Why train at the AMAI?

A 'Sogo Budo' is one that combines armed and unarmed practice. While the Institute provides specialist classes in each area separately, students are encouraged to attend both styles of class. My teacher, Nishioka Sensei, says they are like "two wheels on the one cart". To aid this amalgamation, during Aikido classes we refer to and regularly use the sword in particular. The Founder used a sword throughout his lifetime to inform his unarmed practice and it seems the ultimate embarrassment for an Aikido practitioner to be anything less than competent with this weapon so central to all Japanese Budo. (In the same way students are encouraged to explore and understand the connection from weapons to unarmed practice during the Shinto Muso Ryu classes.)

Much of the sword work in modern Aikido can be seen as an insult to competent swordsmanship, even more particularly when practicing 'tachi tori' (sword taking). From a deeper understanding and more meaningful sword practice comes so many of the key ingredients so important to Aiki.

• Shisei - posture
• Riai - congruence of principle/s
• Zanshin - awareness
• Ki-Ken-Tai Ichi - united movement
• Kiai - united energy
• Metsuke - visual capability
• Maai - appreciation of combative interval
• Te no uchi - hand positions and feeling
• Kime / Sundomae - control
• Yoyu - margin