Shinichi Tohei's Ki Weblog

A Short Instruction:

The purpose of this article is to apply the Ki principle (mind moves the body) which is the fundamental of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido to our daily life.

It is not enough just to read, but it is important to positively practice the subject given each month. Learning through practice will be your lifelong asset.

Training in Daily Life (2)

Last month’s blog on “Training in Daily Life” had a big response so I would like continue a little more on the same topic again this month.

The term “Thank you” holds a very important meaning. My father would always show his appreciation by saying “thank you” when he received gifts or when he was being taken care of. Even when he went to the store to buy something he would always thank the staff at the store.

It is easy to understand that the staff at the store or business says “Thank you” to thank the customers for visiting or purchasing from them. However, it may be difficult for some people to understand why the customer needs to say “Thank you” after purchasing from the store.

Even while dining at restaurants, my father would always thank the waiter each time they served him. It is natural for a customer to get proper service as they are paying to get good service. But again, why is it necessary as customers to thank the staff after receiving service?

Again, it comes down to the same question.

From a young age, even without knowing or questioning the reason, I would also imitate my father and say “thank you” whenever I was being helped or assisted. Hence, I have also cultivated this habit till today. 

During the times I have spent abroad in foreign countries, it was more common to hear people saying “thank you” compared to when being in Japan. Of course the cultural differences of Japan and countries overseas would not make this comparison easy, but to hear and feel the sincerity of each “thank you” being repeated was indeed a very pleasant feeling.

Simply put, this is not a matter of words, but the communication of Ki. It is also the same when we bow at each other and show thanks when practicing at the Dojo. 

Whenever we used to stay at hotels, my father would always find out where the emergency exits were on his own.

When I became older, some of these roles became my duty. There are some exchanges of conversation I still remember to this day.

My Father: Have you checked where the emergency exits are?

Me: The exit is on the left when you leave the room.

My Father: Well, how do you open the door? By pushing the door outwards or by pushing the handle down and pulling the door inwards towards you?

Me: ………

My Father: Please go and check again.

After some time:

Me: The door opens by pushing it outwards.

My Father: That’s good. Is there only one emergency exit?

Me: ………

My Father: Please go and check again.

After some time:

Me: There are 3 emergency exits.

My Father: Would it be possible to walk to the exits with our eyes closed?

Me: …… What is the reason for walking to the exits with our eyes closed?!

I vented my irritation at my father for having me check so many times.

My father then explained: “If there is a fire, visibility will be poor because of the smoke. Electricity might also be cut off. Even if you know where the exits are during a bright and visible situation, in a fire you might not be able to find it. It is important to be aware of the walls leading to the exits so that during a fire you can get to the exit far from the fire by touching and following the walls.”

It is always important to know where the fire extinguishers are placed and which part of the building the emergency exits connect to. His cautiousness was learned from his experiences during the war. This checking and locating of exits then became my habit.

When I travel around Japan and overseas to teach and instruct at seminars, I have sometimes found the emergency exits in hotels locked or in some cases blocked by luggage and things. I have learned that in order to protect and/or even save my own life, I should not depend on someone else to take care of it.

This has since become a habit and I practice all the time.

The following story was after I became an Uchi-deshi to Tohei Sensei.

Whenever Tohei Sensei was invited to speak at a company or at organization functions, a waiting room where he usually waited was always prepared beforehand. There would always be a waste paper basket in the room to use. He would always caution me before we left the room to make sure to clean out the waste paper basket and not leave anything in it. I did not understand why it was necessary to clean out the waste paper basket whenever we left because isn’t a waste paper basket used for throwing trash?

When the seminars were finished, I always made sure the chairs and tables or cushions we used in the waiting room were put back in place before we left. I could understand later that successful people in many fields look and check this point and recognize it positively.　

Since I became an instructor, these points have developed into an important habit.

These are many other examples and memories that I value from Tohei Sensei.

Hopefully when there is another opportunity I will be able to share more of it.

A Short Instruction:

The purpose of this article is to apply the Ki principle (mind moves the body) which is the fundamental of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido to our daily life.

