Importance of Practicing Weapons

The weapons training system of Aikido at Hikari Dojo is a direct transmission from the Founder of Aikido Morihei Ueshiba, O’Sensei , through Morihiro Saito Shihan 9th Dan. Saito Shihan, was taught directly and privately by O’sensei over a period of 23 years in Iwama, Japan. The weapons system is referred to as Aiki-Ken (bokken), and Aiki-Jo (staff), which has a direct relationship to tai sabaki (the empty handed movements of the body). This relationship between empty hands practice and weapons training is called ken tai jitsu riai which is unique to Aikido practice. Students learn the relationship between the body (tai), mind (shin), and spirit (ki). Takemusu Aiki, the spontaneous expression of truth that reflects the founder’s highest ideals of harmony between mind and matter, spirit and form.