Thank you for this enlightening tribute to Koichi Tohei. I have always known he was incredible but did not know he was alive and active into the early 2000's. I had read about aikido since high school and college (mid 70's) but by the time I started Aikido in 1985 I had just assumed he had passed. That was an opportunity missed, even while visiting the Honbu in 1996-1997.
I often wonder what aikido would've become if Tohei Koichi became Dosshu after Ueshiba. It makes me sad that I didn't live in that alternative universe.
Why wonder? History tells us the answer...Kohei would have been doshu for a while and than got bored and continue with another endeavour. Being doshu is not about being an aikido rockstar, its about being able to guide the aikido community keep it unitited and keep it growing. Kisshomaru did an excellent job. Thanks to his selfless efforts under his vision and guidance aikido grew to an international organisation. All other aikido rockstars failed to grow their aikido organisations, and their organisations didnt prosper too well after their passing. Saito, Tomiki, Tohei, Shioda..
Ueshiba's son was meant to continue Ueshiba's original teachings while Koichi was meant to create his own movement. If Koichi became Dosshu, then the original art of Ueshiba would be lost as it would be modified. Thank God that you don't live in that alternative universe
One fundamental difference: Tohei took aikido beyond martial arts and his teachings transmit what is unique about the Chinese/Japanese traditions: the Taoist/Buddhist influence. Ueshiba failed in this respect (maybe that is why he stopped teaching at the Honbu after the war). It is interesting to note how Theravada Buddhism has so little influence on martal arts in countries where it is dominant. Incidentally , this is why many senior aikido teachers who initially followed Tohei later left his organisation - they could not go beyond the narrow goals of martial art.
Ironic that the problem originated from Aikido passing from founder to son, instead of to the best student. And then after Tohei dies his organization passes to his son. (Not saying he's not the best, don't know him.) But this is often an issue with martial arts organizations. For instance O Sensei had several students who were older than his son and arguably better (Though by what criteria?) Most stayed inside the organization as senior teachers, but some like Tohei went their own way. Tohei seemed to be a creative guy and developed his own, effective, teaching methods. However that's not to say he captured all of O Sensei's art, or spirit. Hikitsuchi Sensei stayed within Aikikai but had a very different interpretation. So did Saito Sensei. Gozo Shioda created his own school. Stanley Pranin covers this and many other cases very well in his writings. One problem is that few people want to speak honestly on the record, as it can cause additional rifts, be seen as disrespectful and also hurt feelings....best not to criticize at all, perhaps.
Aikikai wasnt O senseis Aikido anyhow. When the Aikikai was founded he already was in Iwama and retired. Morihiro Saito was still there and the longest student untill his end. I think he is the true successor.
You are very fortunate. I learned Aikido in Florida during the mid/late Sixties. I recognize all of the techniques as being from Master Tohei. He had the real idea that powers Aikido. It is not a sequence of grappling and throwing techniques, it is a flow of life energy. I went into Tai-Chi during the early Seventies, as I could not find a good Aikido school in the East Bay area of San Francisco. I haven't seen good Aikido for many, many years. Aikido and Pa-Kua _sure_ have a lot in common ...
@@gordonames1892 Yeah, that's how it came to the US. I lived in Satellite Beach, Florida, which is immediately adjacent to Patrick Air Force Base (my dad worked at Cape Canaveral.)
@Tai Chi Tube I don't think this is a matter of genetics, but about training and effort. I won't deny Kisshomaru had his skills... but with Saito and Tohei we are talking about two authentic prodigies in matter of aikido. Kisshomaru didn't do it bad at all, don't get me wrong... and probably tradition (bloodlines) speaks louder than skills in this world of budo, but come on... look at Tohei and Saito, they were different than any other aikidoka we have seen at that time! And I'm not ignoring other prodigies such as Shioda or Mochizuki... but they didn't follow that specific path of preserving Kobukan... of course is my opinion!
@@loktar1234 Kisshomaru in a teaching once said that his father was trained in Daito ryu only a few weaks. What is a total joke. Like he want to ignore that Daito Ryu was that main part. Actually Aikido is Daito ryu with a few changes. Also the true successor Morihiro Saito was also be quite ignored from Aikikai. Looks like Kisshomaru was a liar and assh...
@@Gieszkanne As far as we know... for most aikidoka and daito-ryu instructors aikido is, in fact, a style of daito-ryu; Ueshiba-ha daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu! Kisshomaru must have forgotten one of the first books published by his father: "Aiki-jujutsu Densho" (1934) with hundreds of drawings of daito-ryu techniques, later re-interpreted and slightly changed (some of them completely preserved tho) in his "Maki-no-Ichi" (1954) which was known as the first "official" book of aikido techniques. Daito-ryu roots in aikido are undeniable and absolutely beautiful!