It is not enough just to read, but it is important to positively practice the subject given each month. Learning through practice will be your lifelong asset.

Training in Daily Life

Recently, I remembered lessons I learned from Soshu Koichi Tohei Sensei when I was younger. People say that we remember and realize what we are taught after someone has passed away. Apparently this seems to be true.

Of course, during my childhood, my relationship with him was not one of teacher/ student but rather of parent and child relationship. He was of course gentle most times but also strict when he needed to be. The strictness did not come from emotions. He continued to teach me, until I could realize and change my shortcoming. I feel that these were the small things in daily life that really helped me.

One such lesson was about switching off the lights after using them.

One such example was I had forgotten to turn off the light in the toilet after using it. I remember he would call out to me to remind me to switch off the light and it would mean that I had to do it immediately. He expected me to do it right away, not later.

I was not a wise son, so I repeatedly made the same mistake. However my father would remind me constantly without giving up or even raising his voice. It was after a countless number of these reminders that I finally was able to get into a habit of switching off the lights.

Also there was the habit of aligning my footwear after I take them off. I was only able to cultivate this habit after a countless number of reminders from my father.

There were also times when I had to read my Japanese language textbooks from school aloud in front of my father.

To read out loud correctly was the most important point, and if I read in my own careless way, he would correct me to change into the accurate way. When I pronounced the words slightly wrong, even though the meaning of the words was correct, he would still make me correct my reading with much advice and pointers.

As a result of reading aloud many times, I was able to cultivate a good habit of reading and pronouncing everything correctly. It did not matter how I felt about the text, but he was strict in the way I read and understood the correct meaning from the text.

The same applied to tidying up and organizing my things.

My father’s belongings were always very tidy and well-organized. He always knew and could remember where he placed everything. It was not only easy for him to find what he needed but also not difficult for others to find things. Everything was always placed correctly in their respective places.

Sometimes I would borrow his things but I would forget to put it back where it belonged. Every time he would remind me to make sure I put things back correctly in its original position. It did not matter what item I took, he was always able to figure it out almost immediately.

“Could I do it later?” or “I will return it later on,” those reasons were never acceptable to my father. I had to do it on the spot and put the item back in its original location. As a result of this practice, tidiness has become a part of my habit.

As an instructor now, I have been helped greatly by these habits that I have cultivated.

“Turning off the light” is looking back on what I have done in the past. He did not want me to be a person who would leave something half-done, or who could not conclude one’s affairs. This is one of the most important skills for an instructor who influences many people.

“Reading correctly” is seeing things as they are. He did not want me to understand what I see only from my own perspective. This is the basic of learning anything.

“To be organized” also means that I am able to keep affairs regarding daily life straightforward and clear. It makes things easy to understand not only for me but also for everyone else. Thus, it helps me find out various problems that I can prevent before they occur.

I had many other routines learned from him, I noticed that I have practiced cultivating good habits in daily life subconsciously.

The lessons my father have taught me and the practice that I have put into these lessons, even though he may not be around anymore, will always be instilled in me. I realized this as a real education in life.

I would also like to follow the same way and teach students.

A Short Instruction:

The purpose of this article is to apply the Ki principle (mind moves the body) which is the fundamental of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido to our daily life.

It is not enough just to read, but it is important to positively practice the subject given each month. Learning through practice will be your lifelong asset.

Our Manner

Our Manner is an Expression or Sign of Our State of Mind

The lack of good manners demonstrated on the Osaka transportation system has been a well known fact for a long time, but recently Tokyo has also started showing the same signs.

People cross the roads regardless of the crosswalks or pedestrians crossings. Some people do use the crosswalks, but often when the signal is red, if they see no car coming. Sometimes parents cross in crosswalks with their young children, but also against a red light. It worries me to think what kind of adults these children might grow up to be if they are being shown these kinds of examples now.

Just as good manners are lacking in the younger generation, poor traffic manners are also lacking in the elderly generation. This seems to show that there is no relation to the age of the person when it comes to bad manners.

