Adult Ki Aikido

Ki Aikido teaches the techniques of leading, following, falling and rolling as a means to mind and body coordination. This entails dealing with attacks and grabs utilizing the techniques of aikido.

Classes start with stretching and taiso exercises where you learn the basic motions of aikido and how to take uke or roll safely when necessary.

We then work with one or more aikido techniques, focusing on a different attack or grab and how to deal with it. The technique will be demonstrated by the Sensei and then you will have a chance to do it. Practice is with partners switching back and forth between nage and uke (leading the technique or following). During the course of a class you will work with everyone in the class. There are literally thousands of techniques yet at its base they all stem from the same calm coordinated center.

All classes include Ki training. Ki training is the heart of Aikido. In most martial arts what ki training there is comes from repeating physical exercises until you have the insight to see the deeper levels of the practice, or not. What makes ki-aikido different is the teaching methods of Koichi Tohei Sensei. He developed a way of teaching that allows even beginners to experience what experienced practitioners can do, even in the first classes. This taste of sugar, seeing the power of mind and body coordination is profound. It is easy to experience but hard to maintain. Ki training is about keeping this state of mind in your practice and your work and life.

In Ki training we work with aspects of aikido that do not involve throws or attacks, instead focusing on the most subtle parts of the practice. Ki training can be done by anyone regardless of physical limitations that might make one leery to try the more physical demanding parts of aikido. We also include breathing exercises and meditation techniques as part of our practice.