Kanagara Aikido

Currently our society collectively manifests the discomfort that arises from the lack of awareness of and connection to the rich inexhaustible flow of the Kannagara, the movements of divine nature…

The potent martial way of Aiki-do as transmitted to Ueshiba O-Sensei (Kaiso/ founder, Ueshiba Morihei) by Aiki Oyagami: Sarutahiko no Okami has the mission of healing the deep discomfort that is the result of this lack of grounded connection to the flow of life. The efficacy of this profound treasure stems from the simple truth that there exists a physiological and energetic organization to consciousness, a stance on the sacred Earth and in the world that we can call the Aiki Body or the listening body. Shall we together activate our KI, our focused determined efforts and our makoto/ deep sincerity and walk the "Aiki-no-Michi". Shall we penetrate beneath the surface and enter the rich transcendent depths of the Kannagara realm, utilizing the sacred technologies of ancient Shinto -- we can stand firmly on the living Earth, understand the voices of the birds, trees and rain--- purify various obstacles and progrees accordimng to our unique individual missons.

….. we often speak of “Mother Nature” this is really an accurate intuition…as all life is based on the model of parent and child --- we can gratefully receive the daily blessings of Mother Nature and the force of life.. this Force of Life (Life Force of Great Nature ) is called Kannagara. We can say this is “like Nature” or “the way of the proceeding in accord with Nature.

To lead the fulfilled, grounded, cheerful and positive life we must activate our KI or spiritual energy. again and again. When we can generate and harmonize with the KI we become Genki/ filled with vitality and able to function at a high level of life power. Through the movements of Aiki that exist to tie the movements of life with the rising and falling of the KI we can become grounded and vital — filled with the wisdom, power, courage and great KI that is needed in our modern age to find the way forward.

Lawrence Koichi Barrish established the Kannagara Jinja over 32 years ago and served as Senior Shinto Priest of Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America the US Branch of Tsubaki Okami Yashiro, one of Japan’s oldest and most prestigious Shinto Shrines and the main shrine of Aikido’s Guardian Kami and Kami of KI for 22 years. Barrish Sensei has the over 50 year history of daily Aiki Training, teaching and exploration.