Aikido Journal

Joined: 07 Feb 2001 Posts: 499 Location: Portland, OR

Ubaldo,
You ask a very interesting question, one, unfortunately, that I don't know the answer to. I could probably speculate, but then again, you can also do that yourself. While the answer Keith has provided is probably the most accurate to explain why Tohei split his teachings in two, so to speak, I'm not aware of an official explanation for his choice of grading system.
There's a lot to the Ki Society's practices, that like many organizations, have their roots in business. Perhaps, Tohei wanted a separate grading system for Ki training (which would increase revenue), but did not want to have to develop a separate multi-tiered curriculum or create too much unnecessary paperwork? If my assumptions are correct, then a more traditional grading system with fewer ranks would be the natural choice for someone of Tohei's background.

Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 39 Location: Denmark

From old tradition in aikijuitsu

Joined: 13 Apr 2001 Posts: 8 Location: Houston, Texas, USA

Well, the Ki development, which is more appropriately called Shin Shin Toitsu Do as was originally named by Tohei Sensei's teacher Tempu Nakamura Sensei, has a grading system that is independent and there are people who train in that only. Among them have been those who train in martial arts other than aikido, older people who have no desire to roll around, dancers, therapists, yoga students, etc. In Japan, there is a two year program in Tohei Sensei's threrapy system Kiatsu Ryoho to become a licensed therapist. Essentially, becoming proficient at Shin Shin Toitsu Do (SSTD) is essential to becoming good at Kiatsu Ryoho. For example, the wife of my aikido teacher was a nurse who also practiced Kiatsu Ryoho and was graded in to Shoden in SSTD but never practiced aikido.

Since what we practice is Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, indicating that Tohei Sensei thinks SSTD is essential for Aikido, then just as those who train to be therapists must train and grade in SSTD, so do those who train in self-defense arts.

It's not really two systems in Ki-Aikido. That's not the way to look at it.
In Ki Society, SSTD is considered the core of things. The foundation on which other practices are built, be it meditation, breathing, misogi, healing, or Aikido. Rank in Ki-Aikido requires a demonstration of understanding in SSTD.

As to the origins of the grading system (shokyu/chukyu/jokyu/shoden/chuden/joden/okuden) ,
I am not exactly sure because I don't know if there existed a grading system in Tempukai. It seems loosely related to traditional ranking.
3 beginner levels and 4 advanced levels.

best regards,
Craig

Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 39 Location: Denmark

What made me look in to Shin shin toitsu aikido and Shin shin toitsu do was that I here found a concept trying to make a unity of life.
Healing by Medicine is the traditions of the monks and monetary

Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 39 Location: Denmark

PS:
I would like to ad, that according to my understanding one have to discriminate between the