What Is A “Ki Test”

I recently saw a post in an AIkido forum about “Ki Tests”.

When I read the post, it occurred to me that the concept put forward by the writer lacked an important aspect of what a ki test is.

He had explained it as an exercise to show a certain co-ordination in the body.  This is an important aspect of it.  But actually when we practise Ki Tests we are also trying to test the mind of our partner.

If this is not understood then the practitioner does not have a full understanding of the role that Ki tests have to play in our Aikido.

Here are the words of Koichi Tohei Sensei, founder of Ki Aikido:

“Having no colour, no odour and no shape, the mind is not something that can be grasped by the senses.

However, based on the principle that the mind and body are actually one, we can know the state of this ungraspable mind by testing the body, which is available to our senses.

Ki tests are not founded on the idea of testing for strength or weakness.  The most important factor in Ki testing is to accurately inform the person of the state of his or her mind.  Thus, the person performing Ki tests must truly understand and exhibit Oneness of mind and body from the outset and then perform the tests correctly”

This takes time to understand and is part of our continous study in Aikido.