Coordinates	44°49′19″N13°56′06″N
name	Aikikai Foundation(財団法人合気会 ''Zaidan Hōjin Aikikai'')
aka	Aikikai; Aikikai Honbu
date founded	c.1940
country	Japan
founder	Morihei Ueshiba(植芝 盛平 ''Ueshiba Morihei'', December 14, 1883–April 26, 1969)
head	Moriteru Ueshiba(植芝 守央 ''Ueshiba Moriteru'', born April 2, 1951)
arts	Aikido
ancestor schools	Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu • Tenjin Shin'yō-ryū • Yagyū Shingan-ryū
descendant schools	Ki Society • Shodokan Aikido • Yoseikan • Yoshinkan • Yoshokai
notable pract	Steven Seagal, Christian Tissier, Yoshimitsu Yamada, Nobuyoshi Tamura, Isamu Takeshita, Seiichi Sugano
website	http://www.aikikai.or.jp }}

The Aikikai is the original school of Aikido. It is centered on the Aikikai Foundation in Japan, and its figurehead is the Doshu (the family heir of the founder of Aikido). It is represented globally through the International Aikido Federation.

Aikikai Foundation

The is the original aikido organisation. It is an incorporated entity in Japan since 1940. It is headed by the doshu, the living successor of the founder of aikido. In its name, ''Kai'' (会) simply means assembly or club.

The Aikikai Foundation operates the Hombu dojo, which is also named Aikido World Headquarters. It is sometimes called the Aikikai Hombu to distinguish it from the headquarters of later aikido organisations. It is located in Tokyo. The term "Hombu" may sometimes be used loosely to refer to the upper echelons of instructors at Hombu dojo, or to the Aikikai Foundation itself.

The Aikikai Foundation also manages one satellite dojo, the historical Iwama dojo in Ibaraki (about 100 km north-east of Tokyo).

The Aikikai Foundation sends instructors around Japan on a continual basis.

The Aikikai Foundation also has the business of issuing, throughout the world, certificates of grading and instructor titles legitimated by the Doshu.

Doshu

Doshu (道主 / どうしゅ / Dōshu) literally translates as 'Master of the Way'. It is the title denoting the head of the Aikikai. (While the same term could potentially also be used as a title within other disciplines, in Japanese its most common meaning is specific to the Aikikai Foundation.)

The system of having the heir of a martial arts school be the previous headmaster's son (either natural or adopted for the sake of succession) was common in ''koryū'' (traditional schools) and is referred to as ''iemoto''. Other arts commonly use the title Sōke for the headmaster.

Founder (開祖 ''Kaiso'') Morihei Ueshiba (lived 1883-1969) originated the art of Aikido. As such he was also the first doshu, but is more commonly referred to as O'sensei (grand teacher).

Second Doshu (二代道主) Kisshomaru Ueshiba (lived 1921–1999) took over the leadership of the organisation and assumed the title of doshu in 1969 upon the death of his father Morihei Ueshiba. Kisshomaru was the first person in aikido to be widely referred to as Doshu. He was succeeded by his son Moriteru.

Third Doshu (三代道主) Moriteru Ueshiba (born 1951) is the current doshu. He is grandson of the founder of aikido and assumed the title of doshu in 1999.

Moriteru is expected to be succeeded as doshu by his son, Mitsuteru Ueshiba (born 1980), who is currently referred to as "Waka(若) Sensei".

Hombu dojo

The Hombu dojo in Tokyo is the headquarters of the Aikikai.

The Hombu dojo is officially named Aikido World Headquarters, and is entirely operated by the Aikikai Foundation. It is sometimes called the Aikikai Hombu to distinguish it from the headquarters of later aikido organisations. Hombu (本部 ''honbu'') is a common word meaning "headquarters".

Hombu dojo has about 30 instructors, and most are shihan. The instructors include include the Doshu and Hiroshi Tada 9th dan.

The location of Hombu dojo is in Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. (This same location was formerly the Ushigome District of Shinjuku.)

