Taido is a scientific martial art which has taken the essence of the traditional Japanese martial arts It has transformed it into one which can meet the needs of a modern society. Taido's merits have been noted in both the Japanese press and the television broadcasting networks as a martial art having "philosophical depth" and "creativity".It has been deemed the martial art of "the 21st century". Dr. Seiken Shukumine, former Grand Master of the Japan Gensei-school of karate, realized the shortcomings in the unscientific approach taken previous martial arts and decided to develop a new martial art that was both scientific and relevant in the context of the modern world. For thirty years he underwent rigorous training and research in the theory of martial arts and based upon the results, he created the three dimensional art which he called Taido. Taido is not a martial art which moves along a one dimensional line in executing punching or kicking techniques but one whose techniques are delivered by changing the body axis and balance. It is also characterized by the use of elaborate footwork in changing the angle of attack and by the use of one's entire body in the martial art. Taido, moreover, is not simply a sport as many forms of karate have become, but also involves a special type of training which requires a tremendous amount of self-discipline in terms of spiritual concentration. The essence of Taido lies not in the techniques of the art itself but in the utilization of the training acquired in Taido for the development and benefit of both self and society Taido's techniques are designed with a dual purpose in mind. Not only are they used for one's personal defense but they play an important role in keeping one's internal organ's in a healthy state of being. Based upon the theories subscribed to in the medical art of acupuncture, Taido has studied the effect of the angle of body movement upon the internal organs of the body. There are Hokei ( a systemized routine of techniques and movements) in Taido which improve the students offensive and defensive techniques for external development and their health. Taido also strongly emphasizes the breathing techniques which are required in this art. The utilization of these breathing techniques shows the uniqueness of Taido with respect to other martial arts. Taido's techniques have been developed so that both men and women, young and old, can practice this art without respect to their physical development or conditioning. Currently there are Taido Associations in Japan, Finland, Sweden, France, Netherlands and Australia