One of the most noticeable splits in the Aikido world occured in 1974 when Koichi Tohei (the only 10th Dan student of Morihei Ueshiba), then the Chief Instructor at the Aikikai, resigned from that organization and founded the Ki No Kenkyukai to teach Aikido with strong emphasis on the concepts of Ki. Since that time, there has been little interaction between the Traditional Schools and the Ki Schools.
Many of the current Traditional Schools emphasise the application of Ki, but much less than the Ki Schools. One other difference is the Ki Schools devote a substantial amount of time teaching Ki principles alongside Self Defence, whilst the Traditional Schools focus more on the self defence aspect of the art more then the development of Ki.
Shin-Shin Toitsu Aikido or Ki-Aikido (Aikido with Mind & Body Unified) was Founded by Koichi Tohei. This styles emphasis is upon the Hara (centre) and Inner Energy (Ki), these are fundamental to it's application. It has been classed as one of the "Softest Styles" of Aikido (I am sure it's practitioners would disagree), it can be identified by it's soft, swift and graceful movements compared to other styles of Aikido.
A man who studies and practices Ki-Aikido desires only to defend himself/herself without hurting others. To possess this attitude, one must achieve a level of integration of the powers of mind and body, the harmonious combination of physical means and ethical motives. Sensei Tohei has devoted himself almost exclusively to Ki Training and Development of the 5 Principles of Ki Aikido.
What is Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido:
Aikido means "The way to union with the Ki of the universe". The universe signifies nature itself. Ki-Aikido is the way to learn how to become one with the universe through the Ki Principle of, "Mind moves body". To "become one with universe" means to understand the universal mind.
Everybody has a mind and body. Mind and body are originally one. Our body is visible, therefore we can understand its existence easily. However, the mind is invisible, therefore we tend to forget about it. It is difficult to know your own mind correctly. The mind moves body always. If your mind is positive, your body is also positive.
If your mind is negative, your body is also negative and your mind effects others also.Budo literally means "the way to stop fighting". In Ki-Aikido we do not fight each other, if you have a mind, others also have a mind, if you ignore another's mind and try to throw them by force, you will never be able to throw them correctly. This is because the other person's mind will resist you. A selfish mind does not work in daily life either, if you know and respect another's mind, then you will be able to lead their mind and be able to throw them easily without any resistance. The most important thing is you need to become one with the universe first.
All Ki-Aikido techniques are based on Ki principles, therefore anybody can practice and enjoy Ki-Aikido. Through learning Ki-Aikido, you will be able to know how to become one with the universe and you will be able to apply Ki principles in your daily life.
Why Aikido?
Many people, when first introduced to the idea of taking martial arts are overwhelmed by the number of different styles that are available to take, and often choose a well known style (at least by name), like Karate or Kung Fu, since these have become synonymous with martial arts, thanks to movies that show all martial arts to be the same. There was a time when very little information was available on these "mysterious" arts, so people could not educate themselves before choosing a style. Now there is so much available there is no reason to not learn about the different styles and philosophies to find one that best suits you. Libraries are filled with shelves dedicated to martial arts, and a lot of information can be found on the internet.
Aikido is a truly beautiful art, and I don't think there is anyone who would not benefit from practising it. O Sensei's dream was a world where everyone studied Aikido, and it was his wish that everyone could experience this idea of peace in a world without hate or prejudice. Although this didn't happen in his lifetime, and probably won't in ours, Aikido's popularity grows every day, and it is quite possible that eventually the entire world will be exposed to it. If we can show even a couple of people this beauty, get them to simply try it, then that is success.
While many arts, Kung Fu and Karate as examples concentrate on injuring your opponent to end the fight, Aikido concentrates on helping your partner. Please note the different term Aikido uses when referring to an opponent. Other styles see them as enemies, evil people that need to be dealt with. Aikido tries to see these people as partners, people that we should care about and try to help.
By hurting him, breaking his body, he will only continue to feel anger towards you (obviously), however, if you can take that aggression and show him that there is an alternate path, perhaps he will change his outlook on the situation. It is ignorant to think you can change someone, but it is possible to show someone a different perspective, so that they may willingly, and of their own accord change themselves. This is the beauty of Aikido. By controlling your opponent, showing an aggressor that we could have beaten him, without actually doing so, we show him that there is another way of solving the conflict; that there are other answers. Aikido is about peace and harmony, and not about learning how to fight. In fact it is more about learning how to avoid the fight.
Aikido has no competitions, no tournaments, something that many people find surprising. (There is one school of Aikido that views tournaments as a beneficial addition to training, but this is not the norm). This particular aspect of Aikido is continuously being debated. O Sensei believed that the goal of Aikido is one of Non-Violence and one of Non-Winning, and a tournament would go against that completely, as the only point of a tournament is to have a victor.
Others believe that tournaments are just a way to improve yourself, by practically testing your abilities. It is all well and good to be able to perform the techniques in the dojo, in a controlled environment where your Uke (person receiving the attack) is not fighting as hard as he could, but that it is different when fighting someone who is trying to defeat you too, and these people feel that a true test of one's abilities can be had in a tournament.
Aikido is also different from many of the other styles because of the intense mental training involved, as well as physical practice. Of course, any style of fighting requires intense mental work, but Aikido is different in that it requires you to use it all of the time. Not just when you are at the dojo practicing, or when you are in a fight, it requires you to use it in you everyday life. To avoid conflict by finding peaceful solutions to problems. Aikido is not a philosophy of conflict or defense, it is more, a philosophy of life, and should be treated as such. What is learned in the class should be applied in your everyday life.