There are many reasons and causes that contribute to bad manners. One of the main reasons is “not being able to wait” (being impatient.) This is a reflection of us being very self-centered or selfish, as we are only thinking of ourselves. Of course there may be situations that require that we move quickly, but many people often rush without any reason, just out of habit.

“Our state of mind” is usually reflected “in the state our body portrays”. Therefore it is possible to know the state of one’s mind through the actions of the body. The action of being impatient “in a hurry” shows us that our mind is actually disturbed and not calm.

When we are impatient and “not able to wait”, we tend to make a faulty decisions. This will also lead us to make unnecessarily careless mistakes in daily life. If you are a leader or an instructor, a person who is in a position to lead staff or students, it is necessary to notice your state of mind from your own actions every day.

Not being able to listen to others talking and cutting in on the conversation, rushing into the train at the last minute, or urgently pressing the close button for the elevator door, this is all essentially the same thing. What do you all think?

In addition to “not being able to wait”, this often comes together with being “irresponsible” and “inattentive”.

I have often seen pedestrians with earphones in their ears crossing the street without checking whether any cars are coming or not. It seems like they are leaving their own personal safety in the hands of others. Also some people start crossing the road irresponsibly even when they see a car coming. This is because they think “the car must and will stop for me”.

Not only pedestrians are irresponsible in their manner, but also drivers. There are many drivers that are irresponsible and careless. Especially careless are the drivers that talk on the phone or send mail on their smart phones while driving. These actions cause us to be unable to see clearly the situation on the road, as well as pedestrians that are crossing the streets. We should not leave our own safety in the hands of others.

Even the behavior of crossing the street is a reflection of our mind. By being aware of each action, it is possible to train the mind to be calm. Especially during bad weather or when a part of a large crowd, there are many pedestrians who are not able to keep their awareness and attention on others.

To calm one’s mind before going out is an important training.

I practice this every day.

A Short Instruction:

The purpose of this article is to apply the Ki principle (mind moves the body) which is the fundamental of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido to our daily life.

It is not enough just to read, but it is important to positively practice the subject given each month. Learning through practice will be your lifelong asset.

The Value of Strictness

In teaching and instructing rigor and strictness is essential.

However, in recent years it has been thought that the person who is nice and gentle would be a good instructor. Being nice and gentle is a good thing for sure, however what if the purpose of it becomes to avoid being hated or disliked by others.

This tendency not only happens in schools but also in professional sports, so what is the point of having instructors and teachers then? By always saying pleasant and nice things only cannot be a good instruction.

There must be a strong relationship between the one who teaches and the one who learns.

Instructors need to be trusted not only because of skills and achievement, but also because of strong principles, dignity, and personality. When students really trust, they follow all the instructions.

Students can be trusted when they show a strong learning attitude and enthusiasm. Of course in the case of a professional, talent and ability is also needed. When instructors really trust, they truly want to grow their students.

Once there is a trust relationship developed, the instructor is able to communicate freely with the student even though it may be slightly blunt or strict.  With this trust, such instruction can be accepted by the student. If an instructor is not able to be frank and open with his/her students it may be because there is no trust relationship built, which means there is something missing between them.

Let’s think about what the rigorous/strictness in instructing really means. It does not mean that one needs to be strict at all times. In the English language “instructing” means “teaching” and also it means “correcting”. One should do “teaching” gently, and “correcting” strictly.

Of course in the case of a beginner who just started learning, it would not be appropriate to be strict, as they are in the process of trying to learn the basics. If at this stage they are being taught strictly or too rigorously, the learning process for most people could be hindered or even discouraged. According to principles in instructing beginners it would be good to teach them gently with patience.

On the other hand, if the student goes against the principles and basics, the instructor needs to be really strict until the student alters the bad habit. There should not be any compromise. This strictness positively leads the student to their goal.

Once an instructor is able to understand correctly the difference between “teaching” and “correcting”, then it is possible for him/her to be able to be appropriately strict when it is required.

The challenges Japan is facing in trying to build up the recovery, economy and education standards abound. It is important that everyone performs to the best of their ability and overcome all obstacles together. The role of instructors and educators is to help nurture and bring out these abilities.

