“Hachi-riki(八力)”

We acquire a “contradiction” through Bu-do

“Mujun(矛盾)”

In Japan we have a word “矛盾(Mujun)” translated in English as “contradiction.”
The first letter “矛(hoko)” means a “pike,” and the second one “盾(tate)” means a “shield.”

The reason why a “pike and a shield” means “contradiction” comes from an old story in China.

The story is like this in short.
There was a merchant who was selling weapons.
He was saying “this pike is the strongest which can penetrate anything,” and he was also saying “this shield is the strongest that nothing can penetrate.”
Then one customer asked “what’s going to happen if you use this pike against this shield?”
The merchant could answer nothing.

To master Bu-do you are required to master “Mujun.”
There are some concepts for example “punch without punching” or “go backward while going forward.”

What do we need to recognize something

It should be difficult to understand and accept a contradicting situation in your brain.
This can be explained with a Japanese kanji character “分.”

This kanji’s shape expresses “一(Ichi, meaning ‘one’) is cut into two by 刀(katana, meaning a ‘sword’).”
This is a key for us, humans, to understand or recognize things.

Let’s say, how can we recognize “pens?”
We can recognize what pens are because there are other than pens in the universe.

If everything in this universe was a pen, the concept of “pen” would not be created.

Likewise a “woman” is necessary to recognize a “man,” and “night” is necessary to recognize “day.”
Everything needs other than themselves to get recognized and understood.

A thing should be divided from the others to get understood, which the Japanese kanji character “分” implies.
That’s why “分” is used at the same time as “分ける(wakeru)” meaning “dividing something,” and as “分かる(wakaru)” meaning “understanding something.”

In conclusion we cannot understand or acquire contradicting things in our brain.

“Hachi-riki(八力)”

Therefore we try to realize them through our body which is already supposed to know the laws of nature.

An important concept to accept and acquire “Mujun” is “Hachi-riki(八力).”

“Hachi-riki” will be directly translated as “eight directional force.”

And in Japan “eight direction” means “all directions.”

Anyway, an indispensable point is that “Hachi-riki” is symmetrical force.

In Bu-do we have to be able to master “Hachi-riki” if you try to perform well.

We practice using “Hachi-riki” through “kata” fundamentally, and we also practice through other ways such as “waza,” or in daily life.
As mentioned above, we practice so that we can punch without punching, and we can go backward while going forward. Besides, we have to be able to clench our fists while unclenching our fist, and to sit and stand at the same time.

Through those practices you will acquire “Hachi-riki.”

On top of that, when you acquire “Hachi-riki” with your body, you can reapply it with your mind.

You can understand you have to be confident and modest at the same time, you have to be satisfied with what you have and you seek to be better at the same time, and sometimes you have to do something but you don’t have to at the same time.

Like “Hachi-riki,” what you can get from martial arts is beneficial in life as well, and you can acquire something difficult to get in an ordinary daily life from martial arts.