Koichi Tohei

Reviving Koichi Tohei's Ki Aikido Curriculum

The application of Aiki in the technique demonstrated by Koichi Tohei is analysed below

Analysis

In this video, at the time of 2.36, Tori is threatened with a knife. Tori pivots about his front foot and induces Uke to apply Aiki, to unbalance himself, by pressing downwards on Uke's knife arm. This induces Uke to push upwards by reversing the muscle torque about his front foot joint, so his heel rises, causing him to become unbalanced to the front due to his forward momentum.

Martial arts Aikido Koichi Tohei Authentic Aikido

The application of Aiki in the technique demonstrated by Koichi Tohei is analysed below

Analysis

In this video, at the time of 20.30, Tori is held by his jacket. Tori extends his legs which induces Uke to pull downwards by bending at the waist to resist Tori's upward movement. This causes Uke to apply Aiki, to unbalance himself, by reversing the muscle torque about his waist joint, as he resists being pulled forward.

Analysis

In this video, at the time of 10.54, Uke comes to grab Tori's wrist. As Uke's hand is about to make contact with Tori's wrist, Tori withdraws his wrist.This action induces Uke to apply Aiki by reversing the muscle torque about his front foot joint so as to follow Tori's wrist. Consequently, Uke is unbalanced to the front by his forward momentum. Tori prevents Uke from recovering his balance by lowering his wrist as it is withdrawn. This induces Uke to remain bent at the waist, limiting his ability to recover his balance by stepping.

The same method of applying Aiki is also used, in the video, against a Mune Tsuki attack at a time of 30.21.

Koichi Tohei - Ki Aikido 2/5 Fundamental Concept Principle

Analysis

In this video, at the time of 7.33, Uke holds Tori's wrists. Prior to stepping to the side, to unbalance Uke, Tori quickly lowers his wrists/body inducing Uke to follow Tori's wrists by bending at the waist and relaxing his arms to avoid becoming unbalanced to the front. Tori then induces Uke to apply Aiki, to unbalance himself, by turning his wrists to the side which Uke's hands can only follow by reversing the muscle torque about his foot joint, so as to lift his heel, as he pulls.