The Ki Society International was established in 1971 by Koichi Tohei, 10th dan in Aikido. Tohei Sensei was awarded this highest rank directly by Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba just prior to his death in 1969. The purposeof the Ki Society is to teach the principles of Ki which are based on Aikido arts and which show the way to coordinate and unify mind and body. In Ki Society classes, only the principles of Ki, rather than the techniques of Aikido, are studied and practiced deeply and thoroughly. There are many people including the elderly, the sick and the weak who do not care to throw or be thrown by an opponent and yet want to learn how to relax and how to unify their mind and body. The Ki Society offers these people the opportunity to do this.

The power most people think they have is only like the small visible segment of an iceberg which floats above the surface of the water. They have forgotten that they also have the power of mind and body unified which is like the much, much larger, unseen part of the iceberg beneath the surface. Unaware of their true power and subjected to present, constantly changing social, political and economic conditions, these great many people suffer from nervousness and become very susceptible to various illnesses. At age 40 or 50, when a person's character is fully developed and matured, he should be most able to use his full real power. Yet at this age, if he falls ill, becomes indifferent, and cannot utilize his full power, not only he himself suffers a great loss, but society also loses a great deal.

One of the basic aims common to all the nations of the world is to lead their young people along the right way. Still a concrete method of proper education has yet to be found. Every nation has gymnasiums to train the body, but not one has such a place to train the mind. Yet no one can solve problems with only their bodies.

People practicing Aikido can also benefit greatly from the teachings of the Ki Society. If we perform the arts of Aikido with only physical strength, our power is limited, and we will not be able to throw a bigger or stronger opponent. But, if we master the principles of Ki, we will have the strength of mind and body unified and be able to throw even big men easily. Also, while the techniques of Aikido must not be used except in an extreme emergency, the teachings of Ki Society can be applied in our everyday life.

The Ki Society teaches not "how to say" but "how to do." Its purposes are as follows:

The Ki Society hopes to lead many, many people to practice mind and body unification. It hopes to open the eyes of people to their own real, natural power and to send them to a happy, healthful life, helping them to strive for and build a more peaceful society and nation. To train many, many instructors for this task is also an aim of the Ki Society.