Aikido as Transformative and Embodied Pedagogy

Drawing on the author’s lifelong practice in the non-competitive and defensive Japanese art of Aikido, this book examines education as self-cultivation, from a Japanese philosophy (e.g. Buddhist) perspective. Contemplative practices, such as secular mindfulness meditation, are being increasingly integrated into pedagogical settings to enhance social and emotional learning and well-being and to address stress-induced overwhelm due to increased pressures on the education system and its constituents. The chapters in this book explore the various ways, through the lens of this non-violent relational art of Aikido, that pedagogy is always something being practiced (on the level of psychological, somatic and emotional registers) and thus holding potential for transformation into being more relational, ecological-minded, and reflecting more ‘embodied attunement.’ Positioning education as a practice, one of self-discovery, the author argues that one can approach personal development as engaging in a spiritual process of integrating mind and body towards full presence of being and existence.

“This book makes a significant contribution to the field of contemplative education in showing how Aikido is a powerful form of embodied inquiry. The book is filled with examples of Aikido movements to explain the concepts that are presented.” (Jack Miller, Professor of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at University of Toronto, Canada)

“Gordon presents a compendium of essays, brilliantly expounding major concepts that squarely (should) belong to educational discourse, such as curriculum of self-cultivation, pedagogy of love as practice, primacy of suffering, developmental trauma, fear of living or life anxiety, overcoming of narcissism, practice of inter-relationship, and psychospiritual realization.” (Heesoon Bai, Professor of Philosophy of Education, Simon Fraser University, Canada)

“There are a ton of treasures in this book. It challenges us to integrate our ontological, epistemological perspectives with incorporating and cultivating ki for the capacity of connecting with each other, nature and the universe. We live in an interdependent cosmos, and love is the cosmic energy which underlies ki development and practice of nonviolence in Aikido. Gordon connects eastern philosophy and practice of ki with western psychological and therapeutic concepts such as Carl Jung’s notion of “shadow” and synchronicity. The reading is mind opening and psychophysically energizing; more importantly, it is spiritually elevating and transformative. Readers can gain a lot from the wisdom of Dr. Gordon as an Aikido teacher, educator and psychotherapist.” (Jing Lin, Professor of International Education Policy, University of Maryland, USA)

Michael A. Gordon is a sessional instructor and award-winning scholar in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University, Canada, and a 6^th Dan Aikido teacher with an autonomous organization also based in Canada. He writes and presents internationally on a range of issues related to ‘spiritual psychology.’ He is also owner and Clinical Director of Mindful You Therapy Center in Vancouver, Canada, specializing in adult/couples psychological counseling, trauma recovery (EMDR), psychospiritual development, and mind/body integration.