Benefits in Daily Life

The principles of Ki development extend beyond Aikido training and into everyday life:

1. Train Daily, Even in Small Ways – Ki development is ongoing. Whether through mindful movement, meditation, or simply how we carry ourselves, small, consistent efforts lead to lasting growth.

2. Grow with Intention – Just as techniques progress from simple to complex, approach daily tasks with awareness and build up gradually. Rushing into things without preparation leads to imbalance.

3. Balance Calm and Action – The unity of calm and action is essential in Aikido and life. Stay composed yet decisive, responding with clarity rather than reactivity.

Table of Contents

• Benefits in Daily Life

• Reflection of the Week:

  • The Logic of Progression in Training

    • Foundational Practices

    • Hitori Waza: Individual Movements

    • Kumi Waza: Partnered Training

  • The Structure of Five Arts and Taigi

  • Conclusion

Reflection of the Week:

The Logic of Progression in Training

Soshu Koichi Tohei Sensei had a deliberate logic to the structure of everything we do in Ki Aikido, from the relationship between Ki ranks and Aikido ranks, to the order of hitori waza, to the arrangement of arts within each Aikido rank, to the sequencing of techniques within Taigi. In general, training moves from simpler movements to more complex ones, reinforcing the principles of Ki development at every stage.

Foundational Practices

1. Ki Breathing – The simplest practice: sitting still, breathing in, breathing out. The breath is always there to ground us in the present moment.

2. Ki Meditation – Expanding beyond breath awareness, alternating between infinite concentration and infinite expansion, adding a layer of complexity.

3. Senshin no Gyo (“Water Misogi”) – Introducing water (usually cold) and kiai, further intensifying the practice.

4. Sokushin no Gyo (“Bell Misogi”) – Incorporating kiai and rhythmic bell ringing (suzu) in increasingly complex cadences.

After this foundation, we move into Aikido waza.

Hitori Waza: Individual Movements

Training progresses from simple wrist movements to more complex body movements:

• Basic wrist movements (nikyo, koteoroshi, sankyo)

• Engaging the one point (funakogi, shomenuchi ikkyo)

• Complex whole-body movements (ushiro tekubitori, udemawashi)

Kumi Waza: Partnered Training

At each rank, training builds specific qualities:

• Fifth Kyu: Where is Your Mind?
  These foundational techniques reveal where our minds get stuck, highlighting the transition from a mind that loves and protects all creation to a fighting mind that seeks to throw.

• Fourth Kyu: What is the Rhythm?
  Techniques like shomenuchi kokyunage and yokomenuchi shihonage emphasize rhythm and flow.

• Third Kyu: Do You Have Control?
  Techniques such as nikyo, sankyo, yonkyo, and pins reinforce control—not just at the end, but throughout the entire movement.

• Second Kyu: The Beginnings of Power
  Emphasizing clarity of up and down movements connected to the one point (e.g., ushiro tekubitori zenponage, ryotemochi kokyunage enundo).

• First Kyu: Ki Moves First
  Training with zagi handachi techniques and various strikes requires connection with uke from the outset—well before physical contact.

• Shodan: Show
  A demonstration of all prior learning, bringing everything together in a continuous and clear expression.

• Nidan: Power and Clarity
  Building on the power developed at second kyu, movements are now demonstrated with even greater clarity and consistency.

• Sandan: Unity of Calm and Action
  Everything merges seamlessly—shisei, shisen, maai, balance, rhythm, largeness—all without anything extra or unnecessary.

The Structure of Five Arts and Taigi

At the dan levels, training shifts to "Five Arts" and Taigis—tsuzuki waza—where shisei, shisen, and maai are maintained across multiple techniques. When performing a Taigi or Five Arts, there is a clear beginning, middle, and end. Our connection with our partner starts from the very beginning, and there is a natural compression and expansion as we execute the arts. 

Within Taigi, we generally begin with simpler movements and build toward more expansive and complex actions. Often, a final large movement creates a "Kodak moment," punctuating the sequence with clarity and impact.

Contemplating why Tohei Sensei arranged the arts within a Taigi in a particular order, and why one Taigi follows another, can help deepen our own understanding of progression in training.

Conclusion

Through this structured progression, we cultivate a natural and living unification of mind and body—not just in Aikido practice, but in all aspects of life. The journey of Ki development is not about reaching a fixed destination but about continuous refinement and growth. Each step in our training provides insight into our own nature and how we interact with the world around us.

Upcoming Events

May 16 - 18, 2025 EKF Seminar hosted by Minnesota Ki Aikido Save the Date

July 24 - 27, 2025 International Ki Conference taught by Kaicho Shinichi Tohei Sensei
Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina
https://internationalkiconference2025.com/

I look forward to seeing you on the mat (and in daily life) soon!