What can a martial art like Aikido teach us about creating peace?
Far more than you’d think. Aikido (‘the Art of Peace’) teaches people to go beyond our hard-wired reactions to conflict and violence … and to seek the loving resolution of conflict and violence that is deeply embedded in Catholic Social Justice teachings. The ethical stance of Aikido fits very closely with the social justice teachings of the Catholic Church. A form of embodied Emotional Intelligence, Aikido teaches Catholic Servant Leaders how to use the wisdom of our body in order to leader with peace, love and harmony. St. Paul tells us: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Cor.
