Today is the United Nations' Day of Peace and it seems very appropriate to share the thoughts of Jamie Zimron Sensei, one of Aiki Extensions’ primary movers and shakers. The projects in which she is involved and which Aiki Extensions supports and promotes are incredibly important and demonstrate more powerfully than words how a few people can make a difference. By subscribing to International Aiki Peace Week, we think you, too, are making a difference. Every journey begins with one step!
O-Sensei: “RELY ON PEACE!”
By its very nature, Aikido builds bridges. Its aim is to neutralize aggression, with no harm coming to anyone. Its method is to connect with an ‘other’ or attacker, not to counterattack or to vanquish. Its larger goal is to bring inner peace to its practitioners, and peace within the entire human family. Martial arts peace training directly cultivates values and actions for human beings to live in true respect, equality, health, security, prosperity, harmony.
As O-Sensei taught: “Aikido is medicine for a sick world. There is disorder in the world because people have forgotten all things emanate from one Source. Return to that Source … The Art of Peace begins with you ... Rely on Peace to activate your manifold powers!”
Since its launch in 2004, The Mideast Aikido Peace Project (MAP) has been fostering contact, cooperative ties and non-violence training amongst Arabs and Israelis. Muslims, Christians and Jews are mixing it up on the mat, with the harmonizing influence of Buddhist philosophy and eastern body-mind practices. Regular joint trainings and even sister schools are already a reality in the Middle East and in the international Aikido community.
As AE’s 2012 International Aiki Peace Week gets underway, I’m reminded of 4 days in 2005 when 100 Aikidoists came to Cyprus from the conflict-ridden Middle East, Turkey, Greece, Bosnia, Serbia, and Ethiopia. Along with a few Westerners, we met in the UN Buffer Zone between Greek and Turkish Cyprus for Training Across Borders. Everyone practiced, meditated, danced, massaged, ate, took pictures, went to workshops, laughed, talked, cried, hugged, did more Aikido, and basically had a mind-boggling life-altering great time!
Cyprus was truly a watershed, creating effects that continue to ripple and multiply. These words from participants continue to light the way for peace efforts through Aikido:
- “I put myself in the hands of O-Sensei second and God first, decided to jump… and landed in a bed of roses too good to be true. There was a Harmony and energy flow unlike I ever experienced and it split my heart in two.” Alaa, Jordan
- "A lifetime experience. From this moment the world is my family." Spiros, Greece.
- "Amazing. Heaven on Earth for 4 days. We managed to pull off what governments only dream about." --Scott, Turkey
- “It was great to meet Aikidoists from all over the world, especially countries I am not yet allowed to visit.” Efrat, Israel
- "These days were a good reminder to an easily forgotten fact - It's people out there. Thank you for the opportunity to raise my eyes from the narrow sight of daily stressful life, and realize there is a bigger and much more beautiful picture to see." Eyal, Israel
- "This seminar achieved its goals, and went far beyond. We proved that the training mat is a perfect tool that helps people forget their hate, and even love each other. I hope the seeds of peace planted in Cyprus will grow very quickly, and that we will see its positive impact on our lives at home." Khaled, Palestine
- “Aikido lets us share a mutual experience of harmonizing our movements. This is so needed! That way we can come closer, combining the actual people that represent the different sides.” Dekel, Israel
- “Glow, peace, glow." Ayman, Jordan
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