The art of Shindo was devised by Sensei Masaru Shintani, 9th Dan in the early 1970's. Sensei had made the Shindo methods and principles known to Otsuka Sensei who gave it his full endorsement.

Sensei began teaching Shindo in the early 1980's. The roots of these basics and other techniques taught by Sensei can be traced directly back to his extensive Wado Kai training under Otsuka Sensei. Sensei Shintani used the sabaki motion and explosiveness that he was renowned for to develop the same effects with the Shindo. After introducing Shindo to his students, Sensei requested that a training and grading process be put into place, based on five katas; SHINDO NIDAN, CIO BO TIE, SEI SHAN NO SHINDO, CHINTO NO SHINDO, and WANSHU NO SHINDO. Sensei had a personal influence on the final outcome of all these katas.

There are three segments of the Shindo curriculum that was devised by the Shindo committee - Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. Each course is designed to build upon one another to create a strong basis for the dan level rankings and instructor certification that will follow. The aim of the Shindo committee is to further develop and spread Sensei Shintani's teachings and philosophies across the continent. For those of you who had the privilege of being associated with Sensei Shintani, you know how important Shindo was to him. He once held the Shindo up in front of a class at a black belt workout and said...

"This is my life".

In essence, it is a gift to his students and to society which showed the true nature of all martial arts.