It’s not about being nice…

Posted by Sidali Selloum on Thursday, August 27, 2015

Aikido, non-violence, and conflict resolution is not about being nice. They are about compassion, live-giving, and joy… I realized Aikido could be about practicing joy when I was able to be in class with Sidali Selloum Sensei.

Marshall Rosenberg (Nonviolent Communication) said, “A lot of nice people are responsible for some of the most violent acts of history.” He believed that compassion and empathy is undermined when we did things because they were nice when the action did not come from something that gave us joy. Real “acts of kindness” must connect and nurture what is “alive in us.” Mitsugi Saotome Sensei would say Aikido is the same in that it is an act of “preserving our co-existence.”

Sidali Sensei is one of the most martial aikidoist I have had the chance to practice with. The video above is a great example of aikido’s emphasis on self-defense. While Aikido is a practice of stopping violence, Sidali Sensei helped me understand that Aikido can come from a place of joy,that joy does not have to disappear when confronted with violence and most importantly that joy is a source of empowerment. You can move and respond in a different place when your action comes from a place of joy.

In Saotome Sensei’s new book “A Light on Transmission” he quotes O’sensei as saying, “unless you find your practice of Aikido enjoyable, you will find it very difficult to grasp its deeper meaning……” and goes on to say, “for me it means enjoying the paths of the gods.”

2 thoughts on “It’s not about being nice…”

  1. Reading this article, along with watching the video has enhanced the connection I feel with Aikido and Buddhism. Many of their teachings and beliefs align with one another, such as always having compassion in any and everything. Also, finding joy, even in the face of violence or tragedy. It is important in both practices that you remain centered and happy from within. If not, you will be thrown off from your center and imbalanced. Sidali Sensei practices and teaches his peers to move out of the way when you are not in a comfortable position. Aikido is a non-violent, self defense practice that should only be used in a time of need appropriately. By peers understanding this concept, many people can agree that Aikido was not developed to provoke violence or conflict, but to get out of those situations in a respectful manner. The objective is to remain joyful and comfortable, if you are not then you have every right to remove yourself or anyone else in order to do so. Respect plays a big role in this practice, one must respect the other and their surroundings. This is not only beneficial in Aikido, but can also be applied to our daily lives to ensure happiness. I believe that the video was very helpful because it showed not only the power of Aikido, but also that you don’t have to speak the same language or even speak to understand the depths of the practice.

  2. While reading this article and watching the video taught me the understanding of Aikido it is a non-violent, self-defense practice that should only be used in a time of need appropriately. Buddhism on the other hand is a belief based on the nature of life and death and existence. by my peers and this video I agree that Aikido was not made to deal with things violently like getting revenge on someone for taking your money or commit assault and battery on you its about dealing with things in a responsible manner because most people needs to be careful on the amount of force being used on someone else.

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