The dojo was established in April 1931 by the founder of Aikido. It was originally named Kobukan Dōjō (, imperial warrior hall dojo) but was called "Hombu Dōjō" after World War II.

In 1967 the original single-story wooden structure was replaced by a five story modern building. Training takes place in three rooms which total about 250 tatami in area. The main training area has 105 tatami mats (170m²). The other two training areas, containing 72 and 42 tatami mats respectively, are often used for beginner's classes, children's classes, women's classes, or fixed term and enrollment "academy" (''Gakko'') courses.

Classes are held seven days a week. Beginner's and regular classes are open to all Aikido practitioners who hold Aikikai membership.

A small number of students also reside in the dōjō as part of a live-in training program.

Aikikai school of Aikido

Within Japan, there are about 1800 other training locations affiliated with the Hombu. These are united under the All-Japan Aikido Federation.

Overseas, there are about 100 foreign aikido organisations recognised by the Hombu. These are ostensibly national aikido organisations that each represent many dojos and many students. The gradings of students in these organisations are legitimated specifically by the Hombu. (The Hombu has procedures for examinations and recommendations of aikido grades and instructor titles, and ideally this ensures a degree of international consistency and serves to prevent local instructors from boastfully exaggerating their own ranks.) However, regardless of recognition, all foreign aikido groups remain organisationally independent from the Aikikai Foundation.

The students of recognised dojo worldwide are loosely referred to collectively as the Aikikai school of aikido, although this "school" is not an official organisation. Their aikido technique may be referred to as Aikikai style, although this encompasses a wider spectrum of technical styles characteristically than later (and smaller) schools of aikido.

International Aikido Federation

The International Aikido Federation is the primary global aikido organisation. It is an umbrella organisation with member organisations from more than 40 nations (for example, the All-Japan Aikido Federation is one member). All members must be recognised by the Hombu, so the IAF exclusively represents the Aikikai school. The IAF is a nominally democratic organisation but special roles are given to the Doshu and a council of senior instructors, to safeguard the "technical and moral" integrity of aikido. The IAF currently admits only one member organisation per country and gives each such member equal vote (it was modelled on the UN; it does not necessarily give every Aikikai student equal representation).

The IAF demonstrates aikido at the World Games, and represents aikido to the globe. The IAF also organises International Aikido Congresses every four years, facilitating direct training between aikido students of different countries, sharing instruction by the world's most senior aikido instructors, and also providing a channel for official communication with the Hombu.

The IAF was formed in 1976. The IAF chair (1996–present) is Peter Goldsbury, who is also a Professor of comparative mythology at Hiroshima. Goldsbury publishes numerous aikido articles at AikiWeb. The previous chair was Giorgio Veneri.

Aikikai style of aikido

Aikikai is not one style of aikido but instead encompasses a diversity of technical styles. This is associated with the broad base of first generation instructors, who each had their own interpretation of the art, and other influences. Nonetheless Aikikai is often described as a style for comparison with separate aikido organisations. Aikikai is described as the most traditional; Aikikai has stayed loyal to the Ueshiba house and is sometimes called Ueshiba Aikido. It has retained many of the aspects which Morihei Ueshiba valued, such as the non-competitive training system (as contrasted with Tomiki's development). Spiritual interpretations are not emphasised compared to in Ki Society.

Morihei Ueshiba's own style evolved significantly over his lifetime. The pre-war ''aikibudo'' techniques taught by Morihei Ueshiba were generally closer to aikijujutsu whilst flowing technique was more emphasised as he became older, and this is reflected in the aikido of people who studied at different periods in time. In Yoshinkan, founded by Gozo Shioda, the emphasis placed on correct form rather than correct flow and timing contributes to its image as a "harder" style than Aikikai. Seiseki Abe said:

"As far as the Aikido [O'Sensei] practiced in his later years, even young girls, old people and children could do [the techniques]. That is a big difference. I suppose you could say that it was a difference in the severity or the strictness of the training. Before the war, it was severity and strong technique, as opposed to the (kind of) techniques that invigorate our partners as we have now."

