Virginia Ki Society

Aikido Literature

Literature
Aikido Exercises
Ki in Aikido

"Ki", the force behind the Japanese martial art of Aikido, is a strange concept to many westerners. Aikidoists think of Ki as the universal spirit present in all things, but this seemingly exotic cooncept has much in common with the ancient Hebrew ruach and Greek pneuma meaning 'smoke,' 'wind,' or 'spirit.'

Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, founded by Koichi Tohei in 1974, emphasizes coordination of mind and body to produce inner strength and stability. It differs from other styles of Aikido primarily in the formalized study of ki development and ki testing which provide an unusual opportunity to actually test, measure, and evaluate concepts of mind and spirit which otherwise must be dismissed as 'flaky New Age weirdness' or accepted on faith, despite secret doubts or fears.

Although it is impossible to test the mind directly, state of mind can be revealed through the body by way of ki testing which serves as a highly sensitive biofeedback tool. This book presents step-by-step instructions and detailed illustrations of ki exercises and testing technique.

You will learn:

The internal secrets of Aikido and other martial arts.

The relationship between mind and body, body and spirit.

A rationale for positive, creative living.

Foreword by George Simcox
Chief Instructor
Virginia Ki Society