Ki Development as a way of life.

Now that more and more people are expressing a desire to follow a holistic medical model and lifestyle, phrases relating to the union of "mind and body", seem to pop up frequently.

The phrase itself is vague, and attaining such "unity" may seem like a lofty goal, but a system does exist that has successfully allowed people to coordinate their minds and bodies. This system is teachable, testable, and reproducible. The results of following this system can lead to a more balanced, healthier, and more productive life.

Koichi Tohei, founder of the Ki Society International, teaches four basic principles of Mind Body Coordination (also known as Ki development) that allow you to be centered, grounded, calm, and focused. These principles are intended to become a part of daily life so that you don't have to do anything to become centered, grounded, calm, and focused; you are already centered, grounded, calm, and focused.

According to Tohei Sensei (sensei = teacher), mind body coordination is your natural state. It is simply a matter of learning to not interfere with this state by allowing stress, distractions, and bad postural and movement habits to affect your awareness of your self and your surroundings.

The Making of a Master 

Photo: Tohei with Aikido Founder Morihei in 1953 (From Aikido:The Arts of Self-Defense)

Born in 1920, Koichi Tohei was a weak and sickly child. To build his strength, he practiced judo, earning his black belt at a very young age. A serious injury forced him to give up judo and re-evaluate his life. He realized that, although his body had become strong, his mind was still weak. He enrolled in a school founded by the famous swordsman and calligrapher, Tesshu Yamaoka, to study zen and misogi (purification) breathing.

After recovering, Tohei became a disciple of Master Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido. Master Ueshiba was very spiritual and attributed his martial powers to gods entering his body and making him invincible. Aikido (the way of harmony with ki) is a martial art in which the person being attacked does not allow the attacker to disturb his composure. The attacker is then left with the excess energy generated by the attack and is forced to deal with it. This results in the attacker's loss of balance and the aikido practitioner appears to have thrown the attacker with little or no effort.

Master Ueshiba (also known as O Sensei or great teacher), was impressed with Tohei's determination and natural ability and chose him as his Chief Instructor, a position Tohei held until a few years after the founder's death.

One of Tohei Sensei's gifts was his ability to recognize that O Sensei's apparently miraculous powers were the result of his ability to totally relax his body, rather than supernatural ability. Even in the face of multiple attackers, O Sensei would calmly move through them and they would go flying.

Several years after beginning his training with O Sensei, Tohei Sensei met and became a disciple of Master Tenpu Nakamura. Nakamura Sensei introduced yoga to Japan and taught that the "mind moves the body". Nakamura Sensei's teachings helped Tohei Sensei demystify O Sensei's teachings.

Tohei Sensei began incorporating Ki principles into his aikido. There were many who believed that ki was not something that could, or should, be taught and that mastering ki was something that happened as a secondary benefit from years of training.

What is Ki ? 

In Denshi Jiso,the online Japanese dictionary, (http://jisho.org/) "ki" is defined as:

1: spirit; mind; heart;
2: nature; disposition;
3: motivation; intention;
4: mood; feelings;
5: atmosphere; essence

The concept of "ki" has generated a lot of discussion. In the west, many people have heard of "reiki" and "aikido". Both words have "ki" as their second syllable. It is often thought to mean "energy", but interestingly, "energy" is not one of the words used in Japanese/English dictionary definitions.

In a very interesting (especially from a linguistic perspective) Aikido Journal interview (www.aikidojournal.com/article?articleID=537), Tohei Sensei discusses the word itself. He tells us that the Japanese syllable "ki" is the pronunciation of the Chinese "chi ". Although the calligraphy is the same, the words are not really synonymous and differ conceptually, somewhat, from country to country. He goes on to say, "In Japan, the syllable, ki, expresses the meaning 'spirit of the universe.' In Japanese there are about 900 different words that contain the syllable".

The official Ki Society H.Q website (www.ki-society.com/english/) states: "The word 'Ki' is a combined meaning of the universe and limitless expansion. This shows as power when we become one with the Universe. If we have oneness of mind and body and extend Ki, we will be able to have a calm mind".

There is much controversy surrounding the concept of ki, even in the aikido world. Because of O Sensei's strong religious philosophy, some believe that ki is mystical like "The Force" in Star Wars. Some believe that it is nonsense. Some believe that it is something that comes to you as a result of hard work, dedication, and good fortune.

