Shinshin Toitsu Aikido

Our Dojo

On visiting our dojo you will see that there is a group of pretty regular people training here, people „like you and me“. The atmosphere is friendly, almost family-like. All are here to follow the same path and help each other, seasoned black-belts and fresh beginners alike. Ki-Aikido works without force, domination or pain, and can therefore be practiced by anyone regardless of age, gender, body size, muscular power or gymnastic talent.   

You can visit us anytime to ask questions, see the dojo and watch a class, or for a free introductory class. For this please bring long jogging pants and a t-shirt or sweater – we train in an appropriately heated room on firm but also damping canvass-covered mats (with socks for Ki class, barefeet for Aikido class). Please be here about 15 minutes before class starts.

The dojo is in 63110 Rodgau-Weiskirchen, in the backyard of Hauptstraße 125b. The entrance to the property can only be reached on foot or by bike – there is nowhere to park a car or even turn around. Since the dojo is on private property, only dojo members and invited visitors have access. We kindly ask that you contact us by phone (0176-30730607) or via email (info@ki-aikido-rodgau.de) when you want to visit us… we look forward to welcoming you in our dojo!

Ki-Aikido for Children

Ki-Aikido is very beneficial for children. Classes are held in a harmonic, happy and relaxed atmosphere. The natural movements are fun and feel good – no body part is overstressed. 

Children will practice the whole program of Aikido, Ki-exercises, Ki-tests, Ki-breathing and Mediation, but the length and extent of these exercises is varied according to the age of the children. Ki-Aikido trains mind and body. It improves attention, coordination, reaction, flexibility and calmness. Through blending, leading and holding on the ground we can do without punching or kicking. We aim not to meet aggression with aggression, but to show the other person that the only right way is to move together.

Dreieichenhain
For many years Peter Scheiber (2. Dan, Shoden) has been teaching various kids and youth groups in his own school in Dreieichenhain. More information on class times, prices and how to get there you will find on his website  www.tanzrondell.com

Rodgau-Weiskirchen
Since August 2017 Sophia Rottmann (1. Dan, Jokyu) is teaching children aged 6-9 on Tuesday, 4-5 PM at Turngemeinde 1886 e.V. Weiskirchen, Jahnhalle, Hauptstraße. 168, 63110 Rodgau-Weiskirchen (in the small gym). Please contact her at the place, or per phone  0176-53905338.

Ki Training

The condition of our mind influences directly the condition of our body. We call this the Ki-Principle: Mind moves Body. The body has form and is visible and touchable – but the mind cannot be grasped like this. That’s why the influence of the mind is too often neglected. However, if we coordinate and unify mind and body, we can naturally be at our best in all circumstances. 

In an unnatural posture, for instance when we add unnecessary tension or collapse into a state of „dead“ relaxation, our body will have no stability. When we coordinate mind and body we have a natural posture and stability, without having to think about it. Once we have realized and experienced this relationship, we can practise to keep this correct posture even when moving. This way we can move faster and with less effort, and our body has natural balance and strength.

A „Ki Test“ is a way to test the condition of oneness of mind and body – and hence the condition of mind. Sitting or standing camly in various postures, a partner gives us a ki test (touching the body and seeing if it can be moved) to show us if we currently experience oneness of mind and body or not. Besides habitual wrong postures and movement patterns, this way we can also uncover typical or habitual thinking and behavioural patterns that inhibit us from experiencing oneness. 

In Ki Training we also learn various Ki excercises, which teach us how to keep oneness of mind and body in various postures and movements, and which also form a whole system of health excersices. All movements and positions can be Ki-tested by a partner – so that we feel vindicated in our correct execution of the forms.  

Ki Breathing and Meditation

Ki Breathing is (besides Ki Meditation) our most important excercise to experience oneness of mind and body and oneness with the universe. Sitting in living calmness, without external distractions, we pay attention to our breathing, centered in our Onepoint in the lower abdomen, connected to the infinite universe. The exhaling breath reaching the infinite universe, the inhaling breath comes from the infinite universe into an infinitely small Onepoint in the lower abdomen. During the „breaks“ between breaths we experience infinite calmness and space…

In Ki Meditation we let our mind settle in the Onepoint and calm down. When we reduce the Onepoint by half infinitely, we will also begin to experience the universe as being infinite. Thus we experience true and living calmness and oneness with the Ki of the universe. We hear the calmness that is timeless behind all sounds, we experience space which is timeless that in which all things, thoughts, emotions, beliefs come and go…

Most people live in a relative world, in which they assign value to things, events and differences. Thinking this way, we believe reality is being separate from each other and is described by tension relations such as me and you, right and wrong, good and bad. We identify with our body, emotions, beliefs, memories, give this mental construct a name, and are henceforth in a constant competition with everything and everyone „out there“. Conflict and suffering are unavoidable. Most grew up this way – conditioned by parents, school, media and all our surroundings.

When we start to look deeply into the nature of the universe, and get back into contact with our original self, our ground of being, to universal consciousness, we begin to see all appearances of the relative world as what they are: relative, ever changing and unreliable – viewed from our true self, our ground of being. We can realize, that our thoughts and emotions of separateness, fear, frustration or even depression are nothing but our own reactions to our relative perception of the world – and that these therefore are also not real.

