Is Aikido a Key to Conflict Management?
We don’t know Aikido from al-Qaeda, but we’ve certainly experienced the pressures of conflict at work. That’s why many of us now work from home. The ancient art of Aikido, according to black belt master Judy Ringer, is about much more than self defense. It is a form of defense that redirects aggressive energy toward solving conflict without harming the attacker. The goal here is to win by reaching a solution, rather than obliterating your opponent. Someone should send a copy to the White House. Aikido is about harmony and conflict resolution. Who could be opposed to that? But it’s hard for us humans to outmaneuver our animal instincts. Emotions tell us to fight or flee. Judy Ringer says there is a better way. It just takes a little enlightenment, and lots of practice. We willing to learn new tricks, but we absolutely refuse to wear a martial arts robe to work. Judy says the outfit isn’t required. We asked a few more questions about this exciting new book and here’s what we learned. SEA