Tohei Sensei believes that being able to extend ki is an aspect of mind body unity, that it is our natural state, and that it is accessible to everyone. He has little patience for the stories of supernatural powers that have been associated with ki.

He has developed a system that teaches Ki Development (or Mind Body Coordination) and a series of simple, standardized tests to measure and enhance one's level of understanding.

Ki Testing 

Is your mind and body coordinated and, if so, to what extent?

PHOTO: Koichi Tohei Sensei assisted by Terry Dobson from http://www.aikidojournal.com/article?articleID=127.

"Having no color, no odor and no shape, the mind is not something that can be grasped by the senses. However, based on the principle that the mind and body are actually one, we can know the state of this ungraspable mind by testing the body, which is available to our senses.
Ki Tests are not founded on the idea of testing for strength or weakness. The most important factor in Ki testing is to accurately inform the person of the state of his or her mind. Thus, the person performing Ki tests must truly understand and exhibit Oneness of mind and body from the outset and then perform the tests correctly."

The above quote is from Ki Sayings (Shokushu)
by Koichi Tohei Sensei

When your mind and body are coordinated, you are mindful of yourself and your environment. You become physically more stable and have more control over your body. There is less tension in your body. One hand actually does know what the other is doing.

Learning mind body coordination is not a left brain process. It is about feeling and it sometimes takes some imagination to get the feeling in the first place. In the beginning, it may be helpful to use images to "pass" the test, but the wise student learns to remember the feeling and duplicate it instead of relying on images. Remember, the goal is not to pass a test. The goal is to learn to coordinate mind and body.

While it is best for the person performing the test to understand mind body coordination, you can try this out with the help of a friend:

Stand in a natural posture, but one that you consider stable. Have your friend face you, but a little off to the side, and touch your upper chest. Your friend then gently presses straight back. Without resisting your friend's pressure, how much force did it take to move you?

Without changing your posture, have your friend place a hand on your lower back and gently press straight forward. Again, how much force did it take to move you? (Remember, once you have assumed the posture, you are not supposed to resist the test. Have your friend verify that you did not lean into the testing hand in order to "pass".)

If you are like most, it took surprisingly little force to move you in one or both directions. When your mind and body are unified, this little bit of pressure should not cause you to move in either direction. In other words, you remain physically stable from front and back.

To be able to reach that state and pass the "standing with mind body coordinated" test, it takes just a little bit of training that you can receive at an authorized Ki Society dojo (meeting place or school). It is simply a matter of learning to correctly find and maintain your center (once you learn this, you do not have to think about it - it becomes automatic).

Here's another example of a ki test, but this time I'm going to help you "pass". The test is called "unbendable arm", and it tests your ability to "extend ki". It is better if you get someone to assist you who is about the same strength as you. It is also good for the person performing the test to remember that they are not trying to fail you, but rather help your understand the difference between the state when you have mind body coordination and the state when you do not.

First extend your arm with the intention of not letting your partner bend it.

IMPORTANT: Your partner needs to respect the structure of the joint and only bend it in the direction that it is meant to bend. Do not try to break the arm.

Your partner stands to your side and puts one hand (palm down) on your upper arm and the other hand (palm up) under your wrist. Using equal pressure, your partner tries to bend your elbow as you resist. Given the fact that it is two arms against one, it should be fairly easy to bend your arm. Shouldn't it?

Now that you have set a baseline, try it again. Only this time I am going to explain how to "extend ki".

Hold your arm out in front of you with the fingers extended, but relaxed, and the elbow with a slight natural bend. You should be using just enough strength to hold your arm in place. Now use one of the following images: (a) Your fingers are very long and are touching an object far away. (b) There is a laser beam shooting through your arm and out your fingers and it is continuing a great distance (burning through anything in the way). (c) Your arm is like a fire hose and the force of the water is running through your arm and out your fingers.

As you use one of the three images, have your partner try to bend your arm again, using the same amount of force it took to bend it before (remember to use equal pressure with each hand). Instead of resisting, focus on the image and not on your partner's attempts to bend your arm.

Was the result different this time?

It is important to understand that learning to coordinate mind and body is experiential and that it is not something that you will be able to do just by reading about it. "Unbendable arm" is simple enough that it is possible to convey a bit of the feeling in print. Remember, it is not "passing the test" that is important, it is understanding the feeling you have when you to "pass" that will bring you closer to mind body unity.

Hopefully, I did a good enough job of giving you instruction and you were able to ignore the tester well enough to keep your arm "unbendable".

