Athens Ki-Aikido is a traditional dojo (training hall for traditional cultural, spiritual, or martial arts) offering practice and instruction in the Mind/Body Oneness Awareness training of Ki Development (Shinshin Toitsu Do) and the modern Japanese Defensive Skills system of Ki-Aikido (Shinshin Toitsu Aikido). Ki Development is a unique system related to traditional Awareness Arts and trainings such as Yoga, Qigong, etc. Ki-Aikido is an evolution of traditional Japanese Martial Arts.
For a personal, direct experience, come visit us at our Dojo:
94 Columbus Rd. Suite A9
Athens, OH 45701
(The ACEnet complex, building A: we are right next to the Columbus Road spur of the Bike Path. Dojo is open when classes are meeting. See Schedule.)
Athens Ki-Aikido is an officially registered dojo of Shinshin Toitsu Aikido Kai (Ki Society HQ — Tokyo Japan) and an Affiliated Dojo of Midland Ki Federation (USA/Canada). We are the the only Ki Society International affiliated dojo in Ohio or the immediate multi-state region, and (as far as we know) the only Aikido dojo of any style within 50 miles of Athens.
Ki-Aikido (Shinshin Toitsu Aikido) is a specific style or school of the modern Japanese Martial Art based Defensive Skill system of Aikido. In Ki-Aikido, Aikido is grounded in and combined with Ki Development (Shinshin Toitsu Do), which is also taught as a separate, stand-alone topic.
Ki-Aikido was developed by Koichi Tohei sensei and is now carried on by his son, Shinichi Tohei sensei and the Ki Society organization, Shinshin Toitsu Aikido Kai, headquartered in Japan.
Ai-ki-do means Join-Energy-Way; Ai means joining or meeting; Ki is energy, life-force (Qi/Ch’i in Chinese); Do is way or path (Dao/Tao in Chinese).
Aikido is a modern Defensive Skill system with traditional Martial Art roots (specifically Jujuitsu, Sword, and Staff & Spear arts) practiced for awareness, health/fitness/wellness, and spiritual/personal exploration, as well as Defensive Skill. Aikido is often classified as a modern Martial Art, but has a very different underlying attitude than “Fighting Arts” or Combative Systems. Aikido is 100% Defensive, non-aggressive, non-competitive (no sport aspect).
Aikido is a paradoxical practice because it is a martial art that teaches not-fighting; it is often called “The Way of Peace”. The context of training is a combat situation – someone “attacks” and another “defends”. Aikido offers dynamic Defensive Skill (self-defense) on a physical level and also, by extension, crisis/conflict resolution skills useful in the emotional and psychological context of daily life; in personal and business situations. In the ideal “real” situation, an attack is controlled without anyone – including the attacker who intends to kill you – coming to harm. Practice is athletic and (sometimes) physically demanding, but non-competitive (not a sport) and non-aggressive.
In Ki-Aikido, Power comes from rhythm and timing within an aware relationship. Focus is more critical than strength. The “Aiki” attitude is one of calm alertness rather than anger or fierceness. Practice is filled with smiles, laughter, cooperation, and also a sincere earnestness.
This should not belie the fact that Aikido can be an extremely effective method of Defensive Skill (self-defense), and is used as a basis of many police/correctional restraint and control courses.
Ki-Aikido promotes fitness, but does not require practitioners to be in exemplary physical shape.
Shinshin Toitsu Do – or Ki Development – is a practice of Mind/Body Awareness using posture, breathing, physical exercises/explorations and meditation to directly experience Ki or Oneness of Mind and Body. Related to Yoga and Qigong, and other traditional and modern practices, Ki Development is a unique approach to this experience – simple and straightforward.
Shinshin Toitsu Do underlays all practice of Ki-Aikido, and can be studied as an independent (non-martial art) practice. Athens Ki- Aikido has regular weekly Ki Development classes, and Breathing and Meditation Practice sessions.