It is generally noted that weapons are more emphasised in Iwama style, however this style is also partially a subset of the Aikikai. Kazuo Chiba said that the style of training in Hombu concentrated less on physical rigor because of its demographic:

"A large portion of the membership at Iwama Dojo consisted of local farmers, hard workers who spent all day in the fields. They had thick bones and great physical strength, combined with a peculiar local character known as “Mito kishitsu,” a type of manliness close to gallantry. Altogether, it was quite an opposite culture from Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. Because it is in the capital of Japan, Hombu’s membership consists of white-collar workers, intellectuals, businessmen, politicians and university students."

References

External links

"The travelling Aikidoka's guide to practice at Hombu Dojo". Information and answers to frequently asked questions about travelling to Tokyo in order to train at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo.

Category:Aikido Category:Japanese martial arts terms Category:Titles and rank in Japanese martial arts Category:Dojos Category:Aikido organizations Category:Foundations based in Japan Category:Buildings and structures in Shinjuku Category:Educational institutions established in 1940

be:Айкідо Айкікай bg:Айкикай хомбу доджо ca:Doshu ca:Aikikai cs:Aikikai Honbu Dódžó de:Aikikai es:Doshu es:Aikikai fr:Aikikai fr:Doshu it:Aikikai it:Doshu ja:合気会 pl:Dōshu pl:Aikikai pt:Dōshu pt:Aikikai Hombu Dojo ro:Dōshu ro:Aikikai ru:Айкидо Айкикай fi:Aikikai Hombu Dojo fi:Dōshu sv:Aikikai uk:Досю

Coordinates	44°49′19″N13°56′06″N
name	Morihiro Saito
native name	斉藤 守弘 ''Saitō Morihiro''
native lang	jp
birth date	March 31, 1928
birth place	Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
death date	May 13, 2002
death cause	of cancer
nationality	Japanese
martial art	Aikido
teacher	Morihei Ueshiba
rank	''Shihan'', 9th ''dan''
footnotes	}}

Morihiro Saito (斉藤 守弘 ''Saitō Morihiro'', March 31, 1928–May 13, 2002) was a teacher of the Japanese martial art of aikido, with many students around the world. Saito's practice of aikido spanned 56 years, from the age of 18, when he first met aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, until his death in 2002.

Early life

Morihiro Saito was born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, on 31 March 1928. Growing up in a poor farming village in the 1930s and early 40s, he recounted having the same interest in historical heroes such as Yagyū Jūbei Mitsuyoshi and Goto Matabe as most other Japanese boys. In the Japanese schools at that time, the martial arts of kendo and judo were taught to students, and Saito chose to study kendo.

In the years immediately following the end of World War II, the carrying of weapons of any kind, as well the practice of martial arts, was prohibited by the GHQ. As a result, Saito felt he should study some kind of unarmed self-defense technique, and began training in Shinto-ryū karate at the Shudokan in Meguro. After a short time, his work with the Japanese National Railways transferred him to Iwama, and he was forced to find other martial arts training. Thinking judo would be a useful complement to his kendo and karate skills, he began training at a judo dojo in Ishioka. In the summer of 1946, however, Saito heard stories about an "old man doing strange techniques up on the mountain near Iwama." It seemed that people were confused about what martial art, exactly, this old man was practicing, but one judo instructor said the man was teaching "Ueshiba-ryū Judo."

Meeting aikido's founder

By July 1946, the GHQ-imposed ban upon the practice of martial arts had forced Morihei Ueshiba into an official "retirement" from practice for several years. Ueshiba took this opportunity to seclude himself in the small town of Iwama, and was engaged in the practice of ascetic training (''shugyō''), and some believe that it was during this period that Ueshiba was perfecting the practice of aikido.