I will do my best and make every effort with you.

A Short Instruction:

The purpose of this article is to apply the Ki principle (mind moves body) which is the fundamental principle of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido to our daily life.

It is not enough just to read, but it is important to positively practice the subject given each month. Learning through practice will be your lifelong asset.

Attitude of Learning

To have an “attitude of learning” is the foundation of all learning and studying.

In most homes and school environments, we do not get the chance to be taught an “attitude of learning”, so usually it depends on ourselves.

This “attitude of learning” can often be compared to an example of a “bowl.”

When water is poured into a bowl that already has a crack at the bottom, no matter how much water is poured in, the water will continue to leak out of it. Most of us, except someone who has developed in a specialized environment, have some cracks in our bowls. To stop the water from leaking out of the bowl, first we must seal up the crack in the bowl and then pour water into it. This is an example that relates to the “attitude of learning.”

Additionally, to pour new water into the bowl which is already filled with old water is not possible. In order to pour fresh new water into the bowl, we need to discard the old water first. Our past experiences and knowledge sometimes restrict the process of learning new things. By setting aside one’s own opinions and past knowledge, new things can be obtained and learned.

In a small size bowl, we can only pour a small amount of water. In a bigger size bowl, we can pour more water. To use the example of “the bowl” to apply to human beings, we can grow our “bowl” infinitely larger with willpower and effort. This also refers back to the “attitude of learning.”

Here is an example I would like to share.

The very first thing I learned while I was an Uchideshi, was the “attitude of learning.” Shortly after becoming Uchideshi, I was given the opportunity to accompany Soshu Koichi Tohei Sensei giving a lecture. I thought I had succeeded and done very well with this “Otomo” task.

A few days later, there was a request from an elementary school for an instructor to conduct a seminar. Soshu Koichi Tohei Sensei told me that I should be the one to go and conduct the seminar. I told him that I would not be able to do it as I have had no experience teaching at seminars, his reply was, “What are you talking about? I showed you how to do it the other day.”

I finally realized that my own “attitude of learning” was wrong. I wanted to be an instructor, however on that day, I did not watch him and observe carefully for myself from the position of the one giving the lecture. I was lacking the view of “If I were him this is how I would do it.”

Since then, I started to be aware and observe the whole lecture, where to stand, the posture, where to face, where to look and direct attention with the eyes, the speed, the pause, the sequence of the talk, the volume of voice, how to respond to questions and all the other small details.

If I did not realize the “attitude of learning” at that time, I would not learn much from the hundreds of chances of being “Otomo” afterwards. From that experience onwards, I always teach this “attitude of learning” at the very beginning, especially to children and school students.

So what do all of you think about your own “attitude of learning”?

A Short Instruction:

The purpose of this article is to apply the Ki principle (mind moves body) which is the fundamental principle of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido to our daily life.

It is not enough just to read, but it is important to positively practice the subject given each month. Learning through practice will be your lifelong asset.

Not Cutting Ki Flow

In the Japanese language there is a saying “Ki is cut off”.

Amongst Ki Society members, there is a member who is a world-famous mountain climber.

He says that while climbing mountains most climbers tend to cut Ki flow when they reach the summit. And it leads to accidents when they start their descent. He says it is necessary not to cut Ki flow till safely coming back to the start point. He added that is also necessary to maintain the Ki flow even after the climb is over.

This also applies to everyday life and business as well. So in which situation do we usually cut the flow of Ki?

When going back to work or school after a few days of leave or holiday, we tend to cut the flow of Ki. If we are only caught up thinking about how to spend the holiday break, the flow of Ki is stopped and it will take a great effort of energy to return back to everyday working/ studying life. However, if we only “try not to cut the flow of Ki” and constantly think about work and school, we can not really rest or enjoy our holiday.

The point is to confirm the first thing we will do when we come back to work or school after the holidays, which means to check the status of the flow, and then forget about it. With this little check, we can keep the state of “Not cutting the Ki flow” and it will become easier to comeback to work or school even after a refreshing holiday break.

