About Saint Louis Ki Society

The Saint Louis Ki Society is incorporated in the state of Missouri as a non-profit educational institution. The Saint Louis Ki Society is exempt from Federal Income tax as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax deductible.

The programs of Saint Louis Ki Society are supported through student tuition and a combination of grants and private donations. Funding pays for operating and administrative expenses, staff, instructor training, facility expenses, office and advertising costs, special workshops, training equipment and fundraising. Saint Louis Ki Society provides significant support for regional, national and international Ki Society organizations. A detailed financial breakdown is contained in the Annual Corporate Report. You can visit the GuideStar website, a national database of nonprofit organizations, for additional information.

We are a membership organization. Along with volunteer work, membership fees and donations are crucial to the operation of Saint Louis Ki Society. Only through the participation and generosity of its members can Saint Louis Ki Society provide the training and services that we have to offer. Many of these services are given at little or no cost to those who receive them, such as the WellChild Ki-Aikido program for at-risk children, and the Tranquility In Motion classes for older adults. In addition, tuition for our regular classes and the cost of training equipment such as Gi's (uniforms) is kept as low as possible. Membership also helps support instructor education as well as regional and international Ki Society training and activities.

The Board of Directors sets various annual membership levels, including a level for "Practicing Membership". Actively training adult Aikido and Japanese Yoga (Ki Development) students who contribute at the practicing membership level or above receive certain rights and benefits. These rights and benefits are set by the Board of Directors and include a vote in elections for board members, newsletters, and reduced fees for some activities. In addition, practicing members are official members of Midland Ki Federation and Ki Society International. They are thereby eligible for official testing, rank and teaching certification in Aikido and Ki Development.

The Board of Directors governs all non-instructional affairs of the Saint Louis Ki Society. The board is made up of Ki Society students and concerned members of the community who volunteer their time and expertise to manage Saint Louis Ki Society and guide its mission. They provide for the resources and strategies needed to carry out the mission of Saint Louis Ki Society. A copy of the bylaws of the corporation, Annual Corporate Reports and Board meeting minutes are kept in the Saint Louis Ki Society library. If you are interested in learning more about the Board and serving Ki Society in this manner, please talk to a board member.

Saint Louis Ki Society could not exist without the valuable efforts of volunteers. The board of directors, regular instructors, librarians and teaching assistants are all unpaid volunteers. Additionally, annual fund raising, special events and many other activities are all accomplished through significant volunteer efforts. Participation by students in the operation of our school is considered a valuable part of training, which fosters a holistic view of involvement. Sweeping the mat after class, talking to visitors, and otherwise being fully engaged is good for everyone.

The Saint Louis Ki Society admits students of any race, color, national and ethic origin, age, gender, sexual orientation or religious preference to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the dojo. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethic origin, age, gender, sexual orientation or religious preference in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships or other programs.

Ki Society training began in St. Louis in the summer of 1979 with Saint Louis native William Reed. He taught in St. Louis for about three and a half years before returning to Japan to continue his training in Aikido and Mind and Body Unification as well as Japanese language, calligraphy, and culture. The Saint Louis Ki Society was incorporated in 1989 as a nonprofit educational institution to foster the continuation of Ki Society instruction in the St. Louis area.

The Head Instructor for the Saint Louis Ki Society is Mark Rubbert. Mr. Rubbert has been training since 1979 and teaching regularly since 1982. He oversees all instruction and programs of the Society. The Saint Louis Ki Society is a member of the Midland Ki Federation headed by Koichi Kashiwaya. Mr. Kashiwaya is the internationally certified testing examiner for St. Louis