Ki-Aikido (Shinshin Toitsu Aikido) is a specific style or school of the modern Japanese Martial Art 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. Aikido is a modern martial art system with traditional roots, practiced for awareness, health/fitness/wellness, and spiritual/personal exploration, as well as self-defense. 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 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 practice, 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. 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 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, Ki Development is a unique approach to this experience - simple and straight forward. Shinshin Toitsu Do underlays all practice of Ki-Aikido, or 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. Class Schedule, Fees, and Membership information:
http://ki-aikido-athens.net/schedule.php
