of tai shin doh. Many throws are adapted from older martial arts like jujitsu. Throws use an enemy's momentum to propel them away, executing a simultaneously offensive and defensive technique.

    Strikes and Blocks

    • Strikes and blocks are adapted from aikido, judo and jujitsu to constitute the physical vocabulary of tai shin doh. Students are taught to strike and defend the body's pressure points. Punches are delivered with minimum effort to maximize the use of energy and the body's weight. Kicks use the heel and pad of the foot as blunt instruments to strike these pressure points.