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On Ki - History of the Term (first in a series of
two
articles)
Ki (or Chi - Chinese) are
central to many martial arts. In fact, two martial arts use the term in their
name:
Aikido and Tai Chi Chuan. The notion of ki will be explored in two articles below, detailing
the historical
development and usage in martial arts training.
Before embarking on these two topics I first wish to tell a story. I took a number of classes
in Tai Chi
where chi became a central topic of conversation. On one occasion, the master said that
people should
not think about chi as if it is something special...it is like air...all around us. Then, he
replied to
questions about the location of chi in the body, in the center of gravity normally assumed to be 2
inches
below the naval. He explained that the real center of gravity is in a central point on the
left foot when
one's weight is on the left foot, and in the same location on the right foot when their weight is
on the right
foot. Some time afterwards, he updated these comments and said the real center of gravity is in
the
nose. Being Jewish, I naturally had to ask whether that particular instruction would apply
equally to
Jewish people as to say Chinese. For example, in my case I was concerned about becoming top
heavy...
On Ki: History
"The original idea of ki developed as a metaphysical principle in a number of Chinese schools
of
thought. Ki was, for example, the essential principle of harmony, and it was the source of
creativity
expressed in the form of yin and yang (Lao-tzu), the vital fullness of life (Huai-nan-tzu), the
courage
arising from moral rectitude (Mencius), the divine force that penetrates all things (Kuan-tzu).
As a term, it was never clearly defined. Sometimes it was equated to empty space (the void)
or
nothingness (Lao-tzu), at other times to the formative energy emerging out of chaos (Chuang-tzu).
It
was regarded by some philosophers as the dualistic principle that structures the universe...this
dualism
evolved into the ki operating as yin and yang, darkness and lightness, from which arose the
Five
Elements Theory and the divinations of the Book of Changes."
In point of fact, I have heard ki equated to prana and even the Holy Ghost.
"The primary metaphysical principle of ki was introduced into Japan in the Nara (710-94) and
Heian
(794-1185) periods and generally upheld, but the introduction of Buddhist thought from India to
China
affected its meaning, due particularly to the idea of karmic retribution.
More significantly, the idea of ki combined with indigenous views of nature responsible for the
cyclic
process of growth, budding, flowering and the withering of plants and trees...
The most dramatic changes in the interpretation and application of ki began to take place with the
rise of
the samurai class from the late Heian period...reaching its apex in the early Tokugawa (1603-1868).
The samurai who faced constant threats of death in an age of warfare understood ki in terms
of
courage, shi-ki; will power, i-ki; vigor, gen-ki; and bravery, yu-ki. They were also
concerned with
equanimity, hei-ki; and conserving energy, shu-ki; which attempted to prolong breathing, ki-soku,
as a
matter of life and death..."
Ultimately, O'Sensei discussed his ideas of ki: "...I saw clearly that human beings must unite mind
and
body and the ki that connects the two and then achieve harmony with the activity of all things in
the
universe." Later, "When one unifies mind and body by virtue of ki and manifests ai-ki
[harmony of ki],
delicate changes in breath-power occur spontaneously and waza [proper technique] flows freely."
According to Kisshomaru Ueshiba, "[the unity of individual-universe] inherits the idea of ki held
by the
ancient Chinese masters... [the free, spontaneous expression of breath power] teaches that a
person's
breath controls his thoughts and bodily movements...The reason for Master Ueshiba's emphasis on
the
dual functioning of unity and spontaneous expression is that he saw the essence of ki as being
the
essence of his budo."
[Quotations above from Spirit of Aikido by Kisshomaru Ueshiba pg 21-25 - [bold brackets my
own]]
As Aikido continued to develop, unfortunately, the term ki became a political football.
Koichi Tohei, a top
student of the founder, separated from the founder's organization (Aikikai) a few years after his
death
and formed his own style of Aikido, called sometimes ki-Aikido or Aikido with mind and body
coordinated.
During his years under the founder, he was known for giving detailed and clear explanations
of ki.
While O'Sensei gave primarily mystical explanations, Koichi Tohei explained ki almost as a
mathematical
formula, easily understandable by contrast. The Aikikai responded by virtually writing Koichi
Tohei out
of the history of the organization and cleansing the term ki out of the records of instruction.
Meanwhile,
Koichi Tohei's trademark became the ki of his Ki-Society, and while many aikido masters left the
Aikikai
for his organization in the early 1970's, they all left in droves beginning in the 1980's.
Fumio Toyoda
Sensei was one who followed this path, later to rejoin the Aikikai. We now have the relics of
this political
strife in our midst. For years training under Sugano Sensei, the term ki was never to be
heard. It simply
developed naturally with practice and there was no need to discuss it. Under Toyoda Sensei
the
training left from Koichi Tohei, considered to be a valid method, continues on only absent the word
ki as
it is replaced by the term energy in daily practice.
When asked once about all the different teachers in Aikido and their political strife, Sugano
Sensei wryly
commented how strange it must seem to outsiders for us to call Aikido the art of peace. They
then
observe how we all fight vehemently over who is teaching the real art of
peace.
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