• KI NO KOKYU HO - Ki Breathing

Breathing is something we all take for granted, yet it is an experience we can not do without for more than a few minutes.  To breathe properly is to breathe with mind and body unified. 

Just as breathing is essential to sustaining life, it is also essential to developing our Ki and life power.  Ki breathing exercises, as designed by Tohei Sensei, are a central part of training and represent another opportunity to directly experience and realize for yourself the oneness of mind and body as well as your original connection to the Ki of the Universe.  You are already One with the Universe.

Even when tired, this method of breathing will quickly restore our energy.  Ki breathing exercises are simple and can be performed in almost any situation.

"Breathe out so that your breath travels infinitely to the ends of the universe: breathe in so that your breath reaches your one point and continues infinitely there. The Ki breathing methods are an important way of unifying mind and body.

"At night when all is quiet and calm, do this alone, and you will feel that you are the universe and that the universe is you. It will lead you to the supreme ecstasy of being one with the universe. At this moment the life power that is rightfully yours is fully activated."

• KI NO SEIZA HO - Ki Meditation

Being calm in daily life can often be the difference between performing well and performing poorly.  In extreme situations, it can even be the difference between life and death.

Tohei Sensei, in an effort to teach us the realization of mind and body oneness, has developed a method of Ki Meditation.  This form of meditation focuses our mind to the one point in the lower abdomen.  When the one point is infinitely condensed by half, mind and body are unified and true calmness is obtained.

In this state, are we able to effectively manage whatever complexities the world may offer us.

"We begin with the number One in counting all things. It is impossible that this One can ever be reduced to zero. Because just as something cannot be made from nothing, One cannot be made from zero.

"Ki is like the number One. Ki is formed from infinitely small particles, smaller than an atom. The universal Ki condensed becomes an individual, which in turn condensed becomes the one point in the lower abdomen, which in turn infinitely condensed never becomes zero, but becomes One with the Universe. Thus we understand the essence of Ki."

• KIATSU RYOHO - Ki Therapy: A way of directing Ki through touch, for healing.

The name "kiatsu" refers to connecting with Ki.  "Ryoho" means therapy.  Therefore, Kiatsu Ryoho refers to a form of personal therapy based upon Ki "connection" through the unification of mind and body.  In this way, the kiatsu "therapist" is enabling a connection with the healing power of the Ki of the Universe.

Tohei Sensei has developed Kiatsu as a way for us to realize the oneness of mind and body and the healing power that is naturally ours.  Rather than focusing on "points", Kiatsu directs Ki through "lines" or meridians that run throughout the entire body.  By connecting with another person through Ki, you fill their mind and body with plus energy, accelerating the healing process made possible by the Ki of the Universe.

"We have learned coordination of mind and body and the Ki breathing methods. Therefore we can bring the Ki of the universe into our bodies at any time.

"When a water pump is dried out, no water can flow from the well up through the pump. To start this flow again we must put some water back into the pump. In the same way, Ki does not flow strongly in a person suffering from illness or misfortune. Let us practice Kiatsu ryoho to put Ki back into these people, stimulate their own flow of Ki, and give them a fresh start to happiness."

• SOKUSHIN NO GYO (MISOGI) - Purification -"Violent" Meditation.

Sokushin no Gyo is a form of meditation that involves an active body.  These actions can be tiring and often test the endurance of both mind and body.

Tohei Sensei developed Sokushin no Gyo as a means to realize the oneness of mind and body while in an active physical state.  Without mind and body unified, Sokushin no Gyo is difficult and even impossible to sustain.  But when we realize the oneness of mind and body by relaxing completely, the Ki of the Universe naturally fill us up.  Sokushin no Gyo strengthens our will and our conviction to give 100% in everything we do.

"Just as tops spinning violently and rapidly become steady, the most rapid movement results in calm.

"Like the eye of the typhoon which is always peaceful, inner calm results in great strength of action. Calm and action are exactly one.

"Only when we keep one point and unify our mind and body, can we find spare time even when busy. Keep a calm mind and you will be able to perform to the best of your ability even in an emergency or when facing important tasks."

• AIKIDO WAZA - The practice of the techniques of Aikido.

All Aikido techniques begin and end with the principle of non-dissension.  We must be able to remain peaceful in our daily lives and in all situations.  Shinshin Toistu Aikido teaches non-dissension by eliminating the idea of a conflict in our hearts as well as in the hearts of others.

If you physically struggle to throw a person, you are performing with a fighting mind.  A fight is bound to result.  But if you move a person's mind, their body will gladly follow.  By leading their mind, you avoid conflict and collision.  You lead them to a place where they already have chosen to go.

"The absolute universe is One. Then two opposing forces appeared, and the relative world was born. "In the Orient this dualism is called yin and yang, in the West plus and minus. A bright and happy life is called plus life, and a dark, gloomy one is called minus. "Let us eliminate every minus thought and strive for plus life henceforth."