It was at this time, at the age of 18, that Saito joined Ueshiba for training, which already included then live-in students Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Koichi Tohei, and Tadashi Abe. This early training was quite brutal, but after persevering for several years, Saito became one of Ueshiba's closest students. Much credit is given to the fortuitous work schedule Saito had with the Japanese National Railways, where Saito worked 24 hours on, 24 hours off. As a result, Saito was often the sole training partner of Ueshiba, and had the unique opportunity to train with Ueshiba in the practice of the sword and short staff, which occurred early each morning before the other students arrived.

Training

Training at the Iwama dojo consisted of a great deal of farmwork. The life of the full-time live in students consisted of prayer each morning before sunrise, two meals of rice porridge each day, and training interspersed with copious amounts of work on the farm. As a result of Saito's 24 hours on, 24 hours off, position with the National Railway meant that he would train and live as a live-in student only every other 24 hours. Eventually, the other live-in students moved away, and when Saito returned from work, he would train alone with Ueshiba.

Although other students such as Koichi Tohei trained with Ueshiba for more years than Saito did, Saito's work allowed him to train almost as an uchideshi, for long periods as the only student.

From 1946 until Ueshiba’s passing in 1969, Saito served as Ueshiba's assistant in a variety of ways at Iwama while his wife served Mrs. Ueshiba. During Saito’s period as a deshi he taught classes in the Iwama dojo.

Ueshiba's death

Before his death Ueshiba gave Morihiro Saito the responsibility of carrying on the teaching at the Iwama dojo and also the position of caretaker of the Aiki Jinja located in Iwama.

Training methodology and philosophy

Saito's instruction of aikido is particularly remembered for its emphasis upon the basics of aikido, and especially upon the relationship between the armed and unarmed aspects of the art.

Kazuo Chiba, a live-in student (''uchideshi'') of Ueshiba at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, recalled in particular the intensity of the training that occurred at the Iwama dojo,

Chiba also emphasized Saito's focus upon , or vigorous practice without holding back, which Ueshiba taught and Saito demonstrated in his methods of teaching and practice. Apparently, this rigorous training with Saito, which Ueshiba would often observe, also included intense conditioning exercises, as well as general farmwork that students at the Iwama dojo were expected to assist with.

Other students of Saito attest to his commitment to carry on Ueshiba's legacy, and to follow and preserve Ueshiba's teachings as Saito had learned them. Saito believed that striking techniques (''atemi'') are a "vital element" of aikido, and also that the principles of swordsmanship formed the basis of aikido techniques. He also advocated training to cope with the attacks of other martial arts, such as the kicks practiced in karate.

According to Saito's son, Hitohiro Saito, Saito believed that the basis of all empty-handed, sword, and staff techniques was the mastery of aikido's basic posture (''hanmi''). Saito believed that once the correct posture was mastered, the next step was to develop a proper ''kiai'' (sometimes translated as "spirit shout").

Legacy

In the beginning of the 1970s, aikido students from outside Japan began traveling to Iwama to train under Saito. Later they would return to their native countries to teach what they had learned. There were also a very few Japanese students of Saito who travelled abroad to live and teach Aikido, such as Takayasu.

The kind of aikido that Saito's students do is often referred to as ''Iwama aikido'' or Iwama style. In the West, Saito, along with many of his students, formed a dan-ranking network of dojos called Iwama Ryu, which could choose to receive their grades directly from Saito rather than from the Aikikai although Saito never left that organization.

Saito family line

After Saito's death, his son Hitohiro formed the independent . Some of the Iwama Ryu network dojos joined Hitohiro, while most of oldest Saito's students chose to remain affiliated with the Aikikai, some of which are in several dojo networks called Takemusu Aikido (directed in Europe by Saito's top students Paolo Corallini and Ulf Evenas.

Hitohiro had already been the main instructor at Iwama dojo. Like the Aikikai Doshu, he does not claim a dan rank.

Top ranked students

Saito personally graded two of his students (at the same time) as 7th dan. Both have subsequently had their grades ratified by the Aikikai. This is typically the highest rank which the Aikikai awards to Westerners.

