The founder of SHINKIDO studied Aikido first with the Yoshinkan and subsequently
with Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido and the Ki No Kenkyukai (Ki Society) both founded by
Tohei Sensei, before finally coming to the decision and actual eventuality of starting his
own independent school of Aikido.


          

 

                                                                                                                                                                        

 
                                                                                                                   

Bussell Sensei - founder of Shinkido
       

                                                                                                                                                       
Tohei Sensei taught his Principles of Coordination of Mind and Body as a part of, but also separately from his Aikido teaching. It was here that we were first introduced to the four Principles of Coordination of Mind and Body.

To differentiate between Tohei Sensei's organization, the Ki No Kenkyukai and Ryurei Aikido's form of Ki Development Exercises, Ryurei Aikido introduced the name Shinkido. This name has since started to appear in various parts of the world. No other organization utilizing this name is associated in any way with Ryurei Aikido or its founder the originator of this term.

Ryurei Aikido also changed the Principles a little and refers to them as the Five Shinkido Principles for Coordination of Mind, Body and Spirit. (We will introduce them to you later.) For the most part the Four Principles for Coordination of Mind and Body as taught by the Ki No Kenkyukai and almost all of the exercises practised by them and Tohei's Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido have remained virtually unchanged since their inception in 1971. This is not thought of negatively, on the contrary, it is a testament to the correctness of them in their original form. As developed and taught by Tohei Sensei.

We have, however, expanded on the number of exercises and the degree of difficulty of many of the exercises. In other words we have taken the original concept of Tohei Sensei and pushed the envelope further and further. This has not been achieved alone, in fact it has been achieved with the input of many other individuals but especially the help and critique of the late George Simcox Sensei, the former Chief Instructor of the Virginia Ki Society. A Tohei Sensei affiliated school of aikido. Shinkido has diverged from many of the teachings of Tohei Sensei's Ki No Kenkyukai.

This has been done with complete respect, admiration and a sense of thanks of and for Tohei Sensei's teachings. His teaching methods are still, in the main, adhered to. We do in some instances diverge quite radically from his original teachings, always with researched, rational, reason. For all students of Aikido we hope to be able to offer something of value to you in our teachings.

For students of Tai Chi or Chi Gong we hope we are able to give more insight and understanding of Ki (Chi) than is generally available from many Tai Chi and Chi Gong teachers. Yoga students should be able to gain much from Shinkido, as too should many students of almost any serious Martial Art from the Orient. We may make some contentious statements, introduce some unorthodox ideas. Please do not be offended by any of them. Do analyse them, think about them and either accept or reject them.

Over the years we have included more fundamental Principles for Shinkido. Originally Tohei Sensei gave us Four Principles for Coordination of Mind and Body. We renamed them the Five Shinkido Principles for Coordination of Mind, Body and Spirit. note we added one more making five. They are;

Remember also

Many people try to move another with muscular force. Although we speak in Aikido of moving without strength, few can actually do so. This is usually because they try to move their own wrist (if that is the part being held) this by and of itself creates muscular tension prohibiting the execution of the movement, unless one is much stronger than Uke. However once you master the concept of Taking Up the Ki Slack and Moving from the One Point, you will be totally amazed what is so easily achieved even with an uke perhaps three times your size. (Yes, we mean this literally.)

Many people have a difficult time in grasping the concept of moving from the One Point rather than the wrist. Language, it seems, is a quite inadequate form of communication for imparting this idea. Most find it easier to comprehend once they have "felt" it. After that with a little practice the idea is clearer and is able to be performed fairly readily.
By saying "moving from the one point" we don't mean that the one point necessarily moves, but that the movement originates from the one point.

For those who are not familiar with the teachings of Ryurei Aikido then most will find these statements to be just a lot of gobbledigook.
If you get the chance to take in a Seminar you will find many exciting things to attract you to learn more.
Besides the Five Shinkido Principles for Coordination of Mind, Body and Spirit, we also teach Shinki-Breathing, Shinki-Meditation and Shinki-Ryoho

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                           Shinki-Breathing                                                                                                 Shinkido - basic Ki testing

 

                                                                                                  
                                                                                            Shinkido during summer camp

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                            

 

 

 

 

Shinkido, is the result of the development, by Ryurei Aikido, of the teachings and practices in Ki Development of the Ki No Kenkyukai of Koichi Tohei Sensei in Japan. Many of the exercises spoken of here can be traced to the teachings of Tohei Sensei. However many are from the developments made at Ryurei Aikido and are based on the Principles taught by Ryurei Aikido.

Ryurei Aikido's day to day interest, is almost exclusively, the application of Shinkido to the practice of Aikido and Shinki-Ryoho, (Shinki therapy) a form of holistic massage therapy.

However Ryurei Aikido is also devoted to the study of and formulation of new and more advanced techniques and exercises for the utilization of Shinkido for purposes other than in the martial art of Aikido or any other martial art. Ryurei Aikido offers corporate training courses utilizing the concepts and techniques of Shinkido in Team Building, Stress Management, Staff Safety, and other types of corporate training, as well as training in the Arts of Shinki-Ryoho.