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It is a very important
interview by Aikido Journal with the famous Koichi Tohei Sensei, Founder of
Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido. Master Tohei Sensei was one of the pioneers of
aikido in Hawaii and mainland USA. His
impact on aikido in the 1950s through 1970s was major due to his extensive
foreign travels, books, and fluency in English. The interview is required
reading for your aikido education and we are sure you will find it highly
informative. There are some great photos included as well!
This article is
an extract from Aikido Journal 107, interview with Master Koichi Tohei
posted on 8th Jul 2001 by Aikido Journal.
 Aikido has grown explosively
since World War II. Koichi Tohei, a distinguished contributor to this
development, is perhaps one of those most qualified to talk about the
history of aikido. Most of the active aikido shihan (even those 7th dan and
above) in the world today were taught, at one time or another, by Tohei.
Feeling strongly that future generations will decide their own destiny,
Tohei has chosen to speak out very little over the years. At long last, on
the condition that we represent his organization’s activities and thinking
as they are, Tohei Sensei has finally agreed to this exclusive interview
with Aikido Journal. As the only student of Morihei Ueshiba to be
officially awarded tenth dan and a figure of central importance in the
post-war aikido world, Tohei has taken the opportunity to speak frankly with
us about his views and experiences. (Interviewed July 11th, 1995).
The Principles of Heaven and Earth and
My Approach to Life
AJ: Sensei, tell us about your approach to aikido.
Tohei Sensei: As we move into the twenty-first century, the world we
live in is becoming more and more relative. Because there is ahead, there
is also behind. Because there is up, there is also down. Within this
relativistic world, nothing is absolute in its correctness. It is not
possible, for example, that north is correct while south is not. Both are
simply "facts."
The only sure way to
be absolutely correct is to avoid being caught in the whirlwind of these
so-called facts of the relativistic world and instead be in accord with the
absolute principles of Heaven and Earth. When it comes to standards of
judgment, that which is in accord with the principles of Heaven and Earth
is correct, while that which is not is not correct.
Decisive action is
born of an understanding of that which is in accord with the principles of
Heaven and Earth. A lack of this understanding leads to "unreasonable
effort," or muri, the literal meaning of which is "lack of
principle," and should be avoided. This has always been my way of
thinking and the reason I have scrupulously avoided acting in ways that
involve unreasonable effort or that go against these principles.
Aikido is essentially
a path of being in accord with the ki of Heaven and Earth. Many of those
involved in budo, however, tend to talk about things that are illogical and
involve unreasonable effort, things that are impossible. But my way of
living is to avoid doing anything that is not in accord with principle.
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