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Ki Breathing may be done in any position; the best position is when sitting seiza (kneeling). Ki Breathing should be done for 20 minutes at a time. You should be able to continue Ki Breathing for 30 minutes; this is a minimum goal to attain. Ki Breathing should be natural, not forced. Ki Breathing will allow you to consume more oxygen and expel more carbon dioxide than most breathing methods. Ki Breathing will energize and relax you at the same time. Ki Breathing will enhance your ability to coordinate mind and body. Ki Breathing will allow you to become more centered and positive.Correct Ki Breathing is difficult to master because just being able to sit still for 20 minutes at a time is a task in itself; so do not force it. Breathe as long as you can until you feel the urge to stop; when this happens, it is time to stop. At first, breathing should be done at the same time every day. The next day, breathe at least as long as you did the day before. Continue this process until you can reach the 30 minute goal. Remember that slow and consistent practice will allow you to benefit the most from Ki Breathing.

I find that Ki Breathing, just before bedtime, will enable me to sleep more soundly and wake up faster, feeling totally rested. Ki Breathing is also helpful in finding solutions to problems. Concentrate on the problem at hand before you start to breathe. Start breathing but do not think about the problem; when you finish Ki Breathing, you may have a better idea of how to solve your problem. If you get nervous, before a presentation or any stressful activity, Ki Breathing will allow you to relax and complete the task at hand with confidence and relaxed control.

The following is a description of the Ki Breathing Method:

• Position yourself in the correct seiza posture; sitting kneeling…lower back in…leaning slightly forward over your center. This will be referred to as the neutral postion.
• Concentrate correctly; imagine your mind at your center (3 inches below your navel)… let your muscles naturally relax but do not collapse… focus your Ki (attention/energy) away from your body and your center.
• Exhale first: open your mouth and begin to let your breath flow naturally out. As you exhale, create the sound “HAAAA” as softly as possible. Use your throat muscles to control the flow of your breath. If you do not control your breath, the exhalation will be done much too quickly. When you cannot exhale any longer, bend slightly forward from your center. This will compress the diaphragm and allow you to exhale a bit more. After shifting forward and exhaling completely, return to the neutral position and concentrate on your center, still imagining that you are exhaling. Remain in the neutral position for 5 seconds. The exhalation cycle should take 35 seconds in total… exhale for 30 seconds and hold for 5 seconds.
• Inhale next: close your mouth and begin to let the air flow naturally through your nose. Use your throat muscles to control the flow of your breath. If you do not control your breath, the inhalation will be done much too quickly. When you cannot inhale any longer, bend slightly backward from your center. This will expand the diaphragm and allow you to inhale a bit more. After shifting backward and inhaling completely, return to the neutral position and concentrate on your center, still imagining that you are inhaling. Remain in the neutral position for 5 seconds. The inhalation cycle should take 25 seconds in total…inhale for 20 seconds and hold for 5 seconds.

Remember, do not force this exercise; if a 30 second exhalation is too much for you to do, then reduce th4e exhalation to 20 seconds or whatever feels right. But remember to also reduce the inhalation time to 2/3 of the exhalation trime. Always hold the neutral position for 5 seconds, no matter how much the inhalation or exhalation times change.When inhaling and exhaling, imagine that your Ki si flowing along with your breath. This will allow you to maximaize the effect of Ki Breathing to your overall well-being. I hope this will be helpful in this most important part of KI-AIKIDO

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Bill Sosa Sensei 1934-2002

On June 9, Bill Sosa Sensei (founder and director, International Aikido Association) died in Dallas after a short illness. He leaves behind a loving family and many dedicated students, as well as a legacy of martial arts leadership that spanned nearly 40 years.

Sosa Sensei began his Aikido training in the mid-Sixties with Isao Takahashi Sensei and Koichi Tohei Sensei in Chicago. Moving to Dallas in 1972, Sosa Sensei established the Southwestern Aikido Institute and served as chief instructor for 23 years. He affiliated with Rod Kobayashi Sensei of Seidokan Aikido in 1981 and served as a senior instructor for 14 years within that organization.

In 1995, he resigned from Seidokan and founded the International Aikido Association (IAA), which today includes many affiliated dojos located across America and Mexico. In fact, Sosa Sensei has been widely recognized for pioneering the spread of Aikido in Texas, the Southwest and Mexico. His contribution influenced not just the growth within Aikido, but was felt throughout the broader martial arts community.

