Aikido is a world-wide practice that is not restricted by state, culture, class, …….The Aikido community is not perfect but an Aikido practitioner can enter most dojo’s and be received as family; you’ve practice Aikido, well then you are welcome here.
The 2015 Training Across Borders seminar will take place October 7-11, 2015 just outside of Athens, Greece. The seminar will bring together aikidoka from conflict regions around the world to practice aikido and to replace barriers built by years of fear, hatred, and disappointment with foundations for peace, trust, and friendship
A beginning level student who practiced Aikido in Richmond, VA went to Jerusalem to study dance. She took a chance and walked into the local dojo and asked if she could attend class. Sure they said, and by the way why don’t you come on a camping trip the dojo is taking so you meet everyone. The dojo has become a place for her to call home built on her practice of Aikido.
I have traveled a bit and if there is local dojo I will look them up and ask if I can come train. I have always been welcomed and treated as a valued guest.
What happens when you take this phenomenon into areas of conflict. TAB 2005 demonstrated that perceived enemies can build bridges, understanding, and friendship through the shared practice of Aikido. It is amazing to think that a martial art can succeed where sports, entertainment, religion, and government so often fail.
You can visit the Training Across Borders website to learn more about the event, how you can attend, support, or sponsor.
I feel like aikido really is a great way to break barriers. I can be shy sometimes. I’ve found that our practice had really helped me to open up; to communicate better with others. However, I’m curious as to why you’d believe sports aren’t equivalent to the degree of aikido? I understand how government or religion wouldn’t always promote peace or friendship, but don’t sports do?
When you are taking part in sports, you are on a team. Teams learn to take care of one another. To trust one another. This builds up existing friendships, as well as creates new ones. There is harmony and acceptance within a team. So why is it believed to be different from aikido?
Violence and disharmony takes forms in technologies in society and now are major problems. I feel that this is a really good blog to help people realize that Aikido is a really good way to help the bad in the communities. I am not surprise to find peace in Aikido. Aikido teach not to force with force or to answer in violence. It helps us find out source of violence in our own mind but to come together with an opponent in spirt. Helps creates great partnership and friendship with others and nonhuman. I feel that it can bring peace and understanding to people. When I got to my Aikido class, I notice that I more open to people. Another thing I notice that everyone is calm and peace it’s like we are one big family. No one is in a bad mood or negative in anyway. Everyone seem to be ok with one another. Taking this class was a great way to developed friendship and understanding others and one’s self. So yes I do believe if there was more Aikido class in good, bad, religion, or in government situation area then there will be more peace in the world. However I did not understand in the blog post it said sports aren’t equivalent to the degree of aikido. I feel that sports is equal to Aikido. Any way you look at aikido is like a sport. In both people start to create trust with oneself and self-confidence. It’s also bonding people can get with one another in sports or aikido.
Sports all have competitive elements, aikido does not. Good or bad this is the difference