It is important to plan ahead with our mind, and not to cut the Ki flow.

Just as in climbing a mountain, after achieving a major goal, there is a moment where Ki flow is easily cut off. Similarly, when students gain entry into their preferred University, and begin life as a college student, and if they have no clear goals for the future, this is when Ki flow is cut off. If they enter school in April, it often happens in May.

When Ki flow is being cut, the feeling of wanting to complete tasks or work diminishes. For instance, this year we have the Olympics in Great Britain. After earning a medal, sometimes an athlete burns out for the same reason.

In order to avoid this, it is important to set correct goals and think ahead, so that the flow of Ki will not be cut. It is very important especially to instructors to lead students to always be aware that Ki flow is never cut.

In the case of leaders who accomplish big goals and success after big events, it is important to be able to lead and make sure that project members’ flow of Ki is not cut after each event or project.

Soshu Koichi Tohei Sensei experienced this during World War II.

Upon receiving news of the defeat of Japan during the war, the Japanese troops were shocked and many abandoned themselves to despair. However, Tohei Sensei (the captain) thought, even though the war is technically over, the Japanese soldiers were still under combat conditions in the locations where they were, and it was crucial for them not to cut Ki flow.

From that evening, night patrol was conducted by the captain himself, because everyone else was affected by the news of the defeat, which made them unable to extend Ki and patrol properly.

After a few days, when things started to calm down, some members found out themselves that they had been cutting the flow of Ki and offered to take over for the captain in his night patrols.

The moments when Ki flow was easily cut were actually the most dangerous.

Even after the war, when Tohei Sensei returned home, he was very careful not to slacken the flow of Ki.

He knew that coming back from the battle field where everyday lives were compromised, a safe environment moved people to unconsciously cut Ki flow and so, on the day he arrived back home, he decided to help with the farming.

His parents asked him, “Since you have returned from the war and have been through a tough experience on the battlefield, why don’t you take some time to rest and recover?  But he continued the farming without any day off for the next few weeks.

The influence on the physical body seems to be huge, by cutting off Ki right after being released from a difficult period of time of hard situations. Unfortunately, some soldiers immediately started to become very weak and passed away without any known illness even though they were already in a safe environment.

To cut Ki flow without being aware is very serious. It is important to always be aware and realize in which circumstances you tend to cut the flow of Ki, and try to think ahead and extend Ki at each time.

Let us all train and practice not to cut the Ki flow.

A Short Instruction:

The purpose of this article is to apply the Ki principle (mind moves the body) which is the fundamental of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido to our daily life.

It is not enough just to read, but it is important to positively practice the subject given each month. Learning through practice will be your lifelong asset.

Calming the Mind

“Calming the Mind” does not mean to have a dull state of mind. The calmer our mind becomes, the faster our mind can move. Just as a top spinning very rapidly becomes steady, the most rapid movement results in calm.

If the state of mind is dull, the movements around us will appear faster than what they actually are, like when we are very busy and a sense of urgency wells up within us. If the state of mind is calm and active, the surrounding motions will seem slower and clearer. Because of this, we will feel that we have plenty of time to act, and so can respond to situations well.

This applies to Aikido practice as well.  If the mind is calm and clear, we can see and sense the movements of the opponent as being slower. Therefore we can respond instantly. If the mind is not clear and calm, the opponent’s movements will seem much faster which will make it difficult to respond to the opponent’s movements instantly.

Therefore, it is important to calm the mind before working on any Aikido techniques. Before motion there is always a state of calmness. To be able to move instantly, there is always a state of infinite calmness needed before it.

When I teach baseball players, “Calm” and “Action” is very important for them also.

For instance, when instructing the batters, it is obvious that if the batter’s mind is not calm, then when the pitcher throws the ball with even a very slight difference in the timing, the batter will not be able to hit the ball. On the other hand, if the batter’s mind is in a state of infinite calmness, he is able to respond to the pitcher’s throw, even if the pitcher tries to alter the timing of the throw. 

