Kaisaido
Anatomy of a Class
What happens inside a Kaisaido session
A Kaisaido class is not a free-form workout. It has a structure — inherited, refined, and purposeful. Every element is there for a reason. Understanding the structure is part of understanding the practice.
Daruma Taiso
Opening — 15–20 min
The class opens with Daruma Taiso — the conditioning system unified, expanded and systematized by Saiko Sihan Master Toshio Tamano. It is not a warm-up in the conventional sense: it activates joints, mobilises the breath, and brings the practitioner's attention into the body before any technical work begins.
Kiso Kumite
Foundation — 10–15 min
Pre-arranged partner exchanges that develop timing, distance, and basic structure. Kiso Kumite is not competition — it is a controlled environment for learning how technique behaves when it meets another body.
Kata
Core — 20–30 min
The formal sequences — Saifa, Seyunchin, Sanchin, Tensho, and the higher kata. Practiced individually, corrected by the Sensei, repeated with attention to breath, structure, and intention. The kata is not a performance — it is a study.
Bunkai
Application — 15–20 min
Partner study of kata applications — the systematic exploration of what each sequence means in practice. This is the intellectual core of a Kaisaido class: the place where the kata opens up and reveals its content.
Seiri Undo
Closing — 10 min
The class closes with Seiri Undo — recovery exercises and controlled breathing. The body returns to rest consciously, not abandoned. This closing practice is part of the reason Kaisaido can be practised for a lifetime without injury.
A note on variation
The above describes a typical complete session. In practice, the Sensei adapts the structure to the group: beginner classes may focus heavily on Daruma Taiso and Kiso Kumite; advanced classes may dedicate most of the session to a single kata and its bunkai. The structure is consistent — the emphasis shifts.