Kinomichi

Kinomichi (氣之道?) is a martial art in the tradition of budō, developed from the Japanese art aikido by Masamichi Noro and founded in Paris, France, in 1979. Masamichi Noro was one of the live-in students (uchideshi) of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido. Designated "Delegate for Europe and Africa" by Morihei Ueshiba, Noro debarked in Marseille on September 3, 1961, preceding Nakazono and Tamura in the communal construction of European and African aikido.[2] In France, Kinomichi is affiliated with the Fédération Française d'Aïkido, Aïkibudo et Affinitaires (FFAAA) and maintains warm relations with the Aikikai Foundation and its leader, Moriteru Ueshiba, the grandson of aikido's founder.

The movements of Kinomichi are reclassified and divided differently from those of aikido in an attempt to simplify the nomenclature for us Europeans. Another novelty is the methodology of teaching the movements, and the pedagogy to approach them. Practitioners are prepared to study the spiral in the body, first alone and then in pairs, integrating practices derived from Eutonia (somatic education technique) or Méthode Ehrenfriede (holistic gymnastics) or osteopathy.

To then widen the research to more complex and dynamic techniques, also using weapons: Jō 杖道 (wooden stick) Bokken 木剣 (Japanese wooden sword) or the Tantō 短刀 (wooden knife). After the contact phase, the two practitioners: Uke (受け) and Tori (取り), study and apply the functional principles of the articular levers to reach the immobilizations or the projections, such as the roll called ukemi ( 受け身 ) that has the function to protect the body from the impact with the ground. The movements at the beginning of the practice are performed slowly, working on unblocking the rigidities that prevent the free flow of Ki, both lying down and standing. We often dwell on the relationship with the partner, looking for the quality of contact, trying to reach a meeting in the harmonious and fluid movement and using all the space possible. To look at it, it may seem like a dance without the aid of music, an approach to the feeling of rhythm produced together, as the director of movement, no attack or defence, but encounter and joy. A refined and essential art that is now recognised by the Ministry of Sport in France as a sport of universal value.