Paolo Corallini (Shihan 7th Dan Iwama Ryu), Italy. Saito Sensei's pupil since the mid '80's, named by Saito Sensei, in his last 10 years, as his official Representative in Continental Europe, as Top Iwama Ryu Shihan.

Ulf Evenås (7th Dan Iwama Ryu), Sweden. Named as his official Representative in Northern Europe as Top Iwama Ryu Shihan.

Other Shihan

Saburo Takayasu 6th dan Shihan, who was present at the last class taught by O'Sensei in Iwama in 1969, trained in Aikido at both the Ibaraki University Aikido dojo and Iwama Dojo from 1967 to 1973 under the direct tutelage of Morihiro Saito Sensei 9th dan. In 1974 Takayasu Sensei travelled to Australia. He now lives in Sydney and has continued to practice and teach the traditional "takemusu aiki" form from the Iwama dojo, in Australia for more than 35 years. He also maintained a close relationship with Saito Sensei over his life and was instrumental in arranging for Saito Sensei to travel to Australia to conduct seminars in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2000. The last seminar was attended by over 300 international aikidoka. In 2001, Takayasu sensei took a group of his students back to Iwama for a special training period with Saito Sensei. In 1980, Takayasu Sensei established the ''Takemusu Aiki Association'' to formalise the instruction and membership of clubs that had been established by his students (see www.aikidoaus.com.au). Takayasu Sensei continues to teach the Aikido of O'Sensei's Iwama dojo that he learned from his teacher Saito Sensei and grade students under the Aikikai ranking system.

Other students

United States: : Bill Witt, David Alexander : Pat Hendricks (6th Dan) and Stephanie Yap (6th dan). : Miles Kessler, and Mark Larson (5th Dan). : Vincent Slavatore (6th Dan) The Netherlands: :Lewis Bernaldo de Quiros (6th Dan), :Jan Brand (5th dan).

France: :Serio Jean-Marc (5th dan).

Sweden: :Lars Göran Andersson (6th Dan).

Portugal: :Tristão da Cunha (5th dan).

United Kingdom: :Matt Hill (5th Dan), Justin Christou (5th Dan) who studied for more than eight years at the Iwama dojo as an uchi-deshi, Tony Sargeant and Bjorn Saw (4th Dan) .

Australia: :Michael Field (official representative in Australia) and Michael "Mic" Marelli.

Published works

Books

Film

See also

Aikido

Iwama style

Paolo Corallini

References

External links

http://www.saitosensei.com

http://www.iwamaryu.it (website of Iwama Ryu first national association in the world, directed by Shihan Paolo Corallini Iwama Ryu 7th Dan, Saito Morihiro no Kyoju dai Ri)

http://www.takemusu.org

Category:1928 births Category:2002 deaths Category:Japanese aikidoka

ca:Morihiro Saito da:Morihiro Saito de:Morihiro Saitō es:Morihiro Saitō fr:Morihiro Saitō it:Morihiro Saito ja:斉藤守弘 pt:Morihiro Saito ru:Сайто, Морихиро sv:Morihiro Saito uk:Сайто Моріхіро

Coordinates	44°49′19″N13°56′06″N
name	Mitsunari Kanai
native name	叶井 みつなり ''Kanai Mitsunari''
native lang	jp
birth date	1939
birth place	Manchuria
death date	March 28, 2004
death place	Canada
martial art	Aikido, Aikikai
teacher	Morihei Ueshiba
affiliation	Aikikai
rank	8th Dan }}

Mitsunari Kanai (1938-2004), was an aikido teacher born in Japan, who spent most of his teaching career in the United States. He was an 8th dan teacher with the title shihan in the organisation Aikikai.

Life

Kanai was one of the last group of students of the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, entering the Hombu Dojo in 1958 as an uchi-deshi. He moved to the United States in 1966 as a 4th dan and subsequently founded the New England Aikikai, currently located off Porter Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Kanai was instrumental in the early development of aikido in the United States and Canada, and taught seminars widely throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. He was one of the founders and a Technical Director of both the United States Aikido Federation (USAF) and the CAF.

