Alongside the other forms and styles of traditional karate there is also Seido, meaning 'sincere way' in Japanese. Seido is a very strict and traditional form of Japanese karate, which emphasises not only the fitness of the body, but also the state of the mind.

Kaicho (Grandmaster) Tadashi Nakamura

Kaicho Nakamura began his training at the age of eleven in 1953, under the Goju style with the instruction of Kei Miyagi, the son of the founder of the style. In 1956, Nakamura switched styles and began training with Masutatsu Oyama, the founder of Kyokushin Karate. In 1959, he earned his shodan rank, and became the youngest student to receive a black belt under that style.

In 1962, Nakamura became a hero in Japan by defeating the then current Thai kickboxing champion in a tournament organised to settle disputes over which nation's style of martial art was better. In 1966, Nakamura was selected by Masutatsu Oyama to bring karate to America. That same year, Nakamura moved to New York and began instructing Kyokushin Karate at a small dojo in Brooklyn.

In 1976 Nakamura withdrew from Kyokushin Karate. He felt that in becoming so widespread, it had lost the true spirit of karate. During the same year Nakamura formed the World Seido Karate Organisation. Namakura combined all of his experience, and his opinions on the true meaning of karate, into the creation of Seido; that is, karate should train students both physically and mentally. To this day, Nakamura serves as the chairman of the World Seido Karate Organisation and continues to teach at the Seido Honbu in New York.

Philosophy

The Seido Plum Blossom

The Seido plum blossom is the symbol, or emblem, of the Seido style. It is also Kaicho Nakamura's family emblem. The five-petalled blossom is that of the Japanese plum tree. The three circles inside the blossom represent the three basic principles of Seido philosophy - respect, love, and obedience.

Respect

Respect is a very important aspect of both Seido and Zen philosophy. Having no respect leads to anger, which in turn leads to fighting and hate. Having respect for others only truly can be achieved by having respect for oneself. To do this, one must look deep into oneself and let go the notion of self. Once this is done, one will realise that there is no distinction between different people, and that we are all one. As the old saying goes - We're all in this together.

Love

Love grows from respect. If one can learn to love all people, than he can share, and be open. The literal meaning of karate is 'empty hand¹', and when one can share and trust others than one can truly be empty handed.

Obedience

Obedience to one's parents and to laws is also stressed. A good student will also be a good citizen.

Meditation

Seated meditation is an integral part of Seido. It is considered a good habit to wash one's body, so it should also be good to cleanse one's mind. Seated meditation focuses on breathing, and counting breaths. This is to clear the mind, allowing the body to fully relax, and to focus on the sounds one hears.

Listening is a crucial part of training in Seido. A well-practised student will take cues from the sounds around him. For example, the pattern of an opponent's breathing, or the snap of the gi when a punch is executed perfectly.

Breathing properly is also important. Most people take too many breaths per minute, and the stale air in their lungs is not completely exhaled. This can cause negative physical and mental effects. Learning to breathe properly is very difficult. Many people do not expand their bellies when they breathe, but instead expand their chests. This is not proper because one can only inhale to a lesser extent by expanding the chest. The proper way to breathe is to take slow, deep breaths, each time expanding the belly to its fullest extent, and then exhaling for twice the time of the inhalation. This method is very good to practice, because it will help you control your breathing during times of stress or anger.

The Style

In addition to the mental training that is present in Seido, there is also an equal emphasis on physical training. Present in Seido are the traditional single attacks and defences, as well as kata (forms). Kata are sets of moves strung together (think Tai Chi), and are used only for teaching purposes.

The belt system

The different belt levels in Seido advance in this order: white, blue, gold, green, brown, and black. To advance to the next belt level, a student is required to have learnt a specific set of moves. A student is also expected to know the names of all of the moves in Japanese.

Promotions

The system for belt promotions differs from place to place, and even internally. It is very unlikely that any two promotions will be the same. The basic outline, however, is the same everywhere. During the promotion, students are tested on their knowledge of the style that they have been taught so far. Once it is clear that the student definitely knows everything on their syllabus, then they are on their way to being promoted to the next, or advanced belt. Students must also perform numerous (anywhere from 20-200 depending on level) push-ups and sit-ups.