Dogi Patches

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[rob_liberti]

I have a yin-yang sewn on my left shoulder.

I recall getting some encouragment to wear ASU patches on my dogi and on my students dogis right around the time people started trying to stop smoking by means of the "patch". As I wasn't ready to give up aikido, I felt wearing the patch sent the wrong message. :)

Rob

[Suru]

I recall getting some encouragment to wear ASU patches on my dogi and on my students dogis right around the time people started trying to stop smoking by means of the "patch". As I wasn't ready to give up aikido, I felt wearing the patch sent the wrong message. :)

Rob

I've seen many ASU patches...they could consciously or unconsciously lead to organization ego. I'm not sure if that's what you're getting at when you say, "...sent the wrong message." Will you clarify your comment some for me? I don't quite understand.

Drew

[lifeafter2am]

Hey Drew, did it hurt when they sewed the patch on?

*Sorry, couldn't resist!

;)

[mickeygelum]

snip...they could consciously or unconsciously lead to organization ego.

Could you please elaborate on this a little further...my interpretation may not be what you attempted to convey.

Train well,

Mickey

[Suru]

Wearing an organization patch is fine as long as the Aikidoka is able to keep an open mind while training with other organizations. What has to be avoided is the scenario of, "I'm USAF, so I do it properly. What the hell are these ASU guys doing?"

I remember getting my patrol patch in Boy Scouts, and suddenly my subgroup was divided from the whole troop. We formed a group ego with such symptoms as groupthink and somewhat of a loss of concern for those in other patrols.

Drew

[Mark Uttech]

I remember getting my patrol patch in Boy Scouts, and suddenly my subgroup was divided from the whole troop. We formed a group ego with such symptoms as groupthink and somewhat of a loss of concern for those in other patrols.

Drew

I've seen the same type of thing happen in dojos where they have colored belts. And no, I don't think this is getting off the topic of the thread.

In gassho,

Mark

[rob_liberti]

because of the smoking patch, I associate wearing a patch with giving up the activity.

When I see _some_ folks wearing an aikido patch - I think good for you, your giving up aikido is probably the best thing for aikido. ;)

But I'm not ready to do that myself, so I'm not on the aikido patch.

As far as group mind is concerned I can see a patch making you stick out and all, but I think you fix the cross organizational issues simply by inviting teachers from other organizations. If they are terrible try to give them a patch as a present. :)

Rob