Koichi Tohei: The Master of Ki on "The New You" (1977)

Описание: In this rare television appearance from 1977, Koichi Tohei Sensei, the founder of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido (Ki Society), visits Portland, Oregon, to guest star on the PBS program "The New You," hosted by Vaunda Carter.

Across this multi-part series, Tohei Sensei demonstrates the practical application of Ki (Life Energy) to a Western audience. Rather than focusing on martial combat, the footage captures a master teacher showing how "Mind-Body Coordination" can improve health, reduce stress, and provide unshakeable stability in daily life. Through his famous "Ki Tests"—including the Unbendable Arm and the One-Point—Tohei proves that true strength comes not from muscular tension, but from complete relaxation and mental focus.

Before the events of this video, Koichi Tohei was a devoted student of the founder, Morihei Ueshiba (O-Sensei), and was the only person to be officially awarded 10th Dan (the highest rank) by the Aikikai Foundation with a formal diploma.

As the Chief Instructor (Shukan) of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, Tohei was responsible for the post-war spread of Aikido. He was the first master to travel extensively to the United States (starting in Hawaii in 1953), teaching his "Four Basic Principles to Unify Mind and Body." His charismatic teaching style and emphasis on the "Ki" aspect of the art made him a global icon.

In 1971, Tohei founded the Ki No Kenkyukai (Ki Society) to focus specifically on Ki development. In 1974, the tension reached a breaking point, and Tohei officially resigned from the Aikikai to form his own independent school: Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido (Aikido with Mind and Body Unified). The 1977 video you see here captures Tohei just three years after this monumental split, as he was aggressively working to establish his "new venture" as a standalone system of self-improvement.

This video was filmed during the "Golden Age" of Aikido expansion. Following the death of the founder in 1969, the art was splintering into different styles. Tohei’s departure was the most significant event of this era, forcing students worldwide to choose between the "traditional" Aikikai path and Tohei’s "Ki-focused" path. This footage represents Tohei's effort to show that Ki was not "mystical" or "Japanese magic," but a universal principle that any American could understand and use.

The 1970s were the perfect era for Tohei’s message. The West was in the midst of the Human Potential Movement, a period characterized by a surge of interest in yoga, meditation, Eastern philosophy, and holistic health.

When Tohei appeared on "The New You," the American public was hungry for ways to find "inner peace" amidst the social upheaval and economic "stagflation" of the decade. Tohei’s teachings on relaxation and "keeping one point" resonated with the era’s desire for self-actualization. He wasn't just teaching a martial art; he was teaching a "New You"—a way for the modern person to remain calm and powerful in an increasingly chaotic world.

The Unbendable Arm: Tohei demonstrates that when the host, Vaunda, tenses her arm, it is easily bent. When she relaxes and "lets Ki flow," her arm becomes an immovable bridge. Tohei teaches the importance of the hara (lower abdomen) as the center of gravity. A rare look at Tohei’s specific method of meditative breathing, which he claimed was the key to longevity and mental clarity. Tohei demonstrates how to walk and sit with Ki, showing that the "mat" is everywhere.

This footage remains one of the clearest records of Koichi Tohei's pedagogical genius, capturing a moment when Eastern martial wisdom was being translated into a universal language of human wellness.

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