Ki Society

The Ki no Kenkyukai (氣の研究会), often called Ki Society, is an aikido organization founded by Koichi Tohei in 1971, while he was the chief instructor at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Its foundation reflected Tohei's differences with the Aikikai, and his own emphasis on developing the concept of Ki. Tohei's style of aikido is correctly called Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido (心身統一合気道), meaning "aikido with mind and body unified", but it is frequently referred to as Ki-Aikido, particularly in the Western world.

At the Ki Society, Tohei envisioned a place where Ki could be taught to students of all ages, including the handicapped and infirm, and also to those incapable of Aikido practice. Aikido becomes just one of 5 disciplines learned by students at a Ki Society Dojo:

* Aikido
* Kiatsu (personal health and healing)
* Ki Breathing
* Ki Meditation
* Sokushin no Gyo (bell meditation)

Being one of the first Japanese to bring Aikido to the West from Japan in 1953, Tohei confronted numerous obstacles in teaching. Western students did not accept teachings at face value, and bombarded Tohei with questions, and even occasional "attacks" to test Tohei's real ability. Due to this, Tohei was forced to create a very clear system of teaching that combines Western methods to teach Eastern concepts such as ki, mushin (no mind), one-point/center, etc. Through his lifetime in wars abroad and at home, and through his experiences with Aikido and the Japanese Yoga teachings of Tempu Nakamura, Tohei realized four universal principles that he felt should be used in all Ki Society practice, and in everyone's daily life.

* Keep One Point
* Relax Completely
* Keep Weight Underside
* Extend Ki

The Ki Society has a World Taigi Competition every year at its Japan Headquarters. Various techniques are grouped into 31 sets, each of which are called a 'Taigi'. The competition is one of measuring the nage's form and movement with uke, rather than a competition between two opponents. It is the equivalent of paired figure skating competition in Aikido, with judges awarding points for mind direction, rhythm, and power.

The style of Aikido taught by the Ki Society is often called Ki-Aikido.Its official name is "Shinshin Toitsu Aikido" - "Aikido with mind and body unified".The Ki-society and Ki-aikido has its primary facilities, known as Ki Society H.Q, in Tochigi-prefecture.

Literature

*Koichi Tohei: "Ki in Daily Life." Japan Publications, Tokyo, 1978, ISBN 0-87040-436-9
*Koichi Tohei: "Book of Ki: Co-ordinating Mind and Body in Daily Life." Japan Publications, Tokyo, 1976, ISBN 0-87040-379-6
*Koretoshi Maruyama: "Aikido with Ki." Japan Publications, Tokyo, 1984, ISBN 0-87040-566-7
*Reed, William: "Ki: A Practical Guide for Westerners." Japan Publications, Tokyo, 1986, ISBN 0-87040-640-X
*Reed, William: "A Road That Anyone Can Walk: Ki." Japan Publications, Tokyo, 1992, ISBN 0-87040-799-6

External links

* [http://www.ki-society.or.jp/ Official Ki Society Homepage - Japan]
* [http://ki-aikido.net/ The official Ki Society website for the United States]
* [http://ki-aikido.net/KS-USA/Directory.html List of International Ki Society Dojos]
* [http://www.oregonki.org/ Oregon Ki Society and Northwest Ki Federation]
* [http://www.easternkifederation.com/ Eastern Ki Federation]
* [http://www.midlandki.org/ Midland Ki Federation]
* [http://ki-aikido.net/KS-USA/Directory.html#NKF/ Northwest Ki Federation]
* [http://www.hawaiikiaikido.org/ Hawaii Ki Federation]
* [http://www.kisociety.org.uk/ UK Ki Society]
* [http://unofficial.ki-society.org/ Unofficial Ki Society Homepage]