The
Martial Art of Ki Aikido uses
True Non-Fighting Mind.
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It teaches you how to control yourself first before others. |
In
aikido we practice rolling both as an exercise
and as a means of escape when thrown by our
partner.This dynamic rolling mobilises the 2
main forces of the universe namely gravitational
and centrifugal force.This harmonises unifies
and restores the subjective and objective Mind
to a constant self-generating inward and outward
mutual exchange.From the egotistical chrysallis
of thought and feeling emerges, at last, the
loving, powerful, wise and infinite human being.
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I really enjoy practicing Aikido and it is extremely dynamic. |
As
a Black belt 1st Dan I practice in my own small
dojo.
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I
used to practice with the Brighton Ki Society
at 12,Queen Square, Brighton<Near
The Clocktower> This club is a registered
charity and offers lots of opportunity for practice
throughout the week. And now I have built my
own dojo at Boxhill Headley which is in the
Surrey Hills .
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Shepherds Well, Headley Grove , Headley Common Road, Headley Surrey KT18 6NR |
www.acupuncturist.co.uk
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SimonBigwood@acupuncturist.co.uk
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Mob:
078 - 7050 - 9092
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Mob:
075 - 8000 - 1667
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Mob:
077 - 5914 - 9514
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Tel:::
01 - 372 - 37 - 999 - 8
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4. Ki Classes test the stability of the body to understand the nature of Ki
KI
CLASSES
Words alone cannot easily describe the nature of Ki. Ki
lies
beyond both words & intellectual understanding.
However, the nature of Ki can be easily demonstrated by
using the stability of the physical body as a reliable test
to
the presence or absence of Ki. So we test the physical
body
in order to understand Ki. Ki training includes:
1.
Learning to completely unify mind and body.
2. Verifying this by testing the stability of the body:
1st
in the wrong state. 2nd
in the right state. 3rd
feeling the difference.
Meditating, Breathing, Chanting & Exercising with
mind
& body unified.
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5. There are Four Principles To Help Unify Mind & Body
4
Principles
Extending Ki.
Keeping OnePoint.
Relaxing Completely.
Keeping Weight Underside.
These are the foundations of Aikido
Aikido Classes Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, or Ki-Aikido, extends the concepts of Ki training into practice with a partner. Aikido techniques are designed to meet an attack without resisting or being over-whelmed. Practice with a partner is a direct way of training the mind to deal with the world without conflict. This training helps build non-aggressive self-confidence & an attitude of mind that allows ourselves & others to develop. Ki Aikido is the martial art which emphasises the 'art' side as much as the 'martial' involving the movements of two people which are harmonious, natural and powerful. Ki-Aikido encapsulates true self-defence, which is making yourself and the universe one & the same. |
8. Interview with the President of Shin Shin Toitsuo Aikido
Interview with: Koichi Tohei (Sensei)
Koichi Tohei Sensei, Founder and President of the Ki no Kenkyukai (theKi
Society International), visited the United States this past August for
the first time in 12 years. During that visit-in Kahului, Maui, on August
7, 1993 he granted ATM this interview.Tohei Sensei was the Director and
Chief Instructor of Aikikai Hombu Dojo for O-Sensei for many years. In
1953, having been told by O-Sensei to introduce Aikido to America, he
came to Hawaii at the invitation of the Nishikai, a health-oriented organization.
Subsequently, Tohei Sensei was instrumental in spreading Aikido around
the world, travelling 28 times between 1953 and 1982 to America, Europe,
and the Pacific. In 1969, he was promoted (10th dan.Previous to his study
of Aikido, Tohei Sensei had studied Zen and misogi. He began study with
O-Sensei in 1939, but then was sent to China during WWII as commander
of a combat unit. Remarkably, all 60 soldiers under his command survived
three years of combat. Returning to Japan in 1946, he continued his studies
in Zen, misogi, and Aikido, and he began Mind-Body Unification Training
with Tempu Nakamura.From his studies and experience, Tohei Sensei developed
new insights and teaching methods. He established the Ki Society to teach
Ki development, and, in 1971, he separated from the Aikikai so that he
could continue his teaching of ki development Since 1975, the Ki Society
has also taught Aikido with Mind and Body Unified (Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido).To
fulfil Tohei Sensei's dream of spreading ki training beyond the Aikido
community, The Ki Society recently built a world headquarters and dojo
complex, Ki no Sato, in Tochigi Prefecture.Throughout the years, Tohei
Sensei has maintained his focus on promulgating the study and practice
of the four basic principles of ki: 1. Keep one point. 2. Relax completely.
3. Keep weight underside. 4. Extend Ki. Sensei, you were the person who
first brought Aikido to America 40 years ago. What do you think of America
now? In Maui, everything is completely different. When I came here the
first time, everything was sugar cane and pineapple fields -very few houses.
