Shikon & Hachi Riki

This text is also available in: Español

Before we discuss Shikon & Hachi Riki let’s go straight to Aiki #3!  (It’s so cool, I can’t wait!)

Aiki #3 Illustrated:

In in order to create Aiki #3 we use Aiki #1 (linear oppositional forces), Aiki #2 (rotational oppositional forces) and  torsional oppositional forces simultaneously.

Illustration #1: Aiki #3

When the “cylinder of the limbs and torso travel through space due to the rotation of Aiki #2, the added torsion present in Aiki #3 causes spiral forces to be created. (Be Advised:  This is a rather simplistic explanation of what is really going on, but for our purposes it will suffice for now.)

Illustration #2:  Spiraling Oppositional Forces as they travel the cylinders making up our body.

Ideally, this is happening all the time throughout the entire body/mind and consequently one literally “IS” Aiki; physically, energetically, mentally, etc. The whole shebang!

STOP!

This is a BIG DEAL everybody.  This is the “secret” of how to create the traits that make/made the Aiki Greats so notable.  They were notable not because of their philosophy or charismatic personality. Most had rather extreme personalities and were not always easy to get along with.  They were notable not because of their popular style, high rank, large organization, good looks, trophies on the shelf, who they trained with, or due to some esteemed lineage.  No!  They stood out among others because of the uncommon traits that they could demonstrate at will, without collusion, cooperation, or pontification. It was these people, these rare notable people, these few people with True Aiki that said, “Aiki isn’t techniques.”  This was one of the few things they seemingly agreed upon and had in common.  

It is at this point, not so much in time, but in thought, that one must decide if one wishes to understand, learn, and develop True Aiki.  The Aiki that results in the traits that the Aiki Greats all had in common, and that they all pointed to as Aiki, apart from mere techniques.  The path certainly isn’t for everyone.  In fact, it seems to be self culling!  If you choose not to pursue it whether due to discounting all of this mumbo jumbo as “not my” Aiki, or discounting one’s own ability to achieve it, you will be in good company with the majority of individuals practicing in the world today.   Certainly it won’t make you any worse of a person, any more than pursuing this Aiki will make you a better person.  

Those that truly followed this odd path and succeeded to any noticeable degree were few and far between.  Nevertheless, there were a few.  Clearly, it can be done.  So the question that remains is, will you be one of them?

******** . . 

Finishing up Ueshiba’s lecture. . . for this week:

All of this will all come together now, and it is very, very cool!  If you will recall, Shikon means “four souls.” The Four Souls are Kushi Mitama, Saki Mitama, Nigi Mitama, and Ara Mitama.  And, they are arranged like this:

Illustration #3:  Shikon the “Four Souls”

Together they form Aiki Ju or the “cross + of Aiki.”  Now we will replace the names of the four souls with correlating symbols.  Kushi Mitama = Ten, Saki Mitama = Earth, Ara Mitama = Fire, and Nigi Mitama = Water.  Again, they are arranged like this:

Illustration #4:  Aiki Ju depicted in 2D, the forces that create Aiki #3 as depicted in Illustration #1

Let’s review. . .

San Gen (Ten, Chi, Jin) are used to create Aiki #1 (Linear mutually dependent oppositional forces), and Aiki #2 (Mono Axial rotation powered by mutually dependent oppositional forces).  Now we are going to use San Gen  (Ten, Chi, Jin) to create Aiki #3 (Bi Axial Rotation caused by mutually dependent oppositional forces.)

San Gen again, again, and again. . .

If you will recall, Aiki #1 was created via the forces of Ten and Chi rather than via contraction.  Aiki #2 combines Aiki #1 with rotation created via the forces of Ten and Chi.  Aiki #3 combines Aki #1, Aiki #2, and torsion created, again, by the forces of Ten and Chi.  All of this occurs due to the specific intention of Jin.

The Flesh and Bone of Ni Ki

Aiki #1 is the movement of  the oppositional forces of gravity and normal force through tissue and bone that creates tension in the tissue and compression in the bone, resulting in a highly stable  tansegrous structure, Aiki #2 is the movement of bone and tissue via the movement of oppositional forces of  gravity and normal force, Aiki #3 is the movement of the oppositional forces of gravity and normal force resulting in the movement of tissue torsionally.

Ichi Rei – And it is all wrapped up in one neat package, you, or the Universe; take your pick!

(The big question of the day:  HOW?)

