Ki in Translation
Through budo I trained my body thoroughly and mastered its ultimate secrets, but I also realized an even greater truth. That is, when I grasped the real nature of the universe through budo, 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.
By virtue of the subtle workings of ki we harmonize mind and body and the relationship between the individual and the universe. When the subtle working of ki is unhealthy, the world falls into confusion, and the universe into chaos. The harmonizing of united ki-mind-body with the activity of the universe is critical for order and peace in the world.
The subtle working of ki is the maternal source that effects delicate changes in breath. It is also the source of martial art as love. When one unifies mind and body by virtue ofki and manifests ai-ki [harmony of ki], delicate changes in breath-power occur spontaneously and waza [proper technique] flows freely.
The changing in breath, connected with the ki of the universe, interacts and interpenetrates with all life. At the same time the delicate breath-power enters into all corners of one's body. Entering deeply, it fill one with vitality, resulting naturally in variegated, dynamic, spontaneous movements. In this way the whole body, including the internal organs, becomes united in heat, light, and power. Having accomplished unification of mind and body and being in oneness with the universe, the body moves at will offering no resistance to one's intentions.
The delicate changes in breath cause subtle movements of ki in the void. Sometimes movements are fierce and potent, at other times slow and stolid. By such changes one can discern the degree of concentration or unification of the mind and body. When concentration permeates mind and body, breath-power becomes one with the universe, gently and naturally expanding the outer limit, but at the same time the person becomes increasingly self-contained and autonomous. In this way when breath works together with the universe, the unseen spiritual presence becomes a reality within oneself, enfolding and protecting and defending the self. This an introduction to the profound essence of ai-ki.
Morihei Ueshiba quoted by Kisshomaru Ueshiba in The Spirit of Aikido, pg 30, 1984.
Non-resistance
Aikido is the way of nonresistance and is therefore undefeatable from the start. Fast and slow are of no consequence. Merely by having the intention to fight with one who embodies the universal law, they have fixed their mind on violating the harmony of nature itself. The person with evil or malicious feeling jyaki is defeated before he makes his first move. The contest has already been decided.
This being so, in what way can we rid ourselves of this jyaki and become pure of spirit and mind? We must unify our mind and feeling with the mercy and compassion of the universal spirit. With love ai, there is no competition, no enemy, no antagonism toward anyone else or anything. Those whose feeling does not coincide with this mentality can in no way come into harmony with the laws of nature.
Morihei Ueshiba - from { The Spiritual Foundations of Aikido } by William Gleason 1995.
Reminders in Aikido Practice
 | Aikido decides life and death in a single strike, so students must carefully follow the instructor's teaching and not compete to see who is the strongest. |
| Aikido is the way that teaches how one can deal with several enemies. Students must train themselves to be alert not just to the front but to all sides and back. |
| Training should always be conducted in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere. |
| The instructor teaches only one small aspect of the art. Its versatile applications must be discovered by each student through incessant practice and training. |
| In daily practice first begin by moving your body and then progress to more intensive practice. Never force anything unnaturally or unreasonably. If this rule is followed then even elderly people will not hurt themselves and they can train in a pleasant and joyful atmosphere. |
| The purpose of aikido is to train mind and body and to produce sincere, earnest people. Since all techniques are to be transmitted person-to-person, do not randomly reveal them to others, for this might lead to their being used by hoodlums. |