Madrid Ki Aikido Society

As the year comes to an end, we’re starting fresh in a new country and preparing to open the Madrid Ki Aikido Society!

We are deeply grateful to have found such a wonderful venue for our new dojo. Thank you, GymClasico , we’re looking forward to our collaboration.

Happy holidays, and wishing you all many new beginnings in 2026.

A medida que el año llega a su fin, comenzamos una nueva etapa en Madrid y nos preparamos para abrir la Madrid Ki Aikido Society.

Estamos muy agradecidos de haber encontrado un espacio tan especial para nuestro nuevo dojo. Gracias, GymClasico, nos hace mucha ilusión esta colaboración.

¡Felices fiestas y muchos nuevos comienzos en Madrid y en 2026!

“Correction shapes behavior for a moment, but connection shapes character for a lifetime.”

As Ki Aikido instructors, we need to remember this. With students, it’s easy to focus on correction, but that only touches the surface.

The art is transmitted through Ki connection.
The connection between student and sensei should be honest and lasting.
That’s what creates deep change in the subconscious mind.

As a student, I’ve felt the difference. I still carry teachings from 15 years ago. They stayed inside me, blossomed over time, and now guide me clearly. For that, I’m grateful to the dedicated and honorable teachers I’ve had🙏.

The power of correct posture.

Orange County Ki Society Newsletter Our monthly newsletter will keep you up to date with Orange County Ki Society events as well as articles about people, history and training.

Ever since I started practicing Ki Aikido, I dreamed of visiting Japan to experience how this way of living in harmony with the Universe is truly embodied. It finally happened, a dream come true!

We received the invitation last year to attend a 3-day Ki Aikido seminar this May at the Nippon Budokan in Katsuura, organized by the Northwest Ki Federation, led by Calvin Tabata Sensei, and held by Shinichi Tohei Sensei, president of the Ki Society and successor of Master Koichi Tohei Sensei, along with his top instructors.

We decided to go, no matter what and I’m so glad we did. We learned lessons beyond words, lived soul-warming experiences, and came back with a new perspective on life.

A few reflections that stayed with me:
1. The etiquette we learn in Aikido is simply part of daily life in Japan—people bow, thank, and act with sincerity, everywhere, all the time.
2. Adapting teaching for different cultures is fine, but the art has one standard. Our practice should evolve from it, not around it.
3. Key reminders:
– Ki connection transcends the dualities of right/wrong, good/bad, winner/loser, the relativity of cultures, languages, backgrounds, and disarms control and imposition on people.
– Unity of mind and body is the true measure of our practice. Mind leads body. Ki goes first.
– Move as one calmly, continuously, and with precision. Cutting Ki is not an option. There’s no room for sloppiness either.

We had a special class yesterday: two couples experienced Ki Aikido for the first time.

I was humbled by the feedback we received this morning from one of them🙏

Sometimes, I also need reminders of how much potential this art holds to reshape the way we experience life on Earth. It doesn’t have to be a struggle.

Europe Ki Federation, thank you so much for organizing the seminar with Ohara Sensei and giving us the opportunity to attend. Domo arigatou gozaimash*ta🙏

I find Tenchinage to be one of the most fascinating techniques in Aikido.

It beautifully demonstrates how to receive an attack, carry its momentum, and send it back with power without violence.

The posture of nage reflects the connection between "heaven" and "earth," reminding us of the balance in the Universe.

In this video, Koichi Kashiwaya Sensei explains the fundamentals of this technique in a simple yet effective way. Dōmo arigatō gozaimash*ta, Sensei! 🙏

https://youtu.be/asg2U4-RuLU?si=G_iz04ln9WmngpAc

Ushiro Tori Waza is one of the foundational exercises we start with in training. It serves as a basis for various Aikido techniques. Master Tohei Sensei was seen as a genius for breaking down the essential movements into these exercises, which we practice consistently. Correcting students can be challenging, especially when they’re confident they’re doing it correctly. Thankfully, these days, we can take a photo to show them otherwise, in the absence of mirrors in the dojo.

This month Shinichi Tohei, the president of , writes about a profound reflection theme that perhaps might help us do a bit of inventory of our quality of life and correct the trajectory of where we are going: “What do you tend to be preoccupied with?”

Why might this question be of great importance? Because the mind leads the body, and if our mind isn’t in the right place, our actions won’t be either.

“When our mind is preoccupied/obsessed with one thing it is called “attachment.” Once we become preoccupied/obsessed with something, our mind stops working freely and cannot move.”

provides a thorough framework for continuously assessing our minds and adjusting our paths to become stronger, kinder, healthier, and happier.

Time When You Don’t Try To Do Anything A Japanese traveler in Africa spotted a man looking up at the sky. The traveler greeted the man and told him he had come

"What does Ki Aikido look like?" If you're curious, check out this video of the founder, Master Koichi Tohei. But remember, Ki Aikido is more than just techniques. It's an Art of mind and body coordination. Want to experience it firsthand? Join us for a class at our dojo in Basel. We practice every Monday and Friday. More details are available on our website. Come give it a try!

https://youtu.be/4Z5aEgtOA8s?si=dJ_dLXpVdrFulcHe

1960 / 1970 Aikido with Koichi Tohei This footage is of Master Koichi Tohei, instructing Aikido to the students of Kenji Ota, in Goleta, California. It is estimated that these silent films were ...