His book, The Essence of Aikido, is considered a standard in Aikido literature, and The Secrets of Police Aikido was praised by law enforcement professionals for its practical approach to control tactics.

But it was always his students that were his first priority. As Sosa Sensei said himself, seeing his students grow and develop through the practice of Aikido principles was the “most satisfying” of all. As he often reminded us, Aikido is not just a martial art, but a way of life.

It is this wise and committed teacher, mentor, warrior and friend whom we will miss so much.

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John Barton Langsford Sensei (1955-2001)

For all of you that were friends and students of Bart’s You know his life was Aikido and Budo.  I wanted to share a letter Bart had printed in “Aikido Today Magazine” In Sept of 1995.  I hope this gives you all a little more understanding of who Bart Was.  He was my best friend and I feel him everytime I teach a class and that will never change. He will always be part of Our Dojo.

Thank you Bart.

Bart’s Letter to Aikido Today Mag. “Aikido From The Heart”

I started martial arts training in junior high school. I was in wrestling, where a coach began to make me realize what “Not quitting” means. When i joined Judo classes, I began to realize that martial arts was a the joining of the body, mind and spitit. I soon joined Shotokan Karate and broadened my art into a way of life.

I trained for many years, but something was missing. I could not relax my Ki. I felt an empty space. So i began to study Aikido on my own through books (I could not find a school.) I found some Aikido seminars, I enjoyed them, and decided that this was what i had been missing.

Before I was able to join an Aikido Dojo, I fell ill with an upper chest infestion. By the time the virus was defeated, the infection had severly damaged my heart. I had to have a pacemaker put in to stabilize my heart functions. After a while, I was back on my feet again, slowly trying to get into shape. I walked alot, did stretches, lifted weights, and worked on breathing exercises.

Suddenly I bcame weaker, and my pacemaker had to be replaced. I found out that my heart was dying and that iI would need to have a heart transplant. This was very frightening for me. For the second time, I was to face an enemy that i could not see.

I ended up going to the Kansas University Medical Center. For 3 months, I Couldn’t move to brush my teeth, eat, or take care of myself. During this time, I kept thinking, “There is too much to do yet. My task on this Earth can’t be over.” I began to doubt that I would make it. I had seizures, and lost alot of weight. Then one day, I got mad at myself. What was I doing? I was quitting!”No WAY,” I said to myself. So, I decided to put goals in front of myself each day. I promised myself to hang on untill a heart arrived, to finish my Degrees in Martial Arts, And To take up Aikido. With the help of the doctors, nurses, friends, And family, I beagn to get stubborn. I put my KI to work and snarled at the thought of death.

On October 31,1994(Halloween night) I had the worst battle yet, but i kept fighting. A gleam of light came into my room about 7:00P.m.-A nurse with a smile on her face and a whisper of hope. She said that a donor had been found, and that the doctors were preparing for surgery. The time had arrived. I was rushed to the surgical area.

After 3 days of sleep, I woke up still fighting and remembering not to quit.

Next to my room there was a 6 month old baby girl who went through the same thing I had-A life-and-death battle. I thought to myself” what a brave little warrior she must be.” She started life with a battle-at least I had time to prepare for it.

This little girl made it. I hope she never quits. She gave me an incentive to carry on.

For 3 or 4 months I had to relearn how to walk. I kept putting small goals in front of myself. After I was released from the Hospital, It took another year of therapy before I was fit enough to continue training in the Martial Arts. I remembered the Goals that I had put in front of myself, And I Looked for an Aikido Dojo.

Finally, I Found an Aikido demo in Topeka, Ks. Looking back on the pain and the face-to-face encounter with death, I certainly was not going to quit now. I joined the Topeka Aikido Dojo.

It took me 10 years to get to Aikido, and now that I have found it, I won’t let go. I love the Class…

My heath is improving, And so im my outlook on life. I find myself more relaxed, And my problems don’t seem as big. Also, I’m more self-confident.

Aikido has helped me in my other martial arts. I’m More relaxed, More sure of my movements, quicker, and don’t telegraph as much as I did before.

I’m very glad that i found Aikido. Even though I am Disabled,I can still meet my goals using the KI that was given to to use and develop. I believe that all people, Handicapped or not, can strive toward a better life through the development of KI.  IF I can do it, So can you!

John Bart Langsford Sensei (1955-2001)

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