With this realization, we start to see and experience that our natural state is oneness with everything. In truth there is no separation between me and you, right and wrong, good an bad – these are all just relative judgements. This creates a clarity, true calmness and equanimity, which really can not be disturbed by the behavior of others. 

This way meditation and Ki-breathing are indispensable for our study of Ki-Aikido – only with these realizations we can truly be one with our training partners, don’t view them as opponents, but realize that in reality we all walk the path of the universe together. Through Ki-exercises and the Ki-Aikido techniques, we can practice and experience this with our whole body and all senses, and integrate this into all levels of our being. All our training methods work together towards this goal, fertilize each other, and as an integrated whole lead us to ever deeper and clearer understanding.

Ki Aikido

What we have learned in Meditation, Ki-Breathing and Ki-Exercises we will now apply with a training partner in Ki-Aikido. Interaction with another person is always communication trough mind, energy and body – and we take this a little further by simulating potential conflict situations by grabbing, holding, punching or striking „attacks“. Beacuse true calmness in oneness of mind and body, is only a calmness which like the eye of a hurrican stays intact even with most rapid action or when in stress or conflict situations.

Together with a partner we practice to keep our natural posture, to remain calm and centered, and to lead our partner with confidence. When we try to get someone to do something using our selfish mind, his mind will naturally resist. Neither will his body be movable effectively using force or violence, because again his mind will resist automatically. In Shinshin Toitsu Aikido we practice to not see our partner as an opponent but to become one with him, to agree with the ki of the moment, and to lead him accordingly without conflict. In this way, physical size or power become irrelevant.  

In the various Ki-Aikido-techniques and -excercises we learn not to see difficult or conflict situations not as such, but to see them as communications and chances. This way we can learn to remain in centered, living calmness and to act without confrontation, resistance or violence. While physically practicing with a partner, the theoretical ki principles and concepts can be experienced practically and on all levels of perception. Philosophies and concepts are of little use if they are only in our heads – in Ki-Aikido we learn to experience these principles and concepts with our whole being and thus to bring them to life. 

Ki-Aikido we practice forms, in which an uke („attacker“) will be lead by a nage („defender“) into a non-violent resolution. This interaction mostly ends up on the mat, either through immobilizing the uke on the floor, or through leading him into a backward or forward roll out of the interaction. Additionally, we practice taking the weapon away from an uke who attacks with a wooden knife (Tanto), stick (Jo) or sword (bokken). We also practise solo forms (kata) with Jo and Bokken, through which we can learn to include objects or tools into the oneness of mind and body, and how to use these tools naturally and effectively. All Ki-Aikido movements are natural, relaxed and feel good – so that our practice is also good for our health and fitness. Mind and body are one – living as a harmonious being requires both a healthy mind as well as a healthy body.

Ki Society

The Ki Society was founded in 1971 by Soshu Koichi Tohei Sensei (1920-2011). In 1974, Tohei Sensei (10. Dan Aikido) left his position as chief instructor of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo (since 1956) and founded Shinshin Toitsu Aikido – Aikido in Oneness of Mind and Body – which is often simply called Ki-Aikido.

The Ki Society is active through dojos in Japan and many countries around the world and through its over 40.000 members. Since 2007 it is lead by Kaicho Shinichi Tohei Sensei. Our mission is to help build a positive society through the teachings of oneness of mind and body and oneness with the universe. We will do our best to support all people who wish to grow and develop through these five main disciplines of our study:  

Ki-Aikido (Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, Aikido in oneness of mind and body) is the most extensive and most practiced method,
Ki-Breathing is breathing in oneness of mind and body – essential for understanding Ki and developing breath power,
Ki-Meditation is a very quiet method for realizing oneness of mind and body and oneness with the universe,
Sokushin No Gyo (bell misogi) is a group excercise for oneness of mind and body and calmness in action while giving 100%,
Kiatsu is a healing method based on the Ki principles developed by Koichi Tohei Sensei. 

Germany – as well as Holland, Belgium, Spain and Slovenia – is supported by our Ki Society HQ Advisor Christopher Curtis Sensei (8. Dan, Okuden). Curtis Sensei comes here every year (from Hawaii) for a few weeks to teach weekend seminars, visit the member dojos, and support the local instructors and students. These seminars are also used to hold higher Ki and Aikido Dan examinations.

Currently there are four Ki Society dojos in Germany:

Ki Society Stuttgart, Udo Schill Sensei
Ki Aikido Bavaria (Bubenreuth), Uwe Filusch Sensei
Ki Society Krefeld, Christel Buchloh Sensei
Ki Aikido Dojo Rodgau, Olaf Schubert Sensei.

We are in close cooperation with the Ki Society in Holland, represented by Ki-Aikidoschool Torii (Helmond) and lead by Senseis Ad and Toby Voogels. Toby Voogels Sensei teaches our European Ki Aikido Summercamp since 2014 –  where students and instructors of all dojos come together for 8 days of intensive training. Every fall we also gather in Helmond/Holland for a central Dan- and Examination weekend Seminar, where the instructors of the participating dojos share the teaching.