After teaching the players about “keeping one point,” they say that they are able to see the ball moving as if in slow motion. Inner calm results in great strength of action. Calm and action are exactly one.

Just as in the Shokushu (Ki Sayings) written by Soshu Koichi Tohei Sensei.

“No: 13 The Unity Of Calm And Action

Just as a top spinning very rapidly becomes steady, the most rapid movement results in calm.

Like the eye of the typhoon which is always peaceful, inner calm results in great strength of action. Calm and action are exactly one.

Only when we keep one point and unify our mind and body, can we find spare time even when busy. Keep a calm mind and you will be able to perform to the best of your ability even in an emergency or when facing important tasks.”

If we keep our mind calm and active we can respond instantly whatever the situation may be.

A Short Instruction:

The purpose of this article is to apply the Ki principle (mind moves the body) which is the fundamental of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido to our daily life.

It is not enough just to read, but it is important to positively practice the subject given each month. Learning through practice will be your lifelong asset.

Building Relationships

In addition to my teaching a Shinshin Toitsu Aikido Kai Headquarters, I also serve as a part-time lecturer at Keio University. Over the course of different generations, older people have often complained “I just cannot understand the young people these days. They always do stupid things. ” However, of course there are also still many great young people.

There was a young student who attended my classes about 10 years ago. He was interested in martial arts but seemed not to have the courage to enroll in a normal Dojo, but yet he took my Aikido classes.

A year later I received a polite handwritten thank you letter from him about how impressed he was with the Aikido lessons and their usefulness in daily life. Even after he graduated from university, every year I constantly received a New Year’s card, a summer greeting card and a letter updating me about his life.

This year, he started his own independent business. I’m thinking to support him as much as I can manage. By reflecting on it again, our relationship developed like this due to the careful and constant efforts by him. 

No matter how much you desire to build a relationship, there are sometimes relationships you cannot build or maintain. A relationship cannot be bought with money. A relationship must be developed very carefully. Humans tend to neglect things that are easily obtained. If you just meet someone in class, it doesn’t make you feel that it is a relationship.

Even in this big world, the fact that I became a part-time Lecturer at Keio University, and that the young man enrolled into the University and took those Aikido classes, can be described as a big coincidence. If only somewhere or somehow something different had happened, the encounter would not have taken place.

By thinking about it this way, you really appreciate relationships.

Living in a self-centered way of thinking makes you consider the loss and gain by associating with people, and causes you to enter and cut relationships according to personal convenience. This can clearly not be considered as building up a relationship and there is also no collaboration obtained.

In the case of this young man, I have heard that his parents taught him from a young age the importance of maintaining and developing relationships, which led him to continue to practice this even through adulthood when living apart from his parents. As it seems, he likes writing letters which is also a really wonderful habit. There is no doubt that there are many people other than me who want to collaborate with him. The foundation of this young man’s success has already been laid. 

The basis of building up relationships is that Ki is exchanging. For example, even sending a greeting card only once a year means that you have not forgotten the other person and the help you have received. On the other hand, there are families that see each other every day but do not exchange Ki.

How can Ki be sent to the other person? There are various ways and writing letters is one example. Now, do you still exchange Ki with the people that have helped you once?

A Short Instruction:

The purpose of this article is to apply the Ki principle (mind moves the body) which is the fundamental of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido to our daily life.

It is not enough just to read, but it is important to positively practice the subject given each month. Learning through practice will be your lifelong asset.

Showing No Openings (Weak Points)

In martial arts the phrase “showing no openings (to have no weak point)” is very important. In Shinshin Toitsu Aikido trainings, we practice the standing posture or holding bokken which have no room to be overrun. To show no openings is also very important in daily life, especially with human relationships. When do you think people can easily make the room to be overrun?

First, speaking ill of others could create such an opening. For example, “A” is dissatisfied with “B”, and while B is not around, A says negative things about B. Assuming that B would not hear about it, this is a behavior that creates an opening.

Of course, there is always a possibility of someone else tells B what A speaks around and he/she often distort A’s words or even add some evil meanings. This could lead to a worse result, than when A complains directly to B.

