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Old 09-08-2008, 02:40 PM   #40
mathewjgano
 
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Dojo: Tsubaki Kannagara Jinja Aikidojo; Himeji Shodokan Dojo
Location: Renton
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,276
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Re: Why isn't this showing Aikido as effective?

Quote:
Stefan Hultberg wrote: View Post
1. smile - you'd be surprised how many conflicts that can be avoided by not rising to the challenge
The smile has been my most effective weapon. That and a demonstrative genuine concern for others. I was in a situation where I'm quite sure I was being sized up for a mugging with a homeless guy I "befriended" at SFO airport (I spent 3 nights there one time, who needs a hotel ). It's a bit more complex than just smiling, but that was very much at the heart of it. This is where the ai of love starts to take meaning for me. Demonstrating power only reinforces the might makes right mentality and that's the deeper issue behind violence. If you can stop a conflict with something along the lines of a smile, it implies something far more profound and sophisticated/evolved (in my opinion, anyway).

Gambarimashyo!
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