Kaizen Aikijitsu Rules During Practice 

By Prof. Theodore Wilson,8th Dan Founder & Chief Instructor Of The Kaizen Aikijitsu

These rules during practice are posted for everyone who studies the art of Kaizen Aikijitsu to see, learn and understand.

One blow in Kaizen Aikijitsu is capable of killing an opponent. In practice, obey your instructor, and do not make the practice period a time for needless testing of strength.

Kaizen Aikijitsu is an art in which one person learns to face many opponents simultaneously. It therefore requires that you polish and perfect your execution of each movement so that you can take not only the directly before you but also those approaching from every direction.

Practice at all times with a feeling of pleasurable exhilaration.

The teaching of your instructor constitute only a small fraction of what you will learn. Your mastery of each movement will depend partly entirely with the individuals with earnest practice.

Daily practice begins with light (soft) movements of the body, gradually increasing in intensity and strength; but there must be no over-exertion. That is why even an elderly person can continue to practice with pleasure and without bodily harm; and why he or she will attain the goal of his or her training.

The purpose of Kaizen Aikijitsu is to train both body and mind and to make a person sincere. All Aikijitsu arts are secret in nature and are not to be revealed publicity, nor taught to negative individuals who will use them for evil purposes.

First, it is proper to obey the instructor and remember his instructions; and rise above yourself. No matter how you may study, if you cling to yourself you will not develop your ability.

Secondly, Budo is for countering any attack from any direction at any time. When you are merely ready for only one opponent, without being prepared for others, it will be only a common fight. A tight, on-guard posture with an immovable spirit is the basis of every exercise in budo. People generally say, ' that man behaves irreproachably' or 'an excellent artist is completely on guard.' Those who study Aikijitsu should thus spend their daily life thoroughly on guard, even if they are not consciously watching every direction around them.

Thirdly, it is fairly painful to keep on studying earnestly. But if you keep up the discipline of Budo (Bushido, the way of the warrior) without tiring, you will at last reach a really enjoyable stage. Some people misunderstand that it is best to suffer while studying, but real study is pleasant at all times. Concentrating ourselves, not having any harmful experiences, we are able to enjoy our practice sessions.

The fourth rule relates to the assimilation of techniques, Aiki has a few thousand variations in its techniques. some students attempt to chase after an accumulation of quantity rather than quality. However when they look back on themselves, they are sorry to learn that they have gained nothing. Soon they lose interest. As innumerable variations of each technique are possible, we the instructors always emphasize the significance of 'repetition' to the beginners. When you practice each basic technique over and over again, you master it and then are able to use the variations. It is repetition of the basics that is the secret of improvement, no matter how awkward of unskilled one may be.

The fifth rule is not to contradict nature. Excessiveness is to be avoided in anything. Moderation is the key no matter how little the excess is the whole posture and the condition of the body will be unbalanced. The secret of Aikijitsu is to harmonize ourselves with the movement of the universe and bring ourselves into accord with the universe itself. This is not mere theory. You practice it then you will accept the great power of oneness with Nature.

Only in true practice one could be true to the self, therefore one could be true to others and mankind. This was copy for the education of the Kaizen Aikijitsu students.