The Principles of Ki
The Principles of Ki were developed by Koichi Tohei (head Aikido sensei, and founder of The Ki Society). What Tohei refers to as “Relaxed Strength” is what Jiu Jitsu calls supple — it’s a state between hard and soft, between rigid and flaccid. Tohei maintains that the four sub-principles contained within the Principles of Ki are something everyone can practice, regardless of age, gender or physical condition.
Koichi Tohei was Aikido’s senior instructor at the time of Aikido’s founder Morihei Ueshiba’s death. He eventually broke away from the main organization and started his own organization called The Ki Society. Tohei deeply believed that key to being successful in Aikido and in life was the practice of universal principles. He devoted his life to promoting these deeply helpful universal practices. The Ki Society was formed on the basis of teaching such principles both to martial arts students who were studying Aikido but also to people who wished to solely study the principles and not necessarily train on the mat. [Source]
The Principles of Ki
Tohei discusses Ki in Daily Life, and lays out the four fundamental principles at the root of his system of “man’s natural strength and his hidden natural resources.”
Relax Completely
Keep Weight Underside
Maintain One Point
Extend Ki
He stated, for example, that “People do not know how to relax and feel that they cannot.” He pointed out that when most of us are under stress or some form of attack or pressure, we tense up. But, as he had proven, “The fact is if you relax properly you are very strong.”
There is strength in calmness and in being relaxed
He also pointed out that if you are practicing any one of the four principles of Ki, you are practicing all of them. That was particularly appealing to a guy like me because it seemed such an efficient way to go about things.
I have been studying these principles for at least 20 years. And it is true that if I am not more or less completely relaxed, my weight is not underside. It may manifest as tension in my neck or shoulders, or tightness in my back, my butt, or in my abdominal regions.
And it is true that if my weight is not sufficiently underside and I am tense, it is going to be far harder to do my daily tasks efficiently, because I am uptight and tense. It’s easier to hoist a bag of garbage into the dumpster when I am relaxed than when my shoulders are tight.
And it is true that if I can’t stay on point that I am not going to be extending Ki as well as I should be, because my flow is going to be stifled or interrupted. If my body or mind or emotions are tense, I am more likely to forget a stop at the grocery store or that I have a meeting in 30 minutes.
Source: Ki in Daily Life, Kochi Tohei; Copyright 1978, Japan Publications