Aikido
“Winning means winning over the discord in yourself. Those who have a warped mind, a mind of
discord, have been defeated from the beginning.” Morihei Ueshiba
The Japanese martial art of Aikido was developed by Morihei Ueshiba
(known as O'Sensei, or "great teacher") during this century. His
unique approach to the martial arts was to emphasize blending with, instead of
opposing, an attacker's energy. Following World War II, Aikido’s popularity
increased when O'Sensei stressed the peaceful applications of the martial art.
One of O'Sensei's principal students was Koichi Tohei, who began studying under
the founder in 1939.
After
the war, Tohei Sensei was picked by O'Sensei to bring Aikido to the United
States, which he did in 1953 by introducing the martial art to Hawaii, where it
flourished. Tohei Sensei became Chief Instructor under O'Sensei, and was
eventually promoted to 10th Dan (10th degree black belt), the highest possible
rank. After O'Sensei's death in 1969, Tohei Sensei stayed on as Chief
Instructor.
For a while after
the death of Master Ueshiba, Tohei remained in his position as Chief Instructor
of the Aikikai under the direction of the O'Sensei's son, Doshu Kisshomaru
Ueshiba Sensei. The two eventually parted ways over disagreement in teaching
style. 
Tohei
Sensei developed a teaching system which taught Ki principles to all students,
which he felt would make their Aikido techniques stronger, and also allow them
to use Ki development in everyday life. In 1974, Tohei Sensei left the Aikikai
and founded the Ki Society International, which is the organization under which
the Virginia Ki Society operates.
The main focus in Ki Aikido is on
remaining calm and alert, using inner energy (ki) rather than muscle power
alone. It’s principles are based on
non-confrontation rather than attack.
In this, the most effective of the defensive arts, the student learns to
join his force (ki) with the attacker’s in such a way that the attacker never feels
any antagonism, just surprise.
There are many benefits gained from Ki
Aikido practice, other than the obvious ones of fitness and self-defense. Many who practice Ki Aikido find that the
exercise in calm alertness flows over into their business and personal
lives. They become more able to meet
and redirect antagonism. They recognize
and solve problems before they become a crisis.
Above text adapted from
an article by George Simcox, founder of the Virginia Ki Society
Visit
this site to learn about Tohei Sensei's other important teacher,
and
the link between yoga and Ki Aikido:
http://www.stlki.org/nakamura.shtml
To read an
excellent biography about O'Sensei click to this page: http://www.cs.ucsd.edu/users/paloma/Aikido/morihei.html
This
link will take you to a well-written biography of Tohei Sensei:
http://ki-aikido.net/KNK/ToheiSensei.html
A thoughtful commentary on the philosophy of aikido by George
Simcox:
http://www.houstonkiaikido.org/vks.htm
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