There are different levels of Ki Testing and each level should be appropriate for the person's level of training. The degree of difficulty increases, but not in an obvious way. The tester always uses the same amount of force, whether testing a beginner or an advanced student. The difference is how that force is applied. The tester should have enough of an understanding of mind body coordination to be able to move another person's mind. In the test, very subtle (not obvious to an untrained observer) distractions are employed to determine if the person being tested is able to maintain a level of coordination without being distracted by the tester.

Testing can be done while the student is either static or moving. While static, the student should remain stable without stiffness. While moving, the student should move easily and smoothly, without disturbing the stability of the natural posture.

Don't get the wrong idea! 

Immovable Objects and Irresistible Forces?

Tohei Sensei is about to demonstrate an aikido technique in which he "overpowers" three "attackers". Notice his totally relaxed state and the lighthearted mood - even as these three gentlemen know that they are about to go flying. (photo from official Ki Society H.Q. website)

A lot of people are under the impression that Ki Testing is about demonstrating superhuman strength. This is a complete misunderstanding about the purpose of the "test".

The ki test is not a contest between the tester and the person being tested. It is one method of determining the degree to which a person's mind and body is coordinated. Mind body coordination does not make someone superhuman. It does give them the ability to perform with less unnecessary use of muscle force and physical tension, because efficient use of the body does not require as much physical energy.

At a seminar, I once heard Koichi Kashiwaya Sensei, Chief Instructor of Ki Society USA, and the U.S. Advisor to (Ki Society) Headquarters (http://ki-aikido.net/KASHIWAYA/SENSEI.html), explain that an "unbendable arm" would not remain unbendable if it were to be put in an "arm bending machine". In other words, the test for "unbendable arm" is a tool for helping a person understand one aspect of what it should feel like to coordinate the mind and body, not a test of supernatural strength.

Not only are there people who mistakenly believe that an "unbendable arm" is a demonstration of some type of super power, there are those, who believe it is a "performance", using a "biomechanical advantage". On the website http://www.martialdevelopment.com/blog/how-to-bend-an-unbendable-arm/, an article called How to Bend an Unbendable Arm says, "If you ever find yourself on the wrong end of an unbendable arm, here is a sneaky trick you can use to regain the upper hand. Reposition the ki guy's hip as shown in the video below, misaligning his spine*, and decreasing his ability to resist your force".

I did not watch the video, but it is clear from the above statement that the author has completely missed the point. To have your mind and body coordinated, you need to have good posture. If the person does not have good spine alignment, the 'bendability' of their arm is meaningless.

I have seen others who have trained in martial arts (but not through the Ki Society) who have demonstrated "unbendable arm" incorrectly. Yes, they "passed" the test, but, to a trained eye, they clearly did not have full understanding of mind body unity.

Remember, Tohei Sensei teaches that ki is not some mystical energy that requires some special skill, birthright, or mystical acquisition. It is through efficiency of movement and being in touch with our body that gives others the impression that we are either using some secret force or some kind of trick. It is something that we all can use to realize our natural state of being.

Our Natural State 

Then why do we have to train in Ki Development?

Have you ever seen a 75 lb. dog knock over a 200 lb. man?

Have you ever had a cat climb on your lap and feel like it weighed much more than it does?

Have you ever reached out and tried to stop a running toddler and felt a force that seemed inconsistent with the toddler's size?

This is mind body coordination and it is our natural state. When your mind and body are coordinated you are mindful of yourself and your environment, and this brings you into harmony with the universe. Again, it is not about the supernatural. It is about sensitivity that allows you to notice and feel what you are naturally a part of.

We are living in a modern world that has conditioned us to live unnaturally. Technology has done a lot to make our lives easier and more productive, but at a cost. When you think about it, we are not even designed to sit in chairs. Our eyes are not designed for long term close vision - like reading. We can still do the things that are required for living in the twenty first century while maintaining a state of mind body coordination. Ki testing helps us to realize what that state is.

There are a few good books by Koichi Tohei and William Reed that will give you a more in depth look at ki and Mind Body Coordination (please see the Amazon module below). Books by other authors about Ki or Chi will not give you the same sound, grounded approach that you will get from Tohei Sensei. Of course, since this is about learning how to feel your body, the only way to truly learn is experientially. To find a Ki Society dojo near you, please visit http://ki-aikido.net/KS-USA/Directory.html.

I hope that you will benefit as much as I have.