Well, first of all, let’s recognize that it isn’t via torsion of the bones.  That would be injurious.  (Fun to do to others if one is into that sort of thing, but no fun to have done to one’s self.) So, what does that leave?  You guessed it, tissues!  Conveniently, our bones are wrapped in elastic tissue that can create torsion around the bones.   And this is how we create the torsion that, when added to Aiki #1 and Aki #2, creates Aiki #3.

So, if we look back to our original Aiki Ju diagram, we can see that it contains Aiki #1 (linear oppositional forces), and if we were to rotate about the vertical plane between Ten and Chi that would create Aiki #2, and if we were to torsionally rotate about the horizontal plane between Fire and Water that would create Aiki #3.

Aiki Ju is an illustration of Aiki (#1, #2, and #3) .  It also implies the Ame no Uki Hashi or the “floating bridge of heaven.”  It is in the center as defined by the Aiki Ju.  And we should all be standing on the Ame no Uki Hashi!  Going backwards:  What is the origin of this? San Gen  How did they come about? Ni Ki What is the whole thing called? Ichi Rei

Ichi Rei, Ni Ki, San Gen, Shi Kon

Pretty slick!

“But what about Hachi Riki? (Eight Powers)  Where do they come from, hmm?”

Ah, well that is easy. . . Remember waaaaaaay back in the beginning when we talked about how when two forces meet orthogonally (at 90º) that they do not impede  each other, there is no resistance, but there is a resultant force vector?  If those two orthogonal forces are equal, the resultant force vector is always at 45º!

Check out the diagram of the Hachi Riki:

Oh Baby!  For every orthogonal force vector there is a resultant force vector depicted.  As a matter of fact, for the inverse of every orthogonally meeting forces there is an equal and opposite force vector.  And if we wanted to go all hog wild and make the thing 3D one would find that there would be 16 potential resultant force vectors.

It is kind of important to show the resultant force vectors at least out to 16 because after all humans are 3D not 2D! But 16 force vectors are hard to draw in 3D, so let’s just use Ueshiba Morihei’s drawing in 2D of the 16 resultant force vectors!

“Hold on, hold on!  Only one of Ueshiba’s drawings looks like yours.  The rest has squares around them.  Explain that!”

The whole thing is summed up in the top picture:

As you can see there are triangles, circles and squares are represented throughout the drawings.  This week, I won’t go down the rabbit hole of what they represent, but I think that it is self-evident that they interpenetrate the whole thing.  In Shingon Mikkyo this is called NYU Ga – Ga NYU.  Which means, “Entering Into – Being Entered Into.”  I think this phrase describes the process of Aiki quite nicely.  We must “enter into” Aiki with our mind/body and Aiki will simultaneously “enter into” us.  This has spiritual connotations that were certainly not lost on Ueshiba, but we won’t delve into that either this week.

“Oh, and what is that stuff behind Ueshiba Sensei?”  

It is just what I’ve been writing about over the course of the last several weeks.  Ueshiba seemed to think it was quite important.  In fact, when he would give lectures explaining what Aikido is, this is what he would most often talk about!

It seems rather odd that so many people that “train Aikido” don’t know about what the founder of Aikido so valued and lectured about.  Maybe it is worth re-stating what was covered in this week’s blog . . .

Here is all the same stuff shown in a different way:

All one has to remember is this symbol thingy, which just happens to be. . . The Takeda Mon!

Samurai families had a “coat of arms” representing their family.  This symbol is the “coat of arms of the Takeda clan.

And that is just standing still, wait until we get this thing fired up!

When it all starts to rotate there are even more resultant force vectors formed.  WAY more than just 16, probably more than 10,000.  Who knows how many?  I sure don’t!  It is a mystery!

Old Aiki Guy:  “Blah, blah, blah. . . ”  

Young Aiki Guy (sitting in seiza):  “OMG!  Will he ever stop???!!!  

Old Aiki Guy:  “Blah, blah, blah. . . “

Young Aiki Guy:  “I can’t feel my legs.  No, wait, I CAN feel my legs!  Arrrrgh!  What is the point of this anyway?  NOBODY understands what this guy is saying!  Blah, blah, blah. . . Shut up already!  Can’t we just do some REAL Aiki  training already!”

Next week:  The story of how I met Shirata Rinjiro Sensei.

Liked it? Take a second to support Allen Dean Beebe on Patreon!