Tell us about the first people who you taught here. In Japan, I practiced
only with small-sized people and only one-on-one. But, when I came here,
I was often attacked by 5 or 8 people at once, all big men. The first
time I didn't have any con-fidence because I had no experience. But then
I remembered about mind over matter- that someone with a big body docsn't
necessarily have a big mind. Because I knew how to control my own mind,
big or small didn't matter. Did your experiences here In Hawaii affect
the way you taught Alkido and Ki development? At first, I wanted to teach
Aikido. But "Aikido" means "combin-ing with the ki of the universe" -
that is the meaning of the term. So, before I taught Aikido arts, I taught
how to use ki -that is, how to control one's mind and body. Then I taught
Aikido.Many times, after people master Aikido arts, they forget the ki
principles because they cannot see the mind. Mind has no shape, no color
- so, it's easy to forget. But, in the Ki Society, [we teach that] if
you don't practice the ki material, you don't really know how to control
the mind and body. Now, I never teach Aikido by itself. Here in Maui and
elsewhere, members of the Ki Society practice the ki principles first,
then they learn Aikido. Without ki, Aikido is nothing; none of its arts
work.Most of us rarely need to apply [physical] Aikido [arts] in daily
life. But we apply control of our minds and bodies throughout our whole
lives. That is why I mainly teach ki principles. Since you were first
here in early fifties, have you seen changes in the kinds of students
who study ki and Aikido? Some people have changed; some people haven't.
Mr Suzuki and Mr. Tabata - they were some of the first people to study
ki principles, and after 40 years they still continue to study them. But
many other people quit. If one only learns Aikido technique, when one
becomes old, one cannot use them. But ki principles can be applied to
daily life for one's whole life. And, for one who knows these principles,
Aikido technique never deteriorates. In America many people are big and
strong, and so they may not have learned about ki. I am now 73 years old,
I am a small man, and I don't exercise to keep up my physical strength.
But I can still throw. Didn't you once train a Sumo champion? Yes. Chiyonofuji
was my studeni He was a small man for Sumo -about 250 pounds. But he has
a tremendous physique, and his ki training helped him keep his rank for
many years despite his size. What do you expect in the future for Aikido
and ki training? Sometimes I teach Aikido, but mostly I teach the principles
of ki. I am spreading these principles to young people.Now I also teach
Kiatsu - using the power of ki to heal. Everybody has this power, not
just a few. But many people don't know that they have it. So, I must let
them know.I think each house needs someone with Kiatsu training, so that
the people in the household don't need to go to the doctor or the hospital
as often. A bad shoulder, bad hip, or bad kidney -these one can fix by
one's self. Is Kiatsu your direction for the future? For this evening's
celebration, 30 people came from Japan. Half of them are very sick; their
doctors said they shouldn't go out,but they came here. One lady had such
bad in her bones that, for 27 years, she couldn't sleep well. But I did
Kiatsu on her and she now has no more pain. Before she couldn't get out
the door; now she is in Hawaii!Many young, healthy people come to practice
because they find Alkido appealing, particularly when they see Aikido
with Ki They say "Ah, this is It!" and then they discover the power of
Ki That's right. Younger people don't have much trouble with their health.
They ought to learn Aikido. But, while I teach Aikido I also teach the
principles of ki. if they know and use these principles, people don't
have to become sick when they become old. When people get sick, it is
too late. Before one becomes sick, one must realize the importance of
living the ki principles. Sensei, if the young aren't concerned about
their health, they're not going to understand the importance of learning
the principles of Ki How can we introduce them to these principles? Everyone
has to coordinate mind and body.The power of ki is like an iceberg: we
can see only a small part of it, since most of it is hidden beneath the
surface Everybody has all of this power, but most people notice only the
"tip of the iceberg" and say, "My power, my power!" We must teach people
that everyone has a strong, living power and that those who understand
this power don't have to be sick.When people are young, they can practice
Ailddo to develop this power. Sensei, how has your headquarters complex
(Ki no Sato) grown, and how do you see it growing from here? I built Ki
no Sato in the countryside. So, even in Japan, many people didn't know
about it. But now many companies have found out about it. Corporations
are starting to have seminars at Ki no Sato. If American students of ki
and Alkido want to come to Ki no Sato, are there any programs for them?
Small groups can make special arrangements.Also, we are planning to hold
world camps, and people will be able to come from abroad for them. At
these world camps, I myself will do most of the teaching. Sensei, It seems
that, in popular films, people show the more dramatic elements of Aikido
arts and that we are getting farther and farther away from ideas of ki
deveiopment. Films just show fighting, fighting. I do not teach fighting.When
Karate was popular, every one studied Karate. But they expressed fighting
- the fighting, competitive mind.Many problems resulted - people getting
sued and such things. Any martial art that is based on fighting is bad
for society.Martial arts mostly teach how to control others. But one has
to control oneself, not others. I teach how to control one's own mind
and body.Many people are easily excited. They loose themselves, especially
in combat. Even good men kill - it's crazy, and I don't like it But, often,
people who practice marial arts - arts of fighting - become like to keep
calm. That is what is most importanL The important thing is to control
oneself. Many people can defeat others but cannot control themselves.We
must teach ki principles to both the young and the old -the young so they
don't lose their way, and the old so that they can maintain and restore
their health and vigor.
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