It was after much careful deliberation that I decided to postpone this event. The primary reason was that it became apparent to me through recent training sessions that between now and next summer there was insufficient time to prepare properly for the first international showing of the Taigi competition. It was only recently that I released a SODEN video version of the 29 Taigi of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, a teaching that for many years has only been taught as an oral tradition (KUDEN), directly to students in dojos. The 29 Taigi form the basis for the International Taigi Competition.
However, there is clearly not enough time between now and July of 1996 for participants in the Taigi competition to practice and master all 29 of the Taigi. Without sufficient time to practice and correctly learn the Taigi, there is not much sense in holding an international competition.
We have taken a very close look at each of the Aikido arts in the 29 Taigi, and having clarified the key points, it is now necessary for both instructors and black belt students to verify each of these key points for themselves. In this sense, participants from overseas have far less opportunity to study the points directly under my supervision, and under the former schedule therefore had a considerable handicap. If the international competition were to be held in the summer of 1996, participants from overseas would suffer an unfair disadvantage compared to those who had the opportunity to train regularly in Japan.
This is why I have made it a top priority to train judges for this demanding task. Even if you yourself can perform an Aikido technique, it is not easy to teach it to another. Moreover, in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido the instructor must not simply teach the forms and movements of the technique, but also the ultimate purpose of the technique, how to lead the opponent's Ki.
A new system has been developed to thoroughly train judges for the Taigi competition, under which I will teach the judges how to develop the minute perception necessary to judge the depth of mind and body unification, as well as how to teach the Taigi to others correctly.
While training Taigi judges, at the same time I want to radically reform the current system. For this I will take a close look at the contents and methods of instruction being employed at each dojo, clarify what the problems are, and make efforts to revitalize the entire program.
Until that time I hope that both students and instructors will devote themselves to mastery of the 29 Taigi. After qualifying from the elimination rounds which will be held in various countries around the world, then the final contestants will gather to put on a truly worthwhile International Taigi Competition.
It is vitally important to prepare without haste a system which can fully sustain itself with or without my direct supervision. I hope that Ki Society members will take this opportunity to once again return to a beginner's mind, and join me not just in making the International Taigi Competition a success, but also in pursuing the path of the universe.
-Koichi Tohei
Ki Society Founder and President