Are you willing to surrender? I anticipate most reading this would instinctively say “absolutely not” and say so in a heartbeat. Period. Full stop. Yet, this is not an easy question to answer when examined more closely. Hustle, sport and military culture would, as a default stance, tell us to “never surrender”. However, the question …
The taste of failure is rarely, if ever, pleasant in the moment or in the immediate period of reflection that follows. Last Friday, I failed my 2nd Kyu Aikido grading test. Like all grading tests on the approach to the first black belt, it is a challenging test both physically and mentally. The pressure to …
Dare you listen to the whisper of your own quiet, inner voice? Read More »
Aikido is a highly technical martial art that, unlike other martial arts, seeks to restore harmony in the world. When your attacker pushes, you pull. When your attacker pulls, you push. Your ability to blend your energy with that of your attacker both almost instantly, effortlessly and completely without a reliance on strength is where …
Are you uncomfortable yet? Normalising discomfort to build our leadership capacity Read More »
The purpose of Aikido is to harness the energy of our opponent and to restore harmony to ourselves, our opponent and the wider world without causing harm. On the mat, we deal with one or more opponents approaching us with intent to harm. In our current circumstances, we all find ourselves under similar pressures to respond. Lesson …
Three surprising, practical leadership lessons from Aikido Read More »