For centuries, the internal martial arts have held a dual legacy, disciplines of combat and systems of profound healing. Ancient masters understood that true power and true health come from the same source: a harmonized body, mind, and spirit. Their training didn’t just prepare them for conflict. It cultivated longevity, vitality, and deep internal transformation. In the modern era, many of these practices have become fragmented. The “health-only” approaches inspired by martial traditions often emphasize flexibility or relaxation, but miss the energetic and structural depth that once defined the internal arts. Conversely, martial versions sometimes focus so heavily on technique that they lose the nurturing and restorative elements that made these systems sustainable for life.

The Aiki Healing Method (Aiki Ryoho 合気療法) was created to reunite these two halves of a complete tradition, restoring the balance between strength and softness, activity and stillness, training and recovery. Developed from the internal principles of American Yoshinkan Aiki Jujutsu, Aiki Ryoho translates the art’s subtle body mechanics and breathwork into a healing discipline that anyone can practice. No martial experience required. This system can be studied and certified independently of the martial curriculum, making it accessible to those who simply seek better health, centeredness, and peace of mind.

In my book, "The Secrets Guard Themselves: An Exploration In The Development Of Internal Power," I explored the concept of internal power as it appears across various ancient cultures. From India to China and Japan, civilizations have long sought to understand and harness the subtle energy that animates life and connects body, mind, and spirit. From the book:

"In India, the concept of internal power is captured by the word Prana प्राण, a Sanskrit term that means "vital energy" or "life force." Similar to Chi in Chinese culture, Prana is believed to be the animating force that flows through all living beings, sustaining life, health, and consciousness. Prana is the energy that binds the body, mind, and spirit together, and it can be cultivated, refined, and directed through specific practices.

In the ancient system of Yoga, Prana is a central concept. Yoga योग is a holistic discipline that aims to unite the body, mind, and spirit, and Prana plays a key role in this union. In the context of Yoga, Prana is cultivated primarily through breath control techniques and moving meditations known as Pranayama. The word Pranayama itself comes from two Sanskrit words, Prana (life force) and Ayama (extension or control), and refers to the practice of controlling and directing the breath to harness the power of Prana."

Later in that same work, I described several solo conditioning exercises used to develop what I call the Aiki body, a body capable of expressing power without external force, rooted in breath, alignment, and internal connection. These same principles that govern Prana in Yoga are deeply relevant to Aiki Jujutsu training, though they manifest through different cultural lenses and movement systems.

In this article, we’ll explore how the philosophy and physical practice of Yoga relate to solo Aiki Jujutsu training, where they align and diverge, and how these ideas can be reconciled, or wrestled with, within a Christian worldview.

Aiki Jujutsu is a close-quarters fighting system designed for use at clinch range, where control, balance, and subtle manipulation of the opponent decide the outcome. To make sure our techniques hold up under real pressure, we use a method called Kakedameshi 掛け試し (traditionally an Okinawan training method) is one of the ways we pressure test our Aiki Jujutsu. This sparring format pits two partners against each other, each trying to apply an Aiki Jujutsu technique against live resistance without relying on conventional Judo or wrestling throws. In the video below, you'll see Mike pull off two Irimi Nage, an Ude Kime Nage, and a Sankyo with a transition to Rokyo, all under realistic pressure.

This is Level 1 of Kakedameshi in our school, focusing purely on control and technique application. At higher levels, striking is added to the mix. Over time, internal skill development allows the practitioner to keep the opponent in a constant state of kuzushi, making each movement feel effortless as the opponent is always chasing their own stability and structure. If your techniques only work with a compliant uke, you're learning how to perform, not how to defend yourself...

Few arts suffer from an identity crisis like Aikido. With the rise of MMA, Aikido has become synonymous with "fake" martial arts, with countless videos being ridiculed by steroid-laden comment sections. There are those who come to its defense by pointing out the ignorance, that the masses would feel differently if they understood what they were looking at. There are some who try to justify Aikido's perceived ineffectiveness with the belief that it was never meant for fighting in the first place. And here's the thing no one wants to admit. All three groups are right.
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As an Aiki Jujutsu instructor, one that openly shares some of the more esoteric techniques of our art, I'm often met with the same resistance and misunderstanding about what's being demonstrated in some of my videos. And I get it! Unless you've experienced true internal martial arts, what's often demonstrated seems to defy to conventional understanding of biomechanics and physics. Most martial artists assume any partner exercise being shown is a demonstration of fighting technique, when in the case of internal arts these are often attribute-building exercises. Certainly no legitimate instructor has ever said "If someone grabs you in the street, flick your wrist to throw them across the room." These exercises are not about throwing your partner but rather measuring the effects of when that partner tries to exert force on your structure. But let's come back to Aikido...​

The true measure of an instructor isn’t his own skill level. It’s the quality of his students. Watching these three black belts in American Yoshinkan Aiki Jujutsu reminds me just how proud I am of the people I get to teach. Their skill, discipline, and dedication speak louder than anything I could ever say. Keep setting the standard!

