Taijutsu — literally “body technique” — is the empty-handed practice at the core of Kishinkai Aikido. At Seishinkai, it is broadened by a background spanning Nihon Taijutsu, classical Daito-ryu-descended jujutsu, and Aunkai body work, giving the curriculum a wider technical base than Aikido alone.

Kishinkai

The Kishinkai is a style of Aikido centered on developing inner and outer consciousness, through the practice of martially effective movements. The Kishinkai techniques are actualized manifestations of intemporal principles, thus the school is in constant evolution.

The name Kishinkai is made of 3 kanji:

喜 Ki (To be happy, to be delighted) 振 Shin (To practice, to go further into) 会 Kai (Group, association)

Thus, Kishinkai can be understood as “the association, the group that practices in joy.”

What are the specificities of Kishinkai Aikido?

Leo Tamaki, and the co-founders of Kishinkai were inspired by masters such as Tamura Nobuyoshi (Aikido), Kuroda Tetsuzan (soke of the Shinbukan Kuroda Dojo), Hino Akira (founder of Hino Budo), Kono Yoshinori (kobujutsu) and Akuzawa Minoru (Aunkai), to name only a few.

Kishinkai is neither a federation nor a traditional school (koryu), but can be considered a current of practice. Even though Kishinkai gathers people around common principles and research, the external form may vary between dojos.

In practice

Taijutsu training at Seishinkai works empty-handed technique, movement principles, and free practice — always within a martial framework, where every action is studied in relation to distance, timing and a potentially armed opponent. As in the wider Kishinkai family, practice favours fluidity, relaxation and precision over brute force, and there is no competition: progress is made together, with and for training partners.

Weapons work is trained under the same principles — see [Kenjutsu].