Let’s talk about another example of an “opening”.　

The one who spreads minus Ki through dissatisfaction and gossip, attracts negative persons. This is like self-voluntarily inviting minus. There is also a possibility of someone sneaking up behind, use A’s negative feelings of B, to benefit themselves.

I have been teaching the principles of Ki to many company executives. After the classes, they come with many questions about their problems in the company. Half of the trouble in these relationships is due to a little carelessness on the part of the executives, themselves. In an unguarded moment, they invite negative Ki or persons.

The one who does not gossip or pass on rumors has no “openings” or weak points. There is no room to invade this person. Managers and leaders, who have responsibility, should show no “openings”/weak points in behavior, speech and actions.

Another example of an “opening” is to keep your friends or someone important away and be out of contact.

Imagine “C” and “D” are good friends, but both become busy and have not heard from each other for several months. Then C hears somebody say that D is talking badly about C. C thinks, “D could never say that.” The rumors could not have any justification under normal circumstances, but because either have not met for awhile, it would be difficult to verify, thus cause both to become estranged. 

Because of situations like those above, relationships can be damaged or destroyed.

Perhaps there could be a bigger reason for this estrangement. “E” could be a very bad person, notice that there is some distance between C and D. E deliberately gives unnecessary information to C, and make C and D feel apart. Especially if E says to C “please make it a secret what you heard from me”. This makes C difficult to verify/confront D about the rumors.

To leave one’s relationship without Ki communication by not keeping in touch could make the room to be misused by someone else. Even one phone call or one letter exchanged could connect each strongly and when something happens, they can ask directly without any hesitation. There is no room for E to step in.

It could be that one might blame E for trying to step in and make C&D’s communication bad.  However, if all you can do is to say “What E has done is bad”, it does not do anything to protect relationships. It is a fact that people who like to cause problems are inevitable in life, so the effort to make sure there is no “opening” is very important.

Even with relationships in daily life there are many other examples of “openings”. Please find many other probable reasons for it. 

A Short Instruction:

The purpose of this article is to apply the Ki principle (mind moves the body) which is the fundamental of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido to our daily life.

It is not enough just to read, but it is important to positively practice the subject given each month. Learning through practice will be your lifelong asset.

Protecting Oneself

Many people think the “Art of Self-Defense” as “how to cope when being attacked by bad people”. Learning how to handle an attacker, by training on a daily basis, of course, would be a good thing. However, in an actual situation, it is too late to begin “handling” an attacker after already being attacked.

The true Self-Defense is to sense and evade the danger ahead of time. So training how to sense danger is actually very important.

In a train station or inside the train, if you try looking around, most people around are looking at the screens of their mobile phone or at game consoles. They do not pay much attention to or have much interest in the people around them. Therefore, if there is any threat of approaching danger, they would not be able to sense it.

To be able to protect oneself, there is a minimum distance needed around oneself. This is referred to as “Maai”, but when surrounded in a crowded place, it is difficult to be able to create the distance around oneself. This would be especially so, when in a train or bus or the inside of an elevator. When someone whom one is not familiar with comes inside “Maai”, one should recognize and check what state of mind these people are exhibiting.

When you have an uncomfortable feeling, you put in place a natural distance from that person or get on the next train or elevator. But when concentrating on a mobile phone or game console, one may actually invite danger inside Maai. Extending Ki to the surroundings is actually fundamental in the protection of oneself.

Some days ago while it was raining, I was driving my car and what I saw caught my attention. There was a person riding on his bicycle with earphones in his ears, while holding an umbrella and also flickering at the screen of his mobile phone. Already, it seems obvious that being aware of his surroundings is disregarded and he may be inviting danger.

Those who always use a mobile phone or game console while being out in a public area should first please look around you for one day. You will realize many things that you were not aware before.

“Protecting Oneself” applies the same to human relationships.

In human relationships there is also “natural distance (Maai)”. In protecting oneself there is a minimum distance required. Unlike physical distance, the “distance” in relationships is not visible. This is felt by sense and the only way to learn would be through experience.

In regards to this, we will continue further at another opportunity.