On this episode of Ki to the City, I had the immense honor of speaking with Reverend Koichi Barrish.
Reverend Barrish is not only an experienced Aikido sensei but also a licensed Shinto priest, holding the significant rank of Guji (High Priest). He is notable for being one of the first non-Japanese people to become a licensed priest in Jinja Shinto (Shrine Shinto).
I highly recommend checking out these links for his Website and Facebook group
This interview goes beyond mundane discussions of martial technique to explore the deep spiritual practices that shaped Aikido and O-Sensei. Reverend Barrish shares his personal journey, revealing how his fascination with O-Sensei's process led him to seek out and immerse himself in Shinto studies in Japan.
His path led him to Tsubaki Grand Shrine, where he was mentored by the very Guji who installed the Kami (deities) in O-Sensei's Aiki shrine. Through this extraordinary connection, Reverend Barrish was invited to study and eventually received his Shinto priesthood license and subsequent promotions.
A central theme of our conversation is the direct connection between Aikido and the divine. Reverend Barrish discusses how, according to O-Sensei's own words, the very movements of Aikido were gifted to him by Sarutahiko No O Kami, the ancestor Kami-sama of Aikido, and the ancestor of all earthly kami-sama. The profound mission of Aikido, as transmitted by this deity, is to help human beings fulfill their mission – which Reverend Barrish explains involves elevating to a more divine way of being and even aiding in the reorganization of the earth itself. This perspective, he notes, is analogous to an esoteric understanding of the Oharae no Kotoba, the primal liturgy of Shrine Shinto.
We delve deep into specific esoteric practices that influenced O-Sensei and that Reverend Barrish has extensively studied and practiced. Key among these (of course) is Chinkon. While Omoto ultimately ceased this practice due to it being deemed "too dangerous", Reverend Barrish views it as a "working technology" and a shamanic place of contact. He was fortunate enough to learn Chinkon directly from a main teacher of the practice at Tsubaki Shrine.
Another crucial practice discussed is Ibukiho, a breathing meditation deeply associated with Aikido and part of Chinkon. This involves conscious, extended breathing, cultivating the body to become a conduit, a Himorogi (temporary resting place for divine power), and moving Ki through the body. The concept of Kotodama, the spiritual power of sound and word, is also explored, linking O-Sensei's chanting (Norito) to the idea that words spoken with truth and experience have powerful effects, capable of creating reality.
Reverend Barrish also shares fascinating details about his involvement with Byakko Shinko Kai, a group with close ties to O-Sensei. His participation in one of their international prayer for world peace events led directly to him introducing Aikido to Russia shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, fulfilling a vision of Aikido diplomacy.
Currently residing in Kissimmee, Florida, Reverend Barrish runs an Inari shrine and Aikido dojo. The Inari shrine is dedicated to the kami-sama of life essence and the process of how Kotodama creates reality. He continues his daily practice, including intensive Chinkon training, and teaches both locally and to students joining via Zoom.
Enjoy!
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