Aikido is a martial art founded by Morihei Ueshiba. Ueshiba Sensei was a Jujutsu Master who sought a martial path of Spiritual development through his art, and felt that mere physical technique alone did not provide the training in Universal principles he so desperately sought.

His amalgamation of Daito-Ryu Aikijujutsu and his religious beliefs, borrowed most chiefly from Omoto-Kyo and Shinto, resulted in the creation of a completely new art, both designed to teach humankind to live in harmony, and as a martial system of self-defense.

Koichi Tohei is one of Ueshiba's top students. As the only person officially recognized by Aikikai Hombu to have ever receive the 10^th Dan, or highest rank possible in Aikido, from Morihei himself, and the former Chief Instructor of mainline Aikido for many years, Tohei Sensei has played a pivotal role in the spreading of Aikido throughout the world. In 1971 (two years after Ueshiba's death) Tohei Sensei founded the Ki no Kenkyukai. He felt that Morihei's emphasis on the importance of Ki in Aikido technique was being ignored by the mainstream organization designed to spread and maintain his teachings after his death, and found it necessary to start his own to amend this discrepancy.

Tohei Sensei borrowed from his experiences with the Tempukai and Ichikukai Dojos to help facilitate and fill in the gaps of Ueshiba's instruction. The result was the creation of Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido, or The Way of Harmonizing one's Spirit with that of another, utilizing principles of Mind-Body Unification.

The Mt. Diablo Ki-Aikido Club offers instruction in Tohei Sensei's unique style of Aikido. Please contact the Dojo administrator for more information.