Age of Coronavirus: A Time for Leadership and Unity

The novel coronavirus global pandemic is upon us. Entire countries are on lockdown and global measures are being taken to slow the spread and impact of what may be the largest public health emergency we’ve faced in our lifetimes. As Aikido practitioners, our very way of life has been upended. The foundation of the art we love so much is human connection, after all. 

These are challenging times, and the actions we take now will impact our families, friends, communities, and the future of the art of Aikido itself.  Aikido teaches us to remain calm in the face of danger, to be adaptive, and to neutralize threats in a way that creates collective benefit. Now is the time for us to make some hard decisions. This is the moment for us to put our training into practice in a real world crisis. 

Dojo Chos / Chief Instructors

If you’ve not already done so, I urge you to consider temporarily closing your dojos now. As local leaders, it’s our responsibility to protect ourselves, our dojo members, and our surrounding communities whenever possible, and the situation we face is urgent. If your dojo is still open, please reflect on the following:

• Consider how the principle of ma-ai applies in our current circumstances. “Social distancing” is one of the key assets we have to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 – and every day matters.  If some part of our training is to acquire the skills to protect ourselves and others from harm, this is a critical opportunity to do just that. Preparing for the almost inevitable global spread of the virus is one of the most pro-social altruistic things we can do. Let’s lead by example.
• We can avoid putting our students in conflicted situations. Practitioners in dojos that remain open may feel pressured to go to classes so they don’t disappoint Sensei, and then when they are there, they may feel anxious or worried about exposure. At worst, students who continue to practice together may unknowingly transmit the virus to others, We should not create conditions that put our students in compromising positions, or turn them into people who may carry with themselves for the rest of their lives, the regret and pain of harming others- even indirectly.  
• We can avoid exposing ourselves to unnecessary risk as well. Most of our Dojo Chos and Chief Instructors are among those in high risk groups. In this way, we can take steps to fortify our most senior instructors and the precious knowledge and wisdom they continue to impart to others.

The risks of COVID-19 are real and present. We’re facing a powerful unseen enemy, and It’s time for us to take ukemi. The downside of overreaction is minimal, but the effects of doing too little too late would be deeply regrettable. If we truly believe the art of Aikido is about elevating humanity and creating social good, now is our moment to embody that. 

If you need a template for communications with your students about dojo closures, here’s a short note I wrote to Ikazuchi Dojo members. Other templates can likely be found or requested in the Aikido Instructors Facebook group- there are many good reference models out there.

I also believe we can, and should, use this as an opportunity to innovate and connect with our students in new ways. If they will be supporting us through this difficult time (see the Students / Practitioners section below), we should make best efforts to find ways to provide value in return.

Students / Practitioners

In the Aikido world, there’s a strong rank-based hierarchy. In many dynamics, our Sensei are in positions of power. Now, it’s the students who are in the positions of power. Our Sensei need us to stand with them now. 

•  If you are actively practicing at a dojo, and not experiencing a financial hardship, please consider maintaining your membership dues – even and especially when your dojo is closed. If you want a dojo to go back to when ordinary life begins to resume (which we surely will), your dojo needs your financial support now. 

As a community, let’s make a strong show of unity.  Let’s make sure our beautiful dojos stay health and vibrant and do not disappear. It’s within our power to protect and preserve if we rise to the occasion.

Now is also a good time to see if there’s anything we can do to be of service to senior citizens and other vulnerable groups within the local communities we are part of. While preserving social distancing, we can still reach out digitally to provide company, reassurance, check in on others’ health and wellbeing, and help provision any needed essentials.

A Time for Adaptation and Resilience

Over the last few days, I’ve seen over one hundred initiatives launched to bring classes online, provide guidelines for solo training, produce webinars, and other innovative ideas to keep our communities together virtually. I’ll be doing the same at my dojo, and Aikido Journal will soon be unlocking some of our premium content for the community to learn and gain inspiration from during this time (more details will be announced this coming week). 

Many of us are connected with members of the global Aikido community through social media. If you’re connected to someone in another country, consider a video or voice call with them to connect and see what their world is like right now. This can be an opportunity for bonding and forming stronger friendships and understanding. 

Let’s challenge ourselves to see how much we can adapt and grow during this time. The effort we direct towards these kind of digital learning and community initiatives may yield wonderful tools and assets we can use to enhance our dojos once things return to normal. 

This is an opportunity for us to be a model for the entire martial arts world. Let us now fully embody the principles of our art and elevate and inspire ourselves, and others. This is not a time for panic. It is a time for action. This is our moment to shine in the face of adversity. We will prevail, together. 

In Solidarity,

Josh Gold

• World Heath Organization: COVID-19 updates and resources
• US CDC: COVID-19 information and resources 
• Simulation / Visualization: Social distancing and “flattening the curve”  

Our Dojos. Ours to Protect and Preserve

As a reminder of the beauty and value of the sacred spaces we now need to protect and preserve, I’ve included some images of a few of the many dojos in our community.