ikl SO KENIKYUBKAI H.Q. USMIGOME NEI No. 202 {KI SOCIETY H.Q.) 2-30 WARAMACHI Unifieation of Mind and Badly with Mind and Body Coordinated TEL (03)389 246, 94ez May 15, 1974 Dear As of May 1, 1974 I have decided to leave Aikido Headquarters headed by Mr. Kisshomaru Ueshiba and establish Shin Shin Teitau Aikido, that is Aikido with Mind and Body Coordinated. Except for four years spent on the battlefield dur- ing the war, for the past thirty years, I have tried with all my heart to repay the dness of Master Morihei Ueshiba who founded and taught me Aikido. Ihave spread Aikido to the United States and have supported Second Doshu Kiashomaru. Ueshiba since the Founder's death. But now circumstances leave me no choice, and with deep regret I leave Aikido Headquarters. I would like to explain to you the reasons and feelings behind my decision. ‘Alone and at the invitation of Hawaii Nishikai, in February 1953 I went to Hawa ior the first time to strive at spreading Aikido in America, Dr. Katsuzo Nishi founder and president of the Nishikai Headquarters in Japan, an organization dedicated to better health, had rec ommended me to hie branch organization in Hawaii. Iwas not sent by Aikido Headquarters. At that time Aikido Headquarters was a headquarter in name only. Because of the bombing during the war, the roof and walls of Aikido Headquarters were about to fallin, There was also no mats in the dojo, Second Doshu Kisshomaru Veshiba was working at and receiving a salary from Osaka Shoji Company Ltd., a stock company. At headquarters there were only a few students practicing only one hour a day. In Hawaii no one had heard about Aikido, for even in Japan only a handful of people knew the name of Aikido, Under these circumstances I was confronted by and had to overcome many challenges from other martial arts and sports. But by October of 1953 [had established Aikido dojos on all the islands in the state of Hawaii. Since then during the past twenty years I have visited eighteen states in America including California, Llinois, New York and Washington, and did much to spread Aikido ag it is in the United States at present. While Iwas making a second trip to the United States in 1955, Mr. Gozo Shioda, one of Master Morihei Ueshiba's high ranking students, separated from Aikido Hi quarters to start a new dojo which he called Yoshinkan Headquarters, By gathering rich men, politicians, writers, etc., he was able to make a successful start. On the other hand with the conditions existing at Aikido Headquarters described previously, Aikido Headquarters could not compare with Yoshinkan. The danger of Aikido Head- quarters crumbling was very real and near, Iwas aware of this while in Hawa After explaining the problem to my stadents there, I received about $1,500.00 from them and sent this money to Japan, With it Aikido Headquarters repaired the dojo and acquired new tatarni mats. ‘After returning to Japan, I first put down Yoshinkan Aikido and worked hard to raise Aikido Headquarters up in the world, With this feeling and at the request of Kisshomaru Ueshiba, I accepted the position of Chief Instructor of Aikido Head- quarters. www.aikidojournal.comPage 2: ‘After learning Daitoryu Jujitsu from Master Sokaku Takeda, Morihet Ueshiba finally originated Aikido by introducing the principles of Ki into the techniques of Daitoryu Jujitau. Thus it is Ki which is the essence of Aikido. It is from Ki that Aikido gathers its strength and takes its name, and this is why Morihei Ueshiba is called the Founder of Aikido, Without the principles of Ki, Aikido becomes no- thing but the original Daitoryu Jujitsu. Thus since Master Morihei Ueshiba's death on April 26, 1969, I was convinced that the best way to repay his kindness and preserve true Aikido for posterity was to establish the principles of Ki firmly at Aikido Headquarters, I made con- tinued efforts to do this, But unfortunately Second Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba did not accept my view and said, ''It ig not necessary to train Ki. Ki comes of itself while practicing Aikido," Prevented from establishing the principles of Ki at Aikido Headquarters, | was afraid that with my death these principles would be lost from the world. So after discussions with Second Doshu Kieshomaru Ueshiba, I obtained his consent that I teach the principles of Ki at another place outside of Headquarters. But before 1 did this, I voluntarily imposed the following five conditions on myself, Second Doshu gladly agreed to them. 1, Iwill never use the name of Aikido. 2, Iwill never teach Aikido techniques. 3, Iwill never use the Aikido Headquarters building. 4. Twill never use the money of Aikido Headquarte 5, Iwill never take students away from Headquarters, Not only did I want to hand down the principles of Ki, but simultaneously I had to support Aikido Headquarters. This is why with these five conditions I kept myself from infringing on Headquarters in anyway. After teaching solely Aikido for thirty years, now without using the name of Aikido or teaching its techniques, I had to teach only the principles of Ki. Perhaps you can understand and appreciate the difficulties and inconveniences I faced. At the request of Second Doshu that I remain as Chief Instructor of Headquarters, I continued to teach Aikido techniques in my classes at Headquarters. Meanwhile I organized the Ki No Kenkyukai (Ki Society) and have been teaching the following matiers there. 1, Mind and Body Unification (Coordination of mind and body in daily life). 