Internal martial arts (such as Aiki Jujutsu, Taijiquan, Baguazhang, and Xingyiquan) are often spoken of in the same breath as health and longevity. Yet few understand why these arts produce health benefits, or what "internal" truly means. At the root of their transformative effects are three major pillars: kiko (breathing exercises), naiko (isometrics), and aiki taiso (mobility exercises). These are not empty rituals of stretching and breathing, but profound disciplines that literally reshape the human body and nervous system from within.

The story of Daito Ryu Aiki Jujutsu, one of Japan’s most influential martial traditions and our parent art, cannot be separated from the turbulent political and spiritual climate of the early 20th century. It was an age when the boundaries between religion, politics, and organized violence were porous. Military officers, secret societies, spiritual sects, and criminal networks all operated in overlapping worlds, bound by shared ideals of loyalty, discipline, and devotion to the Emperor.

Daito Ryu was formalized by Takeda Sokaku during Japan’s transformation from feudal isolation to imperial power. Many of his students came from military or nationalist backgrounds. For them, martial arts training was not sport or self-improvement; it was the embodiment of national strength and spiritual destiny.

This mindset found natural allies among the ultranationalist movements of the time. Groups such as the Gen’yosha (“Dark Ocean Society”) and Kokuryukai* (“Black Dragon Society”) blended patriotism, espionage, and criminal enterprise. They sought to expand Japan’s influence across Asia through covert operations, political violence, and street-level intimidation with ties to the yakuza. Their members included former samurai, military officers, and organized-crime figures who saw themselves as “patriotic outlaws.”

Walk into many traditional dojo and before class begins, you will hear the command for "mokuso!" The room grows quiet. Students kneel in seiza, close their eyes, and allow their breathing to slow. To outsiders it might look like a ritualistic pause, but for the martial artist, mokuso is one of the most powerful tools of training. It is not just about calming down before practice. It is about cultivating a state of mind that connects body and spirit, conscious and subconscious, intent and action.

The word mokuso 黙想 is composed of two characters:

• 黙 (moku) meaning "silence" or "quiet,"
• 想 (so) meaning "thought" or "contemplation."

​Together, they point toward silent reflection, or inward meditation. Unlike some forms of seated meditation meant to last for hours, mokuso in the dojo can be only a few breaths. What matters is not the time spent, but the quality of awareness achieved.

In the study of martial arts, it is important to recognize that the ability to heal is just as vital as the ability to cause harm. This balance is expressed through Kappo 活法, the healing methods traditionally practiced alongside martial disciplines. One approach I have written about in the past is Reiki 霊気, which is often described as a method of healing through the laying-on of hands. Before you dismiss this as New Age nonsense, in the article "The Biology and Neuroscience of Ki," I explored the scientific foundations behind what is often referred to as “Ki energy,” explaining how different forms of energy-based healing influence the body in measurable ways. Definitely take time to read that article before this one.

At the same time, I included a caution for those of Abrahamic faith traditions: there is a line between practices that work within the natural order and those that drift into metaphysical territory. Unfortunately, much of mainstream Reiki has moved in a direction that I cannot reconcile with my own beliefs. For this reason, I now refer to my personal practice as Te Ate Ryoho 手当療法, which simply means “hands-on healing method.” This terminology reflects my focus on natural, restorative touch grounded in science and tradition, without the metaphysical overtones that have become associated with Reiki in its modern presentation.

​Bowing is one of the most visible aspects of Japanese martial tradition, and in American Yoshinkan Aiki Jujutsu it plays a central role in setting the tone for training. Every class begins and ends with a sequence of bows that frame the practice and remind participants of the values behind the art. These bows are not empty rituals but expressions of respect, humility, and connection, qualities essential both inside and outside the dojo.
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