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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For centuries, martial artists and healers have spoken of Ki 気 (otherwise referred to as Qi, Chi, or Prana) as a vital energy that flows through the human body. In popular imagination, Ki is often treated as a mysterious metaphysical force that can be harnessed, projected, or manipulated in ways that defy scientific understanding. Entire schools of martial arts and healing traditions are built on this concept, and countless practitioners claim to feel, sense, or even move Ki as though it were an invisible current of electricity outside the laws of biology.

But is Ki really some kind of supernatural energy? Or is there a more grounded, scientific explanation for what ancient masters were observing and describing in metaphorical terms? When we strip away the mysticism, what emerges is a clearer picture: Ki is not metaphysical. It is a poetic shorthand for real biological and psychological processes: the flows of blood, oxygen, lymph, electricity, and the subtle workings of the nervous system. These processes sustain life, shape perception, and allow us to connect with others. Far from diminishing Ki, this interpretation makes it more profound, because it ties it directly to the living systems we can observe and influence every day.

The true secret to developing Aiki 合気 lies in understanding the intricate interplay of opposing forces within our own bodies. Many people translate Aiki simply as “harmonizing energy,” which is not wrong, but it often misses the deeper point. It isn’t just about blending with an opponent’s movement or creating a vague sense of flow.

​At its core, Aiki refers to the unification of opposing forces within ourselves, aligning them toward a singular intent. When those forces are fragmented, we remain weak, uncoordinated, and easily broken. When they are balanced and integrated, the body and mind move as one, capable of tremendous subtlety, resilience, and power.

This is why Aiki cannot be reduced to brute strength or mechanical efficiency alone. Muscle alone will eventually tire, and technique without integration remains hollow. Instead, the path lies in finding a delicate balance, a way to harmonize and unify the body’s natural opposites: expansion and contraction, tension and release, heaviness and lightness. By learning to feel, recognize, and intentionally apply these opposites in motion, we begin to unlock the true essence of Aiki.

American Yoshinkan Aiki Jujutsu was founded by a gentleman who came to be known as Hasaka Yutashi. Hasaka sensei was a student of Horikawa Kodo, and the evidence of our Daito Ryu origins is readily apparent in our teachings, our principles, and even our scrolls (the Hiden Mokuroku and Hiden Okugi as issued in American Yoshinkan are shown here). However, there are still those that question the legitimacy of the system. 

​Part of the responsibility of a Soke, the inheriting headmaster of a system, is the preservation of the art’s integrity. Acting in that capacity, over the years I have gradually released information and documentation to ensure the traditions are both protected and understood. After years of his mere existence being questioned, I released a photo of Hasaka sensei with a young Hatfield sensei, my teacher, in my book "The Secrets Guard Themselves," prompting the Kodokai to issue a statement they have no record of "Hasaka Yutashi" ever training. To quote a Daito Ryu friend of mine, "Saying they have no record of his alias is making them look silly." But I digress. What follows is the next installment in the ongoing endeavor of cementing our system's place in martial arts history by documenting its evolution. ​