Aikikai in a pinch?

[roswell1329]

Hi all!  I'm so happy I found this site.  I've been looking for a Ki forum for so long!  Many thanks to Adam (?) for bringing it to life.  

Some simple questions:  I've been away from Ki-Aikido for awhile, but I would love to get back into it.  One problem is that I live a good distance away from the nearest Ki-Aikido dojo.  Would training at the local Aikikai dojos during the week, and spending one or two classes a month at the closest Ki-Aikido dojo (about 2.5 hours away) have a nullifying effect?  I want Ki to be the focus of my study and I don't want to hinder that progress, but I miss the Aikido technique.  Would it be too difficult to pursue my study of Ki within a style where Ki is not the focus?  Would 1-2 classes a month be enough to keep me rooted in my study of Ki?  Is there anything I can do on my own to help further my study of Ki in the absence of a dojo?

[Barbara]

 Hi folks,
there's an interesting topic!

roswell1329 wrote:

> One problem is that I live a good distance away from the nearest Ki-Aikido dojo. Would training at the local Aikikai dojos during the week, and spending one or two classes a month at the closest Ki-Aikido dojo (about 2.5 hours away) have a nullifying effect? <

What could you mean with "nullifying"? That you won't learn anything at all? Surely you will learn, if you want to and are open to what is taught. But how much the two styles will collide depends a lot on the teacher(s) of that Aikikai group. Where I started In Aikikai Germany, the instructors taught quite a lot of Ki basics, though not using the same expressions: we did unbendable arm, unliftable body, the Sayu motion etc. I only learned the terms later after joining Ki-Aikido here in CO.

> I want Ki to be the focus of my study and I don't want to hinder that progress, but I miss the Aikido technique.  Would it be too difficult to pursue my study of Ki within a style where Ki is not the focus?  <

I don't know how advanced you are, but I'd say: you always can make Ki your focus, no matter what your Aikikai partners do.
From my experience in other styles: I saw plenty of Ki watching all the great high ranked instructors there; and they teach it, just not with that focus on Ki and Ki exercises like Ki Society. But, maybe because it's not in the curriculum, most of their students seem to miss it ;-)

> Would 1-2 classes a month be enough to keep me rooted in my study of Ki? <

If you have a great Ki-Aikido teacher, I'd say even less. IMHO, Ki exercises you can practice by your own, like breathing, relaxing etc. For the Aikido techniques you'd need a partner though.

> Is there anything I can do on my own to help further my study of Ki in the absence of a dojo? <

Maybe get the books of Carol Shifflett, they are a great source for Ki-exercises.
Or other Ki-Aikido books, listed on our website at
http://www.aikidoki.net/bookvids.htm.    
BTW, Bengt Lindblad (Moderator of the Ki-Info list, you know ;-)) maintains the "New Jersey Ki Society Virtual Dojo" webpage and  the "Secrets of Aikido" pages there: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/1804/

And you might ask John Davis about it too: he's been (or still is?) in the same situation.

All in all, to that quote from Frank Gordon Sensei: "All Aikido is good Aikido", I'd like to add "And any Aikido is better than no Aikido!"

Hope that helps, good luck, and Oneness of Mind and Body!
:-)  Barbara

[roswell1329]

Most definitely that helps!  From my readings, I gathered that Ki Development can be very much a singular activity, but I was worried about doing the technique right.  That's why I suggested 1-2 classes a month.  

It's funny that you're from Colorado, since I am too.  I'm in Colorado Springs, so the Denver dojo is the closest dojo to me, but it's about 2 - 2.5 hours from my house.  If you're familiar with the Denver instructors, would you still say that 1-2 classes a month are more than enough?  

[Barbara]

Hi roswell,

It's funny that you're from Colorado, since I am too.  I'm in Colorado Springs, so the Denver dojo is the closest dojo to me, but it's about 2 - 2.5 hours from my house.   

I'll give you more info about Rocky Mountain Ki Society and its dojos offlist. Here some links you might have a look at - if you haven't already:

http://www.aikidoki.net/aboutrmks.htm

http://www.aikidoki.net/RMKS/chandler.htm

and the aikiweb dojo search:
http://www.aikiweb.com/search/search.html    
There are four Aikido dojos in Colorado Springs to choose from. I'll search my files for people I know  there and if I can give any recommendations.  

Best wishes,
* * * *  Barbara