Aikido Ki Society North Queensland Inc.

Aikido and Ki development classes in Cairns, Mossman and the Atherton Tablelands - Queensland, Australia.

Aikido Ki Society Australia Headquarters.

Officially affiliated with Aikido Ki Society International HQ (Ki no Kenkyukai), Japan.

History of North Queensland Ki Society (by Roby Kessler Head Instructor)

My wife, Greta, and I started teaching Ki development classes and Ki Aikido in Mossman (North Queensland, Australia) in 1986 after spending 2 years with our instructor in Brisbane and with his permission to do so. We then also ran classes in Yungaburra on the Atherton Tablelands once a week before starting Classes in Cairns in 1990. Over the years we have helped many members attain their respective levels in Aikido and Ki development, and have established permanent Dojos at Mossman, Cairns and Mareeba. An Incorporated Body under the name of Aikido Ki Society North Queensland Incorporated runs the Dojos, with a committee of 7 members. At present we have 6 accredited instructors and a healthy growing membership.  

In 1985 Greta and I attended a 10-day intensive training seminar in Brisbane, with the Chief Instructor of Ki No Kenkyukai H.Q. Japan, and again each year after that. In 1988 we hosted the Chief Instructor of Ki No Kenkyukai H.Q. Japan at the Mossman Dojo for a 5-day intensive seminar for North Queensland members. Every year since then we have continued to invite the Chief Instructor of Japan to Australia for all Australian members to learn from. Please check the bulletin board for announcements about seminar dates, flyers and forms.

Greta and I and other Australian members visited Japan Head Quarters Dojo twice (1990 and 1996) to take lessons from Tohei Sensei and his head Instructors at their yearly World Camp Seminar for all international members. I also attended in 1995 for special training in the Taigi Arts and judging criteria, after which I followed Kashiwaya Sensei (Chief Instructor of America) to Hilo, Hawaii, where he taught a 3-day seminar covering most of what Tohei Sensei had taught at H.Q. His teaching was exceptional and I picked up, or should I say clarified, so many important points that were unclear – even with interpreting on the mat at H.Q. The first International Taigi Arts Competition was held at Ki No Sato, Tochigi, Japan, in June 1996, in which Riva (our son) and I represented Australia - an unforgettable experience!

I have attended many World Camps now with other instructors and members from Australia. This continual training with the H.Q. Instructors is of exceptional benefit to us as we endeavour to pass on Tohei Sensei's Principles and teachings to all students to the best of our ability.

In March 2002 I was appointed Chief Instructor of Australia by Koichi Tohei (Founder & President of Ki No Kenkyukai - Ki Society International) and awarded 5^th Dan Aikido Rank on January 3^rd 2005, and hold the rank of Chu Den for Ki Development. Please see the instructors section for further information on our other instructors.

Please feel free to come along to any of the classes listed. Our classes generally consist of; and in the following order; Ki Breathing, the Junan Kenko Taiso (stretching for health), Oneness Rhythm Exercises, Aiki Taiso (exercises for Aikido arts). This is then followed by a short lecture and Ki testing on one of the four principles of unification of mind and body. After this the Aikido arts are practiced with the emphasis being put on keeping that particular principle of mind and body unification. .

Kiatsu (pressing with Ki) for self-healing is taught and encouraged for members to practice on each other and members of their family.

Traditionally each year (since Kataoka Sensei showed us how it is done back in 1993) we practice cold water Misogi in the chilly waters of the Mossman Gorge in the early hours of a mid June morning (our coldest winter month).

I have been encouraging members to be particularly careful of their thoughts (Ki), inside and outside the Dojo, as it is our thoughts that determine our future, health, and happiness. For example, when performing Zempo Nage (forward projection Aikido Technique), the performance is always far superior if Nage (person being attacked) thinks "We are going forwards" than if Nage thinks "Uke (the attacker) is going to go forwards". To live in peace and harmony with each other we must all have peaceful and harmonious thoughts, and I believe that by practicing Aikido with this style of positivity we can achieve this goal.

I would like to give special thanks to our initial Sensei and first Chief Instructor of Aikido Ki Society Australia, Michael Williams, and his family, for their efforts in assisting to pass on Tohei Sensei's Ki Principles and Aikido, to us.

These Principles are part of universal law, and this is the way to peace and harmony.

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Created and occasionally maintained by: Andrew

 Last update: April 2007 : 1024x768 recommended viewing size