I had one lesson with Koichi Tohei in 1977 in Wailuku. Holy-molee. Some moments change your life.
I had his book "Ki in everyday life" Excellent stuff...
Thank you for this enlightening tribute to Koichi Tohei. I have always known he was incredible but did not know he was alive and active into the early 2000's. I had read about aikido since high school and college (mid 70's) but by the time I started Aikido in 1985 I had just assumed he had passed. That was an opportunity missed, even while visiting the Honbu in 1996-1997.
Mas Shoji. Gardena Aiki Ki. Thank you for your teaching. Miss you everyday, Frank Martinez Downey California ❤❤❤
Master Tohei was so extraordinary.
The best scool of aikido
Good stuff. I love Roy Dean doing the narration.
I often wonder what aikido would've become if Tohei Koichi became Dosshu after Ueshiba. It makes me sad that I didn't live in that alternative universe.
Why wonder? History tells us the answer...Kohei would have been doshu for a while and than got bored and continue with another endeavour.
Being doshu is not about being an aikido rockstar, its about being able to guide the aikido community keep it unitited and keep it growing.
Kisshomaru did an excellent job. Thanks to his selfless efforts under his vision and guidance aikido grew to an international organisation.
All other aikido rockstars failed to grow their aikido organisations, and their organisations didnt prosper too well after their passing. Saito, Tomiki, Tohei, Shioda..
@@JustMe-vz3wd Ageed!
Ueshiba's son was meant to continue Ueshiba's original teachings while Koichi was meant to create his own movement. If Koichi became Dosshu, then the original art of Ueshiba would be lost as it would be modified. Thank God that you don't live in that alternative universe
@@helennethers9777 Alternate universe...not alternative
@@alexscott730 keyboard warrior
Very well done video. Thank you AJ.
Koichi Tohei is great.
I’m looking to get back to Ki aikido only did it for a year but taught me a lot before I went to a different aikido style.
Have you had any luck finding a school?
One fundamental difference: Tohei took aikido beyond martial arts and his teachings transmit what is unique about the Chinese/Japanese traditions: the Taoist/Buddhist influence. Ueshiba failed in this respect (maybe that is why he stopped teaching at the Honbu after the war). It is interesting to note how Theravada Buddhism has so little influence on martal arts in countries where it is dominant. Incidentally , this is why many senior aikido teachers who initially followed Tohei later left his organisation - they could not go beyond the narrow goals of martial art.
Ironic that the problem originated from Aikido passing from founder to son, instead of to the best student. And then after Tohei dies his organization passes to his son. (Not saying he's not the best, don't know him.) But this is often an issue with martial arts organizations. For instance O Sensei had several students who were older than his son and arguably better (Though by what criteria?) Most stayed inside the organization as senior teachers, but some like Tohei went their own way. Tohei seemed to be a creative guy and developed his own, effective, teaching methods. However that's not to say he captured all of O Sensei's art, or spirit. Hikitsuchi Sensei stayed within Aikikai but had a very different interpretation. So did Saito Sensei. Gozo Shioda created his own school. Stanley Pranin covers this and many other cases very well in his writings. One problem is that few people want to speak honestly on the record, as it can cause additional rifts, be seen as disrespectful and also hurt feelings....best not to criticize at all, perhaps.
Shioda's style is hard style dating back to 1930s aikido. If you look at 1960s video of O'Sensei's aikido and ki aikdio today, it' similar.
Aikikai wasnt O senseis Aikido anyhow. When the Aikikai was founded he already was in Iwama and retired. Morihiro Saito was still there and the longest student untill his end. I think he is the true successor.
lopezb nothing wrong with criticism when justified and I agree with you!
Being doshu is not about being "the best student", i dont know why people just cant accept that.
@@mrteacher1315 very true.
