I have been pursuing Aikido as being 'The Way of Aiki' for sometime now but few seem interested. I think that if you define it as such, it will instantly push people in the right 'search' direction. I think the reason why people, dare I say, instructors, are against it is because they don't know what aiki is. Yet, it is those instructors that should be setting the example and leading the 'Way'.
Think - if you begin to search for aiki, and can then develop it even a little, people of other styles that currently criticise Aikido as being empty will come searching. And for the right reasons.
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Note:
When I first wrote my book, Discovering Aikido (link below), I considered calling it, 'Discovering Aiki', but thought that to be a bit presumptuous as I was/am still searching myself. If you do decide to read my book, do so with the idea of - discovering aiki - in mind ... and it might have more meaning for you.