About

What is Aikido?

Aikido is a Japanese Marital Art founded by Morihei Ueshiba. Aikido is translated to mean “the way of unifying with ki (life energy).” Ueshiba’s goal was to develop a self defense martial art that protected the attacker from injury. Ki-Aikido was founded by Uechiba’s senior student and predecessor, Koichi Tohei.

Our Organization’s Teachers

Koichi Tohei Sensei made it his life’s goal to teach the principles of Ki and realization of mind and body oneness. Koichi Tohei Sensei, the founder of Shinshin Toitsu Aikido (Ki-Aikido), passed away peacefully on the 19th May 2001. He was 91 years old.

Shinichi Tohei Sensei was born in 1973. He graduated from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, school of Bioscience and Biotechnology. Shinichi Tohei Sensei has been learning Ki Principles through Shin-shin Toitsu Aikido (Ki-Aikido) from Master Koichi Tohei, Aikido 10th dan and Shin-shin Toitsu Aikido Founder, since childhood. Now, as successor to Master Koichi Tohei, he teaches Shin-shin Toitsu Aikido in Japan and throughout the world.

David Shaner Sensei is the Chief Instructor of the Eastern Ki Federation. Shaner Sensei is a 7th Degree Blackbelt (Shinshin Toitsu Aikido), and has the rank of Okuden, Shinshin Toitsudo (Ki development). David Shaner was a direct student of Koichi Tohei Sensi and continues to practice under Shinichi Tohei Sensei.