Aikido is a non-violent martial art. For many people outside
Aikido, it is a new and surprising idea that physical practice
with opponents is important in training yourself to receive
opponents peacefully. Aikido techniques go along with the flow
of the attack to control the attacker, ideally protecting the
attacker from harm and ending the confrontation as peacefully as
possible. In Aikido, we repeatedly make the mental and physical
adjustments necessary to replace fight-or-flight aggression and
fear with calmness, inner strength and compassion. Through
training, we gradually overcome the human body's aggressive
reflexes. Training makes a peaceful reaction our default
response in times of stress, conflict, or attack. "Peace is
relatively easy to reach when there's no pressure. But people
are facing more pressure today than ever, whether that takes the
form of financial strain, emotional stress or something else.
Aikido can help us adjust ourselves to harmonize with the world
around us, including the pressure