tedehara

In response to your questions:

1. Aikido and Ki-Aikido are composed of grappling techniques. How effective they are applied would depend on the situation and the individuals involved.

2. Aikikai is an organization composed of many different styles. There is no singular style style that can be named "Aikikai". The Ki Society practices only one style of aikido commonly called Ki-Aikido.

Because the Ki Society emphasizes mind and body coordination, they focus on the techniques from this viewpoint. Many of the techniques which would be done in an Aikikai dojo using an atemi (strike), are practiced without the strike in a Ki Society dojo.

Ki-Aikido stresses leading in the technique, than using other martial options like strikes (atemi) or joint-locks. Of course the atemi or joint-locks are inherent in the techniques, but are not regularly practiced.

Even in a technique like sankyo, the partner (uke) is lead through the technique. You don't need the pain of the joint-lock to complete the sankyo. A good practitioner can lead their partner through the technique with little or no pain from the joint-lock. This applies to all soft stylists, not just the Ki Society.

Ki-Aikido is dynamic, in that it is constantly changing. These changes come from Ki Society Hdqrs. in Japan, through the annual national instructors' meetings. In many cases these changes are small, trying to emphasize the ki movement of the technique.

The Ki Society dojo may practice arts that are not martially related. Misogi, ki exercises, ki breathing and ki meditation are used for ki development. Aiki weapons techniques for jo and bokken are practiced. Taigi practice uses Ki-Aikido techniques for a competitive judging contest. Kiatsu-ho is an accupressure healing system that is practiced.

3. Hopefully for both Aikikai and Ki Society members, their practice will make them more aware of what is going on around them. So they don't get caught flat-footed in a real confrontation. This will give them an chance to use the art of aikido, to extract themselves without using a "fighting" mind.