Christopher Curtis first encountered Aikido through a meeting with Yoshimitsu Yamada as part of a theatre group. Later, after participating in a three-year meditation retreat, he found his lifelong instructor Shinichi Suzuki and quickly joined the Maui Aikido Dojo. Staying with Suzuki, Curtis had the opportunity to train in Japan at the ()/Ki Society Honbu […]
Hello everyone. Onegaishimasu This morning we are looking at #11 of Tohei Sensei’s “13 Rules for Instructors.” I’ll read that to you now. “#11 Do not be an arrogant teacher. It is a characteristic of Ki training that a student progresses by following a teacher, and a teacher progresses by leading the students. Please train together […]
Onegaishimasu This morning we are addressing the 10th of Koichi Tohei Sensei’s 13 “Rules for Instructors.” I’ll read this for you: #10 Don’t hold back when you teach. Understand that a student’s progress is your own progress. Also, don’t hurry to see the results. No one can master something all at once. Know that teaching […]
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, everyone. Onegaishimasu I hope everyone’s very well. This morning we are addressing #9 of Tohei Sensei’s “13 Rules for Instructors.” Let me begin by reading this for you: “Do not lose your temper. You must know that it is a shame for an Aikido person to lose their temper, […]
Good morning, everyone. Onegaishimasu Today, we’re looking at the 5th of Tohei Sensei’s “13 Rules for Instructors.” This says: “The martial arts begin and end with respect. This should not be only in a visible form but must come from our heart. Do not lose gratitude towards your teachers, especially the founder who opened the way. […]
Generally speaking, students in the West have little understanding of the relationship between a teacher and a student. Many students have no idea how to behave with someone who is supporting them, and in fact may even be intimidated by such a thing. Therefore, as teachers here in the West, we need to be very […]
Sunday Class, October 30, 2022 This morning we are addressing the third of Tohei Sensei’s “13 Rules for Instructors,” and I will read it to you here: “There is no conflict in the absolute universe. Conflict only occurs in the relative world. Winning by fighting is a relative victory. Winning without fighting is an absolute […]
The original discussion of the Five Principles of Shinshin Toitsu Aikido was in during the Zoom online training on June 12, 2022. Subsequently, in September and early October, we had discussions of the individual five principles, for which the transcripts are provided following the links below:Sep 4: Ki is extendingSep 11: Know your partner’s mindSep […]
Sunday Class, July 24, 2022 Good morning, everybody. Onegaishimasu I’ll begin this morning by reading Shokushu # 21. “Setsudo:” “There is no selfish person who fulfills the way of the universe. If you awaken to the principles and way of the universe, you are given the responsibility from the universe, to share them throughout the world. Do […]
Good afternoon, everyone. Koichi Tohei Sensei said, “The purpose of our Shinshin Toitsu Aikido practice is to become one with the universe.” Each one of us here has the responsibility to awaken to our ultimate purpose for being born here on this earth. I am not talking about our relative purposes, yours being unique to […]