lessons from aikido
Post on 22-Oct-2014
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This was a lecture to the Australian Defence Force Academy organisational behaviour course on 19 May 2008. The lecture discussed the lessons aikido can provide to workplace conflict management. Practical aikido exercises were also undertaken, as well as a workplace scenario (which is in the notes of slide 6 or 7).TRANSCRIPT
Lessons from Aikido: Workplace Conflict Management
Nigel Carruthers-Taylor
Who am I? Director and Principal Consultant
iCognition Pty Ltd Information Management Consultancy and
Implementation Company 12 staff, several part time contractors Offices in Canberra & Sydney. Melbourne
soon
Aikido 3rd Dan 25 years practice Two years study in Japan
What is Aikido?
ai ki doai – harmonyki – energydo - way
What is Aikido? a modern Japanese martial art (1930’s-
40’s)
consolidated in post WWII Japan
the founder, Morihei Ueshiba, called it the Art of Peace: ‘techniques of harmony, not contention… a
way of avoiding fighting and war.’
Aikido
teaches self-defence
but the greater essence includes: How to resolve conflict positively Learning to let go of fear Combines physical and mental control
Some Aikido Techniques (1)
© WESTBROOK, A. AND O.
RATTI
Some Aikido Techniques (2)
© WESTBROOK, A. AND O.
RATTI
Some Aikido Techniques (3)
© WESTBROOK, A. AND O.
RATTI
What is noticeable? No blocking ‘merging’ of movement
‘Go with the flow’ Non-resistance Neither passive nor aggressive
Definitely assertive Not really win/win, but not really
win/lose
Why Non-Resistance? Each action causes a similar or greater
reaction Force vs Force = Greater Force Wins and/or Loss = Determination to Seek Revenge
Sometimes we don’t have the greater force
We don’t need enemies (more than we already have?)
Non-Resistance
Going with your opponents puts you into a position of power Takes you off the path of conflict Helps you understand your opponent Empathises with them Allows you to walk them in the right
direction
What stops us doing this?
Fear
Wanting to dominate
Needing to control
How to stop fear - Centering Harmony of mind and body is required
Where does your body and mind unify? Asians believe it is the pit of the abdomen Makes sense – it’s where the kidneys and
liver are
From center our awareness extends out
Acknowledgements
Illustrations from: Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere,
WESTBROOK, A. AND O. RATTI
Aikido Kenkyu Kai club: www.aikidocanberra.com