Kanai was also skilled in iaido and subsequently taught this art to his senior students, many of whom hold dan rank in both iaido and aikido. He was also highly respected for his metalworking skills and deep historical knowledge of the Japanese sword, the katana, serving at times as a specialist advisor to the East Asian Collection at the nearby Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Some of his senior students continue to operate New England Aikikai, while others have dispersed, starting new dojos throughout New England, notably Framingham Aikikai and Portland (Maine) Aikido, and as far away as Portland, Oregon. His students also run the aikido clubs at nearby Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Tufts University.

See also

Aikikai

Aikikai Hombu Dojo

Other USAF Shihan:

Akira Tohei

Yoshimitsu Yamada

Kazuo Chiba

Seiichi Sugano

External links

Framingham Aikikai

Aikido de la Montagne

Harvard Aikikai

The MIT Aikido Club

New England Aikikai

Toronto Aikikai

Two Rivers Aikikai

Woburn Aikikai

Category:Japanese aikidoka Category:1938 births Category:2004 deaths

Coordinates	44°49′19″N13°56′06″N
name	Kōichi Tōhei
native name	藤平光一 ''Tōhei Kōichi''
native lang	jp
birth date	January 20, 1920
birth place	Shitaya, Tokyo, Japan
death date	May 19, 2011
death place	Tokyo, Japan
martial art	Founder of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido }}

(born 20 January 1920, died 19 May 2011) was a 10th Dan aikidoka and founder of the Ki Society and its style of aikido, officially Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido (literally "aikido with mind and body unified"), but commonly known as Ki-Aikido.

Koichi Tohei and aikido

Koichi Tohei was born 1920 in Shitaya ward (下谷区), presently Taitō, in Tokyo. As a boy he was sickly and frail, leading his father to recommend Tohei for judo studies. He trained hard and his body prospered, but soon after he began his pre-college studies at Keio University, he developed a case of pleurisy, an inflammation of the lining of the lung cavity which causes pains when breathing. This forced Tohei to take a year off.

Tohei was distressed at the thought of losing his newfound strength of body and his means of training it, so he decided to replace his judo studies with Zen meditation and misogi exercises. As with his judo studies, Tohei entered the training of the mind with fervor and soon excelled despite his serious health issues. After his recovery from pleurisy, of which the doctors could find no trace, Tohei became convinced that it was his efforts in training his mind and cultivating his ki that had helped him to heal and recover. This stimulated his later development of Kiatsu, a system of treating physical illness by pressing with the fingers and extending the ki into the ill persons body. Tohei describes this as "priming the pump" allowing the person to heal themselves.

After recovering from pleurisy he returned to judo, but Tohei wanted more than just physical training and did not think that judo was the right art for him to practise, although he did continue with studying judo until he started with aikido.

In 1940, when he was 19, Tohei's judo instructor, Shohei Mori, recommended that Tohei meet with the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba.

According to Tohei himself, when he first met with an aikido instructor and practised some techniques at the Ueshiba dojo, he had doubts about aikido and its value to him. That changed however, when Ueshiba entered the Dojo and started to perform his techniques on the instructors. Tohei was still not entirely convinced until Ueshiba asked Tohei to step unto the mat and try to grab him. Tohei's attempts were unsuccessful, and after this personal demonstration by Ueshiba, Tohei asked to enroll on the spot. Tohei would also continue to train his mind as well as his body with meditation, misogi and aikido.

Tohei trained with Ueshiba for six months before being sent as a representative (dairi) to teach at the Shumei Okawa school and the military police academy . This was before Tohei was ranked as either dan or kyu. Ueshiba would present Tohei with the rank of 5th dan after Tohei had begun his military service.

