Stylistic Divisions

We find it most comfortable working with those trained in a Japanese based style, usually karate, kempo, ju-jutsu or aikido, however every instructor will be considered fairly according to his/her training goals and aspirations. If a Hapkido stylist, for example, wishes to train in our Takeshin Seiken Budo, there is a strong likelihood that that will be possible, but it would be less likely that a Tae Kwon Do stylist who wished to avoid serious retraining, would fit into our karate division because the stylistic norms and training purposes are so different.

Takeshin Sogo Budo (Bamboo Spirit Integrated Martial Ways) are segmented into Aiki-ju-jutsu, Karate-do, and Seiken Budo with minor subsidiary training offered in Judo and Yojo-gi (Healing Techniques). A member school can join under one of the three main divisions and choose a level of relationship to the federation.

What Style Fits Where?

Your Current Style	MACHI (Branch School)			NAKAMA (Associate School)
Your Current Style	Aiki	Karate	Seiken	Aiki	Karate	Seiken
Aiki-ju-jutsu	YES	no	no	YES	no	no
Aikido	YES	no	no	YES	no	no
Eclectic	no	no	YES	no	no	YES
Goju	no	no	no	no	YES	no
Hapkido	no	no	YES	no	no	YES
Ju-jutsu (hard)	no	no	YES	no	no	YES
Ju-jutsu (soft)	no	no	YES	YES	no	YES
Kempo	no	no	YES	no	no	YES
Shito	no	no	no	no	YES	no
Shotokan	no	YES	no	no	YES	no
Tae Kwon Do	n/a in most cases
Tang Soo Do	no	no	no	no	YES	no
Uechi	n/a in most cases
n/a = not applicable in most cases without detailed and sincere retraining

Of course, the "proper fit" depends on the details of previous training and what the instructor expects to get out of the new training.

We try as best we can to build on previous training rather than convert people to a new style, unless that is what they prefer to do. However, we understand that some training methods and goals differ a great deal from our own and therefore an instructor may have to put these aside for the time being to best concentrate on a new training program. No previous martial arts training is ever lost. All previous experience will be valuable at some time in some way. We try to blend old knowledge into new and build on current strengths.