Aikido and Psychotherapy – Martial Artists Making a Difference
By Paul Rest,
SF Martial Arts Examiner
Dummerston, Vt.
November 22nd, 2010
The connections between Aikido and the Psychotherapy were once again explored at a 2nd (and hopefully annual) workshop on Sunday, November 7th, 2010. The workshop was held at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, CA. There was a hardy blend of Aikidoists, those in the helping professions and students from ITP.
The workshop explored how both disciplines could benefit from this conjunction. Those presenting discussed their experiences and insights as working in the therapeutic environment and also being Aikidoists. I think one of the biggest take a ways from the morning session was that the breathing and centering exercises that we use in Aikido (and I'm sure in other martial arts) can be an important part of any therapy journey. And that this is true for both therapists and for Aikidosts.
For example, just standing and moving a step forward and breathing from one's center and then relaxing can be an exercise that can be used by both therapist and client. This exercise can be done by the therapist alone, or with clients or as a "take home" exercise. Other equally powerful exercises linking breathing and centering were explored as we all stood in a circle.
Robert Frager, the Founder of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, a 7th degree black belt in Aikido who was also one of O Sensei's live-in students, spoke at noon. He shared his experiences as a teacher and Aikido Sensei. Frager Sensei said that having endings is always about new beginnings-- something important to remember in the healing modalities. He observed that Aikido is always about "moving towards the highest good." He also said that the saying passed around in Aikido community (and I'm sure other martial arts) that you need to practice a technique 10,000 times to really learn it in your body is, in his words, "very optimistic."
He then demonstrated how in a relationship one can move from triangle to a circle and then a square- the final blend being two people (or an organization or community) moving together towards a common goal or direction. Frager Sensei shared that we are all on the mat (and in life) together with different emotions and different issues. His insight was that Aikido could embrace all these different emotions and issues towards this higher common goal.
Half way through the workshop another question was raised, a very interesting question. This was about blending. It was (my paraphrasing): It is not a question as to whether we will or will not blend, but how we will chose to do this? In the discussion that followed, it became clear that the discourse that Aikido offers could facilitate a blend in difficult situations for both therapist and client.
The workshop also included many practices such as the two-step, which is a core martial movement learned in Aikido. We also practice "walking – turning – standing" a practice where we all walk toward the open space in the room, seemingly at random, blending with each other as we move. A fun variation of this is to gently bump into others, which was someone dryly noted was how too much of life is often experienced!
It is hoped that as this dynamic intersection is explored, peer review papers will continue to be written and published and that the exercises and insights will be available to the wider therapeutic community. For more information about what has been written to date and other related material, please contact David Lukoff, Ph.D. who was the prime organizers of the event.
I look forward the 3rd annual workshop next year!
Written by Paul Rest, for the SF Martial Arts Examiner
