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Takemusu Aikido Intercontinental

Transmitting an authentic knowledge of Traditional Aikido as founded by Morihei UESHIBA

Kajo #17
Kuki is what pierces in one blow the wonderful spirit of the great Earth and the
appearance of Heaven.

Yonkyo is what pierces in one blow the wonderful spirit of the great Earth and the appearance of
tenchi.

The intuition of Kajo #15 was proven right in kajo #16. It is tenchi nage which appears opposite to
yonkyo. The complementary technique of that yonkyo sword which pierces the Earth is tenchi nage
which pierces the Sky, "in other words, this is the double edged sword of Heaven and Earth" tells
O Sensei (cf. Kajo #15)

Yonkyo develops towards Earth.
Earth in traditional knowledge is symbolized
with a square.
The square is a static geometric figure which
symbolizes a halt, the power resting.
Earth is stable.
Yonkyo is an immobilization.
Tenchi nage develops towards the Sky.
The Sky in traditional knowledge is symbolized
with a circle.
The circle is a mobile geometric figure which
symbolizes continuity, the energy of motion.
The Sky is motion.
Tenchi nage is a throw.

We have just made a fundamental discovery. Roppo, the six directions, the lines ikkajo, nikajo,
sankajo, gokajo are all horizontal but the line yonkajo is vertical: the directions 7 and 8 are
vertical. The model we have been studying since the beginning and should be called now the
archetype of Aikido develops itself in a tri dimensional space which could be compared with an
egg.

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Thus the three issues that appeared in kajo #15 are solved:

1 - There are indeed six directions in the horizontal plane and two vertical directions

2 - The two vertical directions lead us in tri dimensional space. If the figure we are using since the
beginning is only bi dimensional, it is because is a simplification, being the projection on a plane of
what is actually a volume, just like a cartographic projection allows to represent Earth on a piece of
paper. We can now say that Aikido is organized as an ellipsoid of revolution, ie a volume and not
a planisphere. The archetype of Aikido is organized as an ellipsoid of revolution in which the
techniques, opposed in pairs draw its lines.

3 - On the ikkajo, nikajo, sankajo and gokajo lines, the techniques are opposed on both sides but
never in the line. On the other hand, the yonkajo line is the rotation axis of the ellipsoid of
revolution so that yonkyo and tenchi nage are done on that very axis. The human body stands at
the centre of the ellipsoid. When he moves according to the harmonious design offered to him, he
becomes the motion axis of that virtual egg and in that circumstance, he acts as the Bridge
between Heaven and Earth

When one searches sincerely and progresses on the path, Heaven and Earth unite to give the
necessary confirmations at the right moment.

I had just finished the kajo #16, still thinking about that link between yonkyo and tenchi nage, we
went training with my son, and of course we practiced yonkyo and tenchi nage. After the second
tenchi nage, he told me what I can't but interprete as an encouragement to follow the path I'm on:

Funny, when you apply tenchi nage, I have the same sensation in the shoulder as when
you apply yonkyo.

Aikido is really amazing... I have been practicing for 35 years now with the most world wide
respected teachers and until that day, I had never been able to see that point, that detail which is
the best evidence of the complementarity of yonkyo and tenchi nage. Please have a careful look at
the following pictures:

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The arm and the shoulder are in both techniques exactly under the same constraint and this is
why uke must feel the same in both cases: tenchi nage is a yonkyo towards Heaven, yonkyo is
a tenchi nage towards Earth. It is the double edged sword of Heaven and Earth.

I can't but notice that this wonderful confirmation does not happens randomly. In fact with tenchi
nage the design elaborated around the ten fundamental techniques of Aikido is eventually
completed, ordered around the five axis of the revolution ellipsoid. With that confirmation the whole
system slowly revealed is indeed confirmed. For the kajos are linked between them as we will see
in the next articles and one kajo can't be right and valid without the other ones.

Yonkyo and tenchi nage are united like Heaven and Earth are. Let's go back with this new notion
in mind:

IKKAJO ikkyo – • – shiho nage: one immobilisation / one throw NIKAJO nikyo – • – kote gaeshi:
one immobilisation / one throw SANKAJO sankyo – • – kaiten nage: one immobilisation / one
throw YONKAJO yonkyo – • – tenchi nage: one immobilisation / one throw GOKAJO gokyo – • –
irimi nage: one immobilisation / one throw

There is no random in that concordance of course and we can see, as we end up this article, that
the couple yonkyo tenchi nage is not the only one to unify Heaven and Earth: Heaven and Earth
are unified in all couples of all kajos. Any immobilization represents Earth, any throw
represents Heaven.

Philippe Voarino, June 2012.

Philippe Voarino next seminar: Sunday, 21 April, 2013, Aikido Gasshuku 2013, Antibes, France

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