Traditional Japanese writings describe martial arts (Budo) as “a way to stop a halberd.” The fact that Ki-Aikido (Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido) is not a martial art in which you win a bout against your opponent correlates exactly with Budo principles.
In Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido class, we first teach correct posture. When we say “posture,” we are referring to the body’s general state. However, in Japanese, a state of mind is also expressed by this word. The mind’s state forms that of the body. When the mind is calm, the body is naturally calm. When the mind becomes stable, the body becomes naturally stable. This phenomenon is called “fudou-shin fudou-tai” (unmovable mind, unmovable body). Because your own mind and body are stable, you can read your opponent’s mind and lead him.
By having your mind merge with nature, your mind will learn to see how your opponent’s mind works; likewise your opponent can use his mind effectively. If you try to apply an Aikido technique with a self-centered mind, disregarding the opponent’s mind, you may succeed in throwing him, but at the risk of hurting him. If you do this, you cause his mind to rebel against your will, and your Aikido technique will not work on him at all. Even in daily life, a self-centered mind cannot move another person.
By knowing the opponent’s mind, when you lead him the way he wishes to be led, you can easily throw him as you intend.
In Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, before you try to lead your opponent’s mind, you first have to merge your own mind with Heaven and Earth as well as with all Nature.
By learning correct Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido techniques, you master most naturally how to maintain correct posture, how to relax, how to stay calm in a crucial moment, and how to communicate smoothly in your daily life. We are sure that from children to elder persons, either male or female, anyone can practice very safely.
*The preceding descriptions are copied from the Shin Shin Toitsu Aikidokai website.