Seishin Kitaido
Seishin Kitaido was developed over many years and founded by Ken Waight in 1991. Ken had a deep and extensive martial arts practice before he left England in his early twenties to study with various teachers in Japan, developing mastery of Karate, Boh, Bokuto and Shintaido (see History). In his search for a new, more flexible form of movement he eventually developed Seishin Kitaido (Energy Body Way). The development of Seishin Kitaido has been helped by other Instructors who who have devoted their time and energy over many years.
East meets West
Seishin Kitaido is an evolving system that has its roots in classical Eastern Movement arts and Western movement expression and therapy.
Seishin Kitaido combines two important aspects, form (structure, unchanging universal principle, conscious movement, sensing) and spontaneity (self expression, creativity, specific energy, unconscious, depth felt movement). This way of working integrates the need for individual expression whilst retaining the deep connections realised in the East through body practice.
The practice of Seishin Kitaido keeps alive the spirit of the traditional martial arts, which aspired to engender harmony and peace through deep connections of body, mind and spirit.
Yin and Yang
The system is unique in that it embraces the internal and external expression of energy, Yin and Yang. This can be seen in the two streams of movement running through the Seishin Kitaido system.
One is soft and internal and has powerful flowing forms which also open and strengthen internal energy, bringing concentration, awareness and strength inside our body.
The other system expresses our energy in a more external way, opening our body and mind outwardly to help us move and express ourselves more freely. Seishin Kitaido helps us to stabilise and focus ourselves, clearing tiredness and confusion from our lives, harmonising our inner and outer world through movement, breathing and energy.