2, Ki Breathing Methods (Breathing methods to unify mind and body done ina state of relaxation). 3. Ki No Seiza Ho (Ki Meditation to teach calm in action, action in calm). 4. Ki Development Exercises {Coordination of Mind and Body in action). 5, Kiatsu Ho (Pressing and healing with the power of Ki). To my students abroad I suggested that besides ordinary Aikido classes, they hold Ki classes once a week and teach others how to relax, how to coordinate mind and bedy, how to aleep well at night, and other things of direct, practical value to our daily lives. These Ki classes would be ideal for the old, the sick, the weak, or for anyone who does not want to throw or be thrown by others and yet wants to learn about Ki. Those who followed my advice gained new students who came to learn Ki www.aikidojournal.comPage 3: but net Aikido, me very much. nd their dojo's grew more and more. Consequently they thanked In Japan there was no conflict between Ki Society and Aikido Headquarters, and no problems arose. However Mr, Yoshimitsu Yamada, 6th dan Aikido instructor from Headquarters who was dispatched to New York, has been opposed to the Ki Society from the beginning of last year. He purposedly distorted the facts of the situation and said, "Which do you belong to, the Ki Society or Aikido? If you be- long te the Ki Society, you cannot practice Aikide from now. Keichi Tohei was removed from the position of Ghief Instructor of Headquarters." For the past twenty years I have been spreading only Aikido in the United States, Not really knowing what the Ki Socicty is and associating the things I have taught them only with Aikido, the general public and students will naturally choose Aikido if quest- ioned in Mr. Yamada's manner. It is only natural. Mr. Yamada shrewdly and maliciously took advantage of my desire to protect Aikido Headquarters and my promise not to use the name of Aikido or its tech- niques in the Ki Society. Of course one may practice both Aikido and Ki if he wishes, and of courge I had act been removed as Chief Instructor. Mr. Yamada did this because of a grudge he had against me. Four years ago without any authority or right todo so, he announced himself as president of the U.S, Aikido Federation in an article and tried to take control of Aikido through- out the U.S. In the same article he also wrote, ''The preiident of the U.S. Aikido Federation must be Japanese, and Aikido Headquarters will appoint the president directly." At that time there were four federations in the United States -- Hawaii, Western States, Midwest, and East Goast. Since they were all acting independently of each other it was appropriate that these four federations organize the Aikido Federation after consulting with each other. Then they should elect the president. Besides this, I was afraid that if a Japanese tries to control the entire U.S. Aikido Federation without the consent of each individual federation this would plant the seeds for much trouble in the future. It is better if the federations elected their own president, Thus I blocked Mr, Yamada's attempt to become president. Because of this he bore a grudge against me in his heart. When I started the Ki Society, he thought that this was a good chance to get back at me. He spread docu- ments speaking ill of me around the United States and planned te oust me from Aikido in the United States. Of course it was beyond his power to de this. Then this year on the pretense of celebrating the tenth anniversary of the New York Aikikai, Mr, Yamada made a plan to invite the Second Doshu to America under the name of President of the U.S. Aikido Federation. If the Second Doshu accepted this invitation, he would be acknowledging Mr. Yamada as president. I teld Second Dashu Kisshomaru Uesbiba that this was what Mr. Yamada wanted and that he planned to control all of United States. Repeatedly asking Doshu not to accept the invitation of Mr. Yamada again and again, I suggested that if he wanted to go to the U.S. he should inform each federation directly of his own plans. [ advised him that if he went by the invitation of Mr. Yamada, there was certain to be big trouble. Logically speaking, it was proper that the Second Doshu reprove Mr. Yamada for appointing himself president. But all the Doshu did was say to me, cognized Mr. Yamada as president of the U.S. Aikide Federation.’ And even say- ing this, he went to the U.S. according to the schedule made by Mr. Yamada. www.aikidojournal.com never re-Page 4: In New York, Boston, and Los Angeles the Second Doshu visited dojos where my photo had been taken off the wall, At a big demonstration in Los Angeles in which the Doshu participated, Mr. Yamada was introduced as president of the U.S. Aikido Federation in front of two thousand people, Then accompaned by Mr. Yamada of New York, Mr Kanai of Boston, Mr. Akira Tohei of Chicago, all who have been dispatched from the Headquarters, and Mr. Francis Takahashi of Los Angeles, Second Doshu came to Hawaii where for many years I have devoted myself to building and spreading Aikido, At the reception for Doshu I was ignored com- pletely in the presence of many of my Aikido students. Enclosed is a copy of the letter of protest sent to Dr. Yorio Wakatake, the president of Hawaii Aikikai, by representatives from each of the Hawaii islands after the party. I learned Aikido from the Founder Morihei Ueshiba for two years, and for tl years I did my best for Aikido Headquarters. Since the Founder's death, I've