May, 2003
War and Aikido
Previous Issues
Our good friend and dojo member Larry Alexander was recently
called to active duty in the military. He's been in the reserves for years,
and was called up as our country prepared for the war in Iraq. A couple
of days before he left, we had a party for him and his wife, Lisa, in
the dojo.
Back in the dojo a few days later, I mentioned the party
to another student. He said to me, "How ironic, someone from Aikido
going to war." I told him that I felt Larry's unit was very fortunate
to have him, because he is a fine leader and extremely dependable. I also
said that if I had to go to war, I'd want someone like Larry in charge
of my unit.
But that left other questions unanswered. What does Aikido
say about war? Does war go against the philosophy of Aikido? These questions
entered my mind frequently during the weeks of the war in Iraq.
We often hear that Aikido's philosophy is "love
and harmony." So we might conclude that war is against Aikido principles.
But consider what Aikido says about smaller conflicts—for
example, when someone attacks you on the street. Aikido never says, "You
can't fight," or "You can't hurt." On the contrary, Aikido
gives you the mental and physical tools you need to defend yourself—even
enabling you to injure your opponent if that's what is required to protect
you.
While Aikido encourages us to get out of the way of an
attack, to blend with the energy we're given, that's not the end of the
story. Each Aikido technique ends with our opponent being thrown or subdued.
Enlarging this to the level of an international conflict, you can see
how Aikido's philosophy can also encompass a situation when a country
is the one being attacked.
But what about when you are merely being threatened with
attack? What then? Does Aikido say that you can only attack if you have
been attacked first?
No, it doesn't. At least not in a personal self-defense
situation. Confronted with a person whose fists are up, and with your
back against a wall, Aikido gives you ways to defend yourself. It doesn't
require you to wait for a punch. The threat of imminent attack is sufficient.
Similarly, if you were being stalked late at night in a parking lot—but
again, you had not been attacked yet—Aikido gives you tools to protect
yourself. In fact, it may require you to throw someone who is threatening
but has not yet attacked.
So Aikido principles do not rule out war. But here is
what they do rule out: A particular state of mind in the conduct of a
war.
When you throw someone well with Aikido, there is a certain
state of mind that accompanies that throw. Look into yourself, and see
what you feel. Is it anger, or superiority, or the intent to do harm?
Do you feel the need to teach someone a lesson, to let that person know
your Aikido is best? No. When Aikido is done right, when it's done powerfully
and convincingly, there is an entirely different feeling inside. One of
calmness, control, balance, peacefulness, and yes, even love and harmony.
And a country going to war needs to try to find this state of mind, too,
no matter how difficult it is. Only then, I believe, can a war be in keeping
with Aikido principles.
A war fought for greed, for conquest, for power, a war
accompanied by raping and pillaging, by the wanton killing of innocents,
a war fought because of feelings of superiority or inferiority, a war
inspired by hate, a war fought for any impure reason will never be in
keeping with Aikido principles. But does Aikido say a war should never
be fought? No, I don't believe it does—just as it never says you
can't defend yourself.
I don't know what Larry Alexander's role in this conflict
will be. But I imagine him doing it all with a calm and peaceful mind—and
because of that that state of mind, always doing the right thing. He will
perform his duties and lead his troops with the kind of character that
would make Lao Tzu proud, as much as it would any five-star general.
War and Aikido is a delicate topic, and this article represents just one point of view. If you would like to express your point of view about war and Aikido, please send an e-mail to jlahue@frontiernet.net, and we will try to use your words in our next Nikyo Monthly.
Jonathan Bannister
Visit
Jonathan Bannister, 5th dan in Aikido Kokikai and founder of the Rochester dojo, will be visiting in June to teach a seminar. It will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 21 & 22. Here is the class schedule: On Saturday, children's class from 9-10, general adults and teens from 10:15-12:15. Lunch will be served in the dojo. Then general adults class from 2-4. We expect to be having a pot luck dinner Saturday night. Sunday morning we will have an advanced class for brown and black belts from 9-10. Then general adults class from 10-12. Fee for the seminar is $50 for the whole weekend including Saturday lunch, or $25 per class. If you are paying separately for lunch, the charge is $5.
Recent
Testing
Last month, we forgot to mention one test. Rosemary Pleninger recently tested for 5th Kyu and did a fine job. Congratulations on your new rank!
Upcoming Events
Beginners' Class, Wednesday May 7 at 7 PM.
Open Mat, Friday May 9 at 5:45.
Ran Tori Class, Wednesday May 14 at 7 PM.
Weapons Class, Wednesday May 14 at 8 PM.
Special Teen Class, Wednesday, May 21 at 7 PM.
Video Night, Thursday May 22 after 8 PM class.
Open Mat, Friday, May 23 at 5:45.
Jonathan Bannister Visit, June 21 and 22.
Summer Camp with Maruyama Sensei, July 25-28.
Maruyama Sensei in Rochester, August 2 & 3.
The Art of Peace is not easy.
It is a fight to the finish,
the slaying of evil desires and all
falsehood within.
- Morihei Ueshiba