War years

Like so many other Japanese youths at the time, Tohei was drafted into the Imperial army in October 1942. He saw action in China and was stranded there at the end of the war until his repatriation in 1946. According to Chinese records, Tohei's tendency to treat captured Chinese soldiers well led to Chinese authorities avoiding his unit when they attacked. Tohei is said to have left China with more soldiers than he started with.

Post-war years

In 1953, Tohei was sent to Hawaii to introduce aikido there. From then on, Hawaii became a center for the diffusion of aikido in the United States and, later, of Tohei's particular style.

In 1969, Tohei was asked by Ueshiba to accept the new rank of 10th dan, which Tohei accepted, after having previously refused the same offer. The top rank in aikido had been 8th dan, but the ranks were expanded by Ueshiba for practical as well as political reasons.

Creation of the Ki no Kenkyukai

The events leading up to the split between the main aikido organization, the Aikikai, and Koichi Tohei were fueled with the death of Morihei Ueshiba in 1969. His son Kisshomaru Ueshiba would inherit the title of Doshu. At the time of Ueshiba's death, Koichi Tohei was chief instructor of the Hombu Dojo, the headquarters of Aikikai, a title he would retain until his official split from Aikikai in 1974.

One of the major causes of the conflict arose from Koichi Tohei's emphasis on his principle of ki in aikido. Tohei wanted aikido to focus on these principles, using exercises to both cultivate and test ki in the daily aikido practice. He had already started teaching his new ideas during his own training sessions at Hombu dojo, but the majority of the other instructors would not. There were some who agreed with Tohei's approach, but Tohei's actions were not welcomed by Kisshomaru and most of the senior instructors. They strongly encouraged him not to teach his principles and techniques in the Hombo Dojo. Tohei replied that he had the right to teach it outside Hombu Dojo, which he did.

But the tensions remained among the senior cadre of instructors, who still did not approve of Tohei's focus upon ki. These brewing tensions together with Tohei's general dissatisfaction with the situation culminated in 1971 when he created the Ki No Kenkyukai, with the purpose of promoting the development and cultivation of ki inside aikido, but outside the Aikikai "umbrella". The years of conflict would finally cement Tohei's decision to break away from the Aikikai and teach his own 'ki' style of aikido. So, on the 1st of May 1974, Koichi Tohei officially left the Aikikai organisation to concentrate on his newly created Ki-aikido and Ki-society.

On the 15th of May in 1974, Tohei sent a letter in English and Japanese to the majority of the dojos both in Japan and abroad, explaining his reasons for the breakaway and his plans involving Ki-aikido and the Ki-society. This breakup came as a shock to many aikidoka throughout the dojos of the world. Tohei was well regarded by many instructors and students. He was seen as the foremost sensei of Aikido after Ueshiba's death. This, in turn, led to several dojos breaking with the Aikikai and joining Tohei in his new style. Tohei's new objective was to coordinate all the dojos who joined him and incorporate them into the organisation of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido: "Aikido with Mind and Body Coordinated". This branch of aikido is still active today even though Tohei himself retired from the day-to-day business of the Ki-aikido section and then concentrated solely on the Ki-society and further personal development of ki.

Notable students of Koichi Tohei

Both before and during his position as head instructor at the Hombu Dojo, Tohei instructed many notable aikidoka. Several of these have since made lasting impacts on aikido in general.

Among these are:

Koretoshi Maruyama, former Chief Instructor and President of Ki Society, who has since founded the independent Aikido Yuishinkai International style of aikido.

Shizuo Imaizumi (今泉鎮雄), 7th Dan Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, who founded the independent Shin Budo Kai style of aikido.

Calvin Tabata, 8th Dan Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido,and founder of the NW Ki Federation. He holds an Okuden Ki rank, is a full Lecturer in the Ki Society, and is the Chief Instructor of the Personal Kiatsu School. He began his training in Hawaii and is a lifelong direct student of Ki Society founder Koichi Tohei sensei. Tabata sensei has been teaching in the Northwest since 1970. He established the Oregon Ki Society in 1974 and the Personal Kiatsu School in 1993.

