Aikido History
The Japanese marital art of Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba (known as O'Sensei, or "great teacher") during the 1920s. His unique approach to the martial arts was to emphasize blending with, instead of opposing, an attacker's energy. Aikido became popular, especially after World War II, when O'Sensei stressed the peaceful applications of the martial art. One of O'Sensei's principal students was Koichi Tohei, who began studying under the founder in 1939.
After the war, Tohei Sensei was picked by O'Sensei to bring Aikido to the United States, which he did in 1953 by introducing the martial art to Hawaii, where it flourished. Tohei Sensei became Chief Instructor under O-Sensei, and was eventually promoted to 10th Dan (10th degree black belt), the highest possible rank. After O'Sensei's death in 1969, Tohei Sensei stayed on as Chief Instructor.
For years following the death of Master Ueshiba, Tohei remained in his position as Chief Instructor of the Aikikai under the direction of the O'Sensei's son Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba Sensei. As the art grew, Tohei Sensei developed a teaching system that taught Ki principles to all students, which he felt would make their Aikido techniques stronger and also allow them to use Ki development in every-day life. In 1971, because of resistance to his developments inside the Aikikai, he founded an independent entity, Ki No Kenkyukai, to teach the principles of Ki and Unification of Mind and Body. In 1974, the divergent developments in teaching style led Tohei Sensei to leave the Aikikai and found the Shin-Shin Toitsu Aikikai.
Today, the Ki Society USA is the official organization in the United States that teaches Shin-Shin Toitsu Aikido and represents Ki No Kenkyukai.
As the art has grown, many branches of Ki-Aikido have been established; each drawing on the foundations laid by O'Sensei and Tohei Sensei, and each focused in its training by the unique qualities of its founder.
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