OWWW with a Talk About Aikido

Author: Ayda

RC Social Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Creativity Office (SEIC) held this year’s second On Wednesdays We Wonder (OWWW) event at Commons Amphitheater during the morning break with our guest Mr. Duran, RC Aikido Club instructor, talking about “The Richness of Aikido”.

During the event, Mr. Duran provided an introduction to the basics of aikido and addressed some common misconceptions about this martial art. , by stating that unlike karate, judo or taekwondo, aikido is a non-competitive art. It’s an art that its practices focus on principles rather than rules.

He shared a famous motto from the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, “The real victory is the victory over self”, which tells us that the ultimate goal of aikido isn’t defeating an opponent in combat, but rather to overcome your negative energy. In this aspect aikido isn’t some violent sport that shows our aggressiveness, but a beneficial way to redirect aggression with your own self-control and discipline, ultimately achieving self-mastery.

Towards the end of the event, we were engaged in an activity where we compared and contrasted aikido with various arts, including tango, sculpture, cycling, boxing, and fishing. We also discussed the ways in which aikido can be beneficial to our body and our mental health. Mr. Duran invited all of us to learn more about aikido and encouraged us to try it sometime in our lives.

We are so glad that we’ve hosted Mr. Duran as our guest speaker and we thank everyone who came to listen. OWWW will continue to take place throughout the rest of the year. Stay tuned for upcoming OWWWs!