Tadashi Yamashita - Suikendo Seminar 1991

Suikendo is master Tadashi Yamashita's personally developed style. The word Suikendo comes from the combination of the words "sui" which means water, "ken" which means fist and "do" which means way. "The way of the fist that flows like water" is the philosophy and the concept of this style.

As the body moves hands and feet practice multiple striking and breaking techniques imitating the sense of water falling from high above. The efficiency of this technique is based on the combination of hands and feet with the gravity centre with continuous ki, while the body remains loose. The essence of the techniques used in Suikendo are nothing more than the extract of a sophisticated study of the Shorin Ryu's kata.

Suikendo combines elements of combat, dance and breath. It can develop the physical ability and flexibility and gives a combat alert spirit.

We, the students of Hanshi Yamashita, usually refer to Suikendo as the jazz of the martial arts.