About Shibui

Quite a few have asked about the name Shibui Aikido. Below are some musings on this subtle and elusive term. Shibui is a Japanese adjective in the field of aesthetics. Because it refers to a refined experience and not a conceptual thing, it is probably best to hold the words lightly and feel into what they are pointing to.

an understated, simple, subtle, and unobtrusive beauty
Often when we are connecting and leading in an aikido movement there are moments of understated beauty. To feel these moments one chooses to focus on the flow and connection within the movement and let go of trying throw our partner.

We miss these moments of understated beauty by, on one hand, doing too much or rushing, on the other hand, being slack, slightly dull, or lethargic. Yet when both partners are present in the flow of the movement, they can share these simple, yet exquisite moments. “Universal mind recognizes Universal mind and two move as one.”— Tamura Sensei. The experience is the essence here. The concepts points us into our experience, into the practice.

great refinement underlying commonplace appearances
When aikido is done very well, it looks simple and easy. What appears as commonplace or simplistic has deeper layers of refinement, connection and ki extension, without force or coercion. Suzuki Sensei often said, “Relax more, do nothing, be natural.” Overcoming and undoing our small self’s efforts to be safely separate and control others, takes many hours of well-applied practice. Eventually we become a “Person of Union with Ki.” We appear quite ordinary while living with extraordinary depth in the present moment. A person of Shibui.

knowing rather than understanding
Knowing points to a state of being aware, of experiencing. Understanding points to conceptual or abstract associations or conclusions. Here Shibui emphasizes the process of being right-with what is happening, no separation, the direct experience, without resorting to thinking-about, without adding an opinion, or suggesting a conclusion. Shibui Aikido aims for less thinking and talking, and more direct awareness through each movement.

eloquent silence
Learning to speak less and listen more is part of unwinding the shoga-self; O Sensei’s “true victory is victory over the self.” And we can recognize that there are many kinds of silence: the silence of withholding, the silence of resentment, the silence of waiting to speak, the silence of listening deeply, the silence of shared connection, the silence of universal oneness. At Shibui Aikido eloquent silence is an expression of a person of Shinjingakudo, one who studies and practices bodymind, a Person of Union with Ki.

elegant simplicity, articulate brevity
One behavior of the shoga-self is the desire to add to the already sufficient form. Perhaps this comes from a fundamental fear that nothing is ever good enough and that by adding something to the technique we can make it better. Thus extra flourishes begin to ornament our movements. An extra push at the end to just make sure, an extra twist of our partner’s wrist (ouch!), extra sudden force, etc. In these moments we doubt ourself and invest in doing something to our partner to fix the technique, rather than moving-together within the basic form and investing in connection, leading and an unbreakable continuous mind.

spiritual tranquility that is not passive
Discovering how to be calm without sliding into weakness or passivity is at the heart of aikido. Coming to know the difference between slackness and deadness versus calmness and relaxation is critical. True relaxation is fully alive with flowing ki and an elixir of vitality.

Aikido is a martial art and thereby invites us to be more and more aware our opponents and the changing flow of ki around us, without adding tension or control. So we learn to be thoroughly connected, in the mix, while maintaining a bright alive calmness.

being without the angst of becoming
It is the angst, the dissatisfaction, the never good enough, the struggle to be better or different that causes tension in body and mind. Just being bright and present with your partner, being curious and generous, joyful and respectful, gives us a practice where we are always becoming, yet not motivated by negative judgements. A Person of Shibui chooses to focus more awareness within the moment, move with care and joy, and leave the rest to the Universe.

authority without domination
We are so used to authority moving to dominate or control, in gross obvious ways and in subtle, covert ways, that often we do not even register that someone is leaning on us from a misuse of authority. The moment someone moves to control or dominate, they are out of balance with the universe. Moving without universal connection or against the principles of the universe, always results in failure, either immediately or eventually. As we practice and learn The Way to Union with Ki, tension relaxes in the body and mind. In this more unified, calm and aware state of bodymind we can see and feel when someone is trying to control us. Not so that we can resist or fight back (not aikido), but so that we can see openings for staying safe, for respecting and connecting, and thereby leading to reconciliation.

Natural authority is earned and revealed by the care we take for others.

an inner depth that reveals itself gradually over time
Impatience is a behavior of shoga-self. Connection and patience, moving with developments and staying present are skills of a Person of Shibui.

rejects loud extravagance and flashiness in favor of a quiet, minimalist presence
Often flashiness and extravagance are efforts of the shoga-self to appear better, to be well thought of, to look good. Minimalism can also be a strategy for trying to look good. So we need to be honest with ourselves and let go of the coping patterns to arrive at a natural state of living calmness. We can let go of distraction, and listen/sense what is behind our coping strategies, and bring it all into spacious bodymind awareness. No trying to get rid of something, no fighting against an aspect of the self, no adding control, just being together in a wide open field and breathing. This way of embracing our own misunderstandings allows for natural reconciliation and deeper unification.

For the Person of Shibui, a quiet minimalism resonates with their inner living calmness, no matter how fast they move. Nothing to add, northing to take away. Just being present in the moment is enough.

finding beauty in the ordinary, simplicity in complexity and living in harmony with nature
These are natural expressions of a Person of Shibui. We should not seek to put these perspectives on as an attempt to be better by our shoga-self. Just keep practicing, letting go, coming back the the present moment, moving-with the ki and being grateful, cultivates the Person of Shibui naturally.

Also, taking time to appreciate what underlies the simple, the good, the true and the beautiful will cultivate a mind that can see deeper and wider. Not projecting romantic meaning on things or situations, but practicing a more intimate, non-conceptual being-with what is actually there returns a deepening harmony.

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