【🥋合気道を行っている方々全ての人に理解して戴きたい💝】
合気道が最も人々の目に着けるチャンスは、
（畳上）受けの方が受け身をする時に
畳の上だから柔らかい✌️と判断してしまうのか
受け身時にバチバチ畳を叩いて音を鳴らす事が多いですが、本当にそれで良いか
私は長年疑問に思って参りました☝️
何故なら実際の場は圧倒的にコンクリートや砂利等なのでバチバチ音を立てながらの受け身なんて
怪我してしまうので相応しい受け身では無いと思います。
ご想像ください。
合気道の受け身は柔道などを経験している方であれば大きな差はないので直ぐにできると思いますが、
柔道でも同じ☝️やはり畳上だとしっかりと音を立てながらの受け身しますね。
それが硬い地面でも受け身がとれる様、柔らかい受け身を覚えた方が良いと思います。
指導者の方々には是非ともこの重要課題に取り組んで戴き、明るい合気道の未来を築いて戴きたい所存です。
Ki Aikido world has also split a bit: Ki Society (ki no kenkyukai), Ki no Kenkyukai International, and Ki Federation of Great Britain.
@Some Guy Ahahaha !!!! Well said !!!!!
That should remind us that being an excellent aikido teacher and being a doshu are two different things.
My Sensi was a disciple of Koichi Tohei.
You are very fortunate. I learned Aikido in Florida during the mid/late Sixties. I recognize all of the techniques as being from Master Tohei. He had the real idea that powers Aikido. It is not a sequence of grappling and throwing techniques, it is a flow of life energy. I went into Tai-Chi during the early Seventies, as I could not find a good Aikido school in the East Bay area of San Francisco. I haven't seen good Aikido for many, many years. Aikido and Pa-Kua _sure_ have a lot in common ...
I studied Aikido of all places Minot. North Dakoa when I was in the military.
@@gordonames1892 Yeah, that's how it came to the US. I lived in Satellite Beach, Florida, which is immediately adjacent to Patrick Air Force Base (my dad worked at Cape Canaveral.)
I understand aikido threw Tohey's opinion
Tohei should have been doshu and kissomaru should have been his accountant.
any arguments to that belief?
The only true successor of O Senseis Aikido was Morihiro Saito anyway.
Don’t rate him at all . Saito was in my book far far better . He should have been made Doshu!!
Head and shoulders above anyone else!
@Tai Chi Tube I don't think this is a matter of genetics, but about training and effort. I won't deny Kisshomaru had his skills... but with Saito and Tohei we are talking about two authentic prodigies in matter of aikido.
Kisshomaru didn't do it bad at all, don't get me wrong... and probably tradition (bloodlines) speaks louder than skills in this world of budo, but come on... look at Tohei and Saito, they were different than any other aikidoka we have seen at that time! And I'm not ignoring other prodigies such as Shioda or Mochizuki... but they didn't follow that specific path of preserving Kobukan... of course is my opinion!
It was tohei himself that recommended kissomaru to be doshu. Its in a 1995 interview
Current Aikikai is just sport business."Ki"is most important matter of marshal art and life itself.
That's the secret part most think it's only mechanical but it's much more alive and subtle and has to be harnessed.
Aiki-doh was came from Gusoku-jyutu. include more realistic punch call Ätemi and keri-waza .
It's not just punching and kicking it's manipulation of subtle body.
Please traducing to the Spanish.. thanks
One Helluva Vid.
The only thing that always confused me about Koichi Tohei is his little jum during tai Sabaki
OSensei did that, as well. Look at the 1935 video. He did it a good bit.
Roy Sunaka in his Aikido book said that Koichi Tohei demanded all photos of Ueshiiba be taken down and only his be left up. ???
Not true.
@@loktar1234
Kisshomaru in a teaching once said that his father was trained in Daito ryu only a few weaks. What is a total joke. Like he want to ignore that Daito Ryu was that main part. Actually Aikido is Daito ryu with a few changes. Also the true successor Morihiro Saito was also be quite ignored from Aikikai.
Looks like Kisshomaru was a liar and assh...
@@loktar1234
Around 20 Years! He had become teaching permission from Sokaku.
@@Gieszkanne As far as we know... for most aikidoka and daito-ryu instructors aikido is, in fact, a style of daito-ryu; Ueshiba-ha daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu!
Kisshomaru must have forgotten one of the first books published by his father: "Aiki-jujutsu Densho" (1934) with hundreds of drawings of daito-ryu techniques, later re-interpreted and slightly changed (some of them completely preserved tho) in his "Maki-no-Ichi" (1954) which was known as the first "official" book of aikido techniques. Daito-ryu roots in aikido are undeniable and absolutely beautiful!
Not true
He is a controversial character.
As I watch these videos I'm reminded that even the most respected martial art masters are fraudulent.
How so?
Mike Wazowski I am reminded that even the most respected martial arts are bullshit -_-
too true...
As I read this comment I'm reminded of how susceptible people are to making judgments of others they know nothing of.
How do you resist non resistance?