Seidokan Toide/Tuite
(Motobu Ryu)
Referred to as Toide or Tuite, this portion of our martial system was transmitted to Shian Toma Sensei from Seikichi Uehara, the 12th Generation Headmaster of Motobu Un Dun Ti (Royal Palace Hand Art). It is a very dynamic system of captures, joint locks, submissions, and dispatches centering mostly on a single principle of tai-sabaki (change body). At first look, one would claim it is a form of jujitsu, but it has its own separate traceable linage and independent development. This is not to say that historians would argue the point of outside influences that Uehara perhaps adapted ... just like every instructor has through out history. It is not until the mid 1960's that foreigners were allowed to learn and teach the Toide waza. Even during those times Okinawan teachers differed as to whether to teach these high level techniques to non-Uchinanchu. They had even held it back from the mainland Japanese and only taught the karate kata systems with their bunkai. It was Toma's generation of instructors that taught these techniques to the American GI stationed in Okinawa during the Vietnam War and to other foreigners and mainland Japanese who traveled back to the cradle of Karate in search of deeper learning.
In the Seidokan Martial System, Toide is considered a separate art apart from the bunkai of the Shorin Ryu Kata System. Since 1995 the Hombu dojo in Okinawa has been certifying Seidokan Toide separately at the Yon Dan level for those students training and visiting the Hombu in Okinawa. However, no established curriculum exists set down to paper as yet. Toma Sensei and the other senior instructors charged with Toide instruction teach select techniques viewed appropriate to the student's body type and ability. It is a more unique form of instruction than the group instruction we receive in the Shorin Ryu side of the house.
The Toide that has been shared by Senseis Toma, Yamauchi, and Tamae has been greatly streamlined from that of Uehara's Motobu Un Dun Ti. Certain characteristics that describe our Seidokan emphasis is:
1) There are no initial defensive strikes in Toide, no softening atemi. It is at its inception a marriage of movement with the opponent.
2) From the moment we capture an opponent's attack ... pain is generated.
3) Control of the opponent's center-line and weapons are redirected to nullify opponent's lethality.
4) The direction of the throw usually directs the opponent at a right angle to the ground (not parallel).
5) The end of one Toide technique is the beginning of another.
6) Pain does not have to stop.
Our Toide does not focus on finger and meridian knockout strikes like other systems. Ours is one of grab, control, and subdue. With slightly more pressure or direction of travel we can make our Toide break joints, over rotate sockets, and maim or be lethal. It is our awareness to understand the difference between a situation where extreme prejudice is necessary and a nullifying control or knockout is better served. The goal in the dojo is always to be able to practice with as much reality and force as possible, but stopping short of injuring our fellow practitioners. So, we live again to train another day. At present is a list of Toide techniques that follows in the next section. They have been called the Toide 20 or Motobu Ryu 20. They represent the most commonly practiced Motobu Ryu waza in the Seidokan System.
Click on the Motobu Seidokan Hand Emblem to download a document called the Toide 20 Waza/Motobu 20 Waza. It is a collection of 20 Toide techniques cataloged by Sensei Ed Douga and practiced in his Pennsylvania Torii Dojo.
Toide 1984
Practitioners: Shian Toma and Robert Teller (Camera Ron Nix)
Dojo: Toma Dojo (Gate 2) Okinawa, Japan
Date: 1984
Practitioners: Shian Toma and Dave Bardi
Dojo: Sensei Kennedy's Toma Dojo, NY USA.
Date: April/May 1993
Toide wasa. Dave attacks Sensei numerous times. Sensei throws directly to the ground and does not release his grip until Dave is pinned against the mat.
Practitioners: Dave Bardi and Mike Wysocki
Location: Toma Dojo Awase Okinawa, Japan
Date: 1993
Related Videos
Practitioner: Unknown
Owner of Video: Nams
Country: United Kingdom
Subject: 3 main Okinawan Ti (Te) hand positions in transition, using calligraphy brush
Practitioner: Seikichi Uehara and his students Owner of Video: Motoburyuorg
Location: Katsuren Castle Park, Okinawa, Japan
Date: 1993
本部御殿手 本部流 御殿手 上原 清吉 取手
Okinawan Bujutsu
Practitioner: Seikichi Uehara and Lead Student
Owner of Video: cnargentina
Two practitioners demonistrating the Okinawan O'Dori Dance seen in Uehara's Motobu Ryu and Bugeikan of Seitoku Higa. Supposedly this dance contains all of the Te of Motobu Ryu and was only performed for high ranking officials by men. This was pulled from a Japanese website and bears the following kunji:
第８回 琉球古武術演武会 ２
from:
手,
素手相対
Practitioners: Students of Sensei Fusi Keise's Linage. Sensei Keise and Toma shared many waza in the early years. This closely reflects waza similiar to the style that Seidokan teaches.
Dojo: White Rock Shorin Ryu Kenshin Kan Karate and Kobudo Dojo Dallas, TX -- Members of OSMKKF
Practitioner: Sensei Taika Oyata
This displays a similiar system to Seidokan Toide. It is the Ryukyu Karate System propogated by Taika Oyata. Oyata specializes in Toide/Tuite and Ryukyuan Kobudo. Back in the 60's, Oyata and Toma were the test for practitioners applying for nanadan and hachidan in their federation. Very few passed.
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