Shintaido was developed in Japan in the 1960's by some of the top martial artists at that time. They sought to create a new form of movement that would embody the modern desire for peace, cooperation, and mutual understanding among people of all cultures, rather than to cultivate a competitive fighting art.

Shintaido includes a range of movements, from faster, energetic forms to slower, meditative ones :
- Basic open-handed Shintaido
- Bojutsu (using a 6-foot staff)
- Kenjutsu (using a wooden sword)
- Shintaido Karate
- Meditation and energy sensitivity practices
- Relaxation and health exercises