Kiko - Japanese Qigong, sorta ...

The characters/ideograms mean "breathing exercise; breath control; spirit cultivation; chi kung; qigong." The first character means, "spirit; mind; air; atmosphere; mood," the second character means, "achievement; merits; success; honor; credit."

Kiko is the Japanese term used fundamentally representative of the Chinese Qigong. This term in Japanese martial arts is the art of developing "ki." There are some differences between the Chinese concept of "qi" to the Japanese concept of "ki."

In Japanese cultural beliefs, ki is an energy that permeates all things in the universe to include such things as organic life, stones, wind, rain, the sea, the mountains, etc. Ki is also thought of as an extension to primitive animist thinking.

To answer a question about the practice of the art of kiko one should delve deeper into the concept of "ki." Ki is felt though the focus on the body, it is felt by the body and the mind needs training to focus on ki by means of the body. One must develop the ability to consciously be attentive to the sensations of ki that is to become one with your surroundings through the dissipation/removal of the sensations of your own existence which is felt when focused on sensations within and around the body.

Ki is that which is heard through bodily sensations by perceptions of our environment and how we are living within that environment. It is a matter of the sensations, impressions and perceptions that are somewhat mystical, strange, vague, and intangible by western thoughts. It is a level of insight that human's, especially westerners, have repressed in modern times.

It is the sharpening of our senses, i.e. touch, sight, hearing, smell, which played a role in survival in ancient times now repressed by modern progress.

Another concept of kiko, breath control. Life is ki, ki is of the breathe. The breathing we do contributes to ki and to our energy levels. Ki, breath control, kiko all are the same yet different for they promote things like health, well-being, calm, serenity and effectiveness in waza. The breath control in martial arts is the interweaving of breathe, breathe control, with muscles, tendons, ligaments, internal organs and external myriad things.

We have heard often how we practice "muscle & breathe control." Seldom has the training addressed directly the art of breathing with control. Kiko is the martial concept and symbolism by ideograms that teach about the spectrum of breath control. The two words are inadequate to explain the depth and breadth of the importance of utilizing the art of kiko or in this instance, breathe control.

Kiko is spirit where spirit is boosted by ki, breathe control or muscle and breathe control. All of these and many things are the essence of kiko and by its energies in "ki."

Proper breathing control methods cleanse our minds of distractions and result in release of positive chemicals to counter act negative chemicals and emotions alleviating the mind so it can assume a mind of no-mind, present moment mind.

Kiko, ki, breathing systems all cultivate a mind-body of a warrior with zanshin, mushin, etc. that epitomizes the master of the martial arts. Only by this method of kiko can one achieve a where perceptions are not deceived by the senses as influenced by the monkey brain and the adrenaline dump caused by emotions, chemicals, etc.

Ki, kiko, is to achieve equilibrium within so that it can be achieved without and brings about harmony and serenity - a state of enlightenment. To master ki is to master kiko and reach the level of "furen shuten," where our bodies and mind become symbiotic with ki to the highest level possible in life. This is the point in which a master of kiko, ki and marital arts controls ki instinctually and naturally.

It should be stated that kiko is an effort to reestablish our human condition where the qualities, perceptions, sensitivities and other mental/physical faculties are returned from being lost due to the course of civilization's development in the industrial and now internet ages. It is a method by which kiko gives us access to the primitive instincts/qualities that we need in survival and interconnectedness of all things in the universe.

Kiko helps the westerner understand how mere words reduce the depth and breadth one can perceive from images (ideograms), sounds, and movements which when coupled with words increases their depth beyond the words themselves.