Koichi Kashiwaya, 8th Dan Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, head Ki-Aikido instructor for the USA.

Ken Williams - Founder of the ''Ki-Aikido Federation of Great Britain''.

Kenjiro Yoshigasaki, 8th dan Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, who was a pioneer in spreading Ki-aikido in Europe and has since founded the independent Ki no Kenkyukai Association Internationale organisation.

Fumio Toyoda, 6th Dan, founder of the Aikido Association of America and Aikido Association International.

Roy Y. Suenaka founder of Wadokai Aikido.

Shuji Maruyama founder of Kokikai Aikido.

Steven Seagal, 7th Dan, American action movie actor, producer, writer, director and a Blues singer-songwriter.

David E. Shaner, PhD, 8th Dan, Chief Instructor of the Eastern Ki Federation and chair of Furman University's philosophy department, where he specializes in Japanese philosophy and philosophy of science. Shaner is also principle of CONNECT, LLC and author of the recently released "The Seven Arts of Change: Leading Business Transformation That Lasts."

Kenji Ota, featured in a series of Panther Productions Ki-Aikido instructional videos, along with being a champion ballroom dancer and father of 5th Dan, Steve Ota.

Roderick T. Kobayashi was a 20 year+ student of Master Tohei and was promoted to Rokudan (6th Dan) Aikikai in 1973. Rod then taught Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido world-wide until forming his own version of Aikido in 1981 which he named Seidokan Aikido.

Books by Koichi Tohei

Koichi Tohei: ''Ki in Daily Life'' - 4889960716 Oxford University Press, USA

Koichi Tohei: ''The Book of Ki'' - 0870403796 Japan Publications, Japan

Koichi Tohei: ''Aikido in Daily Life'' - 0870402218 Japan Publications, Japan

Koichi Tohei: ''Kiatsu'' - 0870405365 Japan Publications, Japan

Koichi Tohei: ''The Way to Union with Ki'' - Ki No Kenkyukai, Japan - privately printed

Koichi Tohei: ''Ki Sayings'' - Ki No Kenkyukai, Japan - privately printed

Koichi Tohei: ''This is Aikido'' - Japan Publications, Japan - out of print

Koichi Tohei: ''What is Aikido?'' - Rikugei Publishing House, Japan - out of print

Koichi Tohei: ''Aikido: The Arts of Self Defense'' - Rikugei Publishing House, Japan - out of print

Koichi Tohei: ''How to Unify Ki'' - out of print

Koichi Tohei: ''Ki Meditations'' - out of print

Koichi Tohei: ''Ki Hygiene'' - out of print

Koichi Tohei: ''How to Develop Ki'' - out of print

Koichi Tohei: ''Ki Breathing Methods'' - out of print

Koichi Tohei: ''Tempu Nakamura and Morihei Ueshiba'' - Japanese language only

Koichi Tohei: ''Extend Ki'' - Japanese language only

Koichi Tohei: ''Power of Ki Book'' - Japanese language only

Koichi Tohei: ''Ki Power Book'' - Japanese language only

Koichi Tohei: ''Aikido in Daily Life'' Rikugei Publishing House, Tokyo, 1966

Passing away of Koichi Tohei

Koichi Tohei died at 9:14 AM, Japan time (GMT +9) on May 19th, 2011, after two weeks of being admitted in hospital due to a discomfort in his chest which proved to be inflammation in the lungs. Wataru Hatakeyama, of the Ki Society Headquarters, informed that "he went to intensive-care unit (ICU) twice and came back to general ward each time with his strength of Ki, however, his heart got weak little by little this morning and he passed away."

References

External links

Official Ki Society headquarters page for Koichi Tohei

Official Ki Society biography of Koichi Tohei

Books by Koichi Tohei

Koichi Tohei Resources by Aikido Journal

Category:Japanese aikidoka Category:1920 births Category:2011 deaths Category:People from Tokyo

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