strived te support the Second Doshu. But this time because of the action of the Second Doshu, my efforts to follow and spread the way of true Aikido for thirty years throughout Japan and the United States, were about to come to nothing. There is a vast difference between Aikido with Ki as I have taught and Aikido with- out Ki, I cannot help it that these things have come to pass. Now not only must I go my own way, at the same time I must protect my students who follow me. More than this I must preserve the way of the universe and leave it for posterity. ty I made up my mind to separate from Aikido Headquarters, and on April 19 at the reception for Doshu in Hawaii, I announced my intentions and thoughts for the future, Ideclared, '"I will resign frommyposition as Chief Inatructor of Aikido. Headquarters and all corresponding duties as of April 30, 1974. Iwill start my own 'Shin Shin Toltsu Atkido,' Aikido with Mind and Body Coordinated.” At the end of my speech I said, "Now I break the five conditions I made out of my res- pect for and desire to support Aikido Headquarters. I ask you to decide for your- selves whether you will follow 'Aikide with Mind and Body Coordinated! or ‘Aikido Without Mind and Body Coordinated,' that is 'Aikido with Ki! or 'Aikido without Ki, not whether you will follow the Ki Society or Aikido. But if you do not follow me, please do not teach the things I have taught you. Please do not teach the four basic rules which are: 1, Keep One Point 2. Relax Completely 3. Keep Weight Underside 4. Extend Ki Pleage do not teach the unbendable arm, unraisable body, and so on, Do not them because the Founder Morihei Ueshiba did not teach these things; instead I found them by myself. As proof of this in the past the Second Doshu has said, ‘That is Tohei's style. Do not imitate his style. My father (the Founder Morihei Ueshiba) did not teach those things.' In fact if other instructors teach these things at Headquarters, they will be reprimande: On April 291 returned to Japan from Hawaii, and the next day accompanied by Mr. Shinichi Suzuki, Znd Vice President of Hawaii Aikikai, I went to meet with Second Doshu Kisshemaru Ueshiba. They accepted my resignation as Chief Instructor, as member of the Board of Directors, and from all duties of Aikido Headquarters. They also recognized and agreed to the fact that I would start "Aikido with Mind and Body Coordinated" and iesue my own Dan and Kyu promotions. www.aikidojournal.comPage 5: Since my young days, Ihave trained my mind and body. I have practiced Zen medi- tation under Master Jo: Ohta, the president of Daitokuji Temple in Kyote and Misogi, which is a Shinto ritual to purify and discipline mind and body, under Master Tetsuju Ogura and Master Tesso Hino. I also trained in mind and body unification under Master Tempu Nakamura. Even now I still devote myself to my training and will do 80, 80 long as I live. It is my heart's desire to realize the truth of the universe. I want to share it with others throughout the world and preserve it for those who will come after me. If you share my feelings and ideals, I hope that you will join me in discovering and teaching the principles of Ki and the truths of the universe, Sincerely yours, facthe FJ. ope Koichi Tohei President, Ki Society Founder of Aikido with Mind and Baly Coordinated www.aikidojournal.comApril 21, 1974 Dr. Yorio Wakatake President, Hawaii Aiki Kwai 3224 Waialae Avenue Honolulu, Hi. 96816 Dear Dr, Wakatake: We were very disappointed about not having the meeting that was Scheduled on the night of April 19, 1974 after the reception for the Doshu as you had agreed and promised to Mr. Nonaka and Mr. Suzuki, and the fact that we were not informed of the cancellation of the meeting, Be- cause of the many rumors circulating in Hawaii about Tohei Sensei and the Doshu, we all felt that the meeting, with the principals present, could ‘once and for all settle all of these rumors. Thedinner meeting for the Doshu gave the impression of purported harmony between all the Aikido clubs in Hawaii Aiki Kwai but in reality seemed to give recognition only to Aikido as exemplified by the Doshu and not to our teacher, Tohei Sensei, In addition, we felt embarrassed that our Sensei was treated so rudely in front of the entire Hawaii Aiki Kwai membership. As you know, Tohei Sensei was the first person to introduce Aikido in Hawaii, has taught ux for the past 20 years, and is the man we have always recognized as our teacher and as the founder of Aikido in the mainland United States and in Hawaii. However, Mr. Yamada of New York, who has designated himself as president of the American Aikido Federation, has removed the picture of Tohei Sensei from his dojo with the tacit approval ‘of the Doshu, and is supported in his actions by Mr. Akira Tohei of Chicago, Mr, Kanse of Boston and Mr. Takahashi of Los Angeles. Therefore, be- cause of this and because of the irreconcilable differences between the Doshu's Aikido and Tohei Sensei's Aikido with Ki, Tohei Sensei has decided to establish his own Shin Shin Toiteu Aikido (coordination of mind and body) as of May 1, 1974. We want te communicate our impressions to you, as president of Hawaii Adki Kwai, for your comment and reply. Respectfully yours, John Fascual, President, Hawaii Aikido Club Lawrence Shishido President, Maui Aikido Club Tetsuji Mesumura Chief Instructor, Kauai oru Shibata, President, Household DeVil'e Aikido Club Harry Eto Chief Instructor, Central ¥.M.C.A, www.aikidojournal.com