John Campagna

Aikido: Spiritual Practice, Martial Art and Psychological Paradigm

In the late 1900’s (Meji Restoration) the “Martial Ways” in Japan were subject to a transformation. Adapting to cultural change, the Japanese martial arts survived by finding purposeful relevance given to them by the cultural genius of the respective masters: Kano Sensei for Judo in physical education, Funakoshi Sensei for Karate as a sport, and Uyeshiba Sensei for Aikido and Spiritual Growth. Aikido is a modern martial art derived from Aikijujitsu, an ancient martial art that was originated in Japan by the Samurai caste (approximately 1000 A.D.). Aikido was created by Uyeshiba Sensei and taught publicly for the first time in 1926. The literal translation of Aikido is: The Way of Harmony with Universal (all kinds of) Power. Because Aikido is not a sport or method of physical education, its exponents consider it the closest system that expresses the philosophy of Budo, which means “to stop weapons”. In fact, the system we will discuss (Yoshinkai Aikido) is taught to the Japanese Secret Service and the Riot Police. For its spirituality, Aikido is still a formidable martial art. It is unique in that it holds the importance of nonaggression and harmonious relationships with each other as the most prominent aspect of its teaching. There is no competition in Aikido and the roles assumed by the practitioner is either one of (in Jungian terms) the Ego (or “Shite”) or the Shadow (or “Uke”). The “Shite” is the person that does the Aikido movement and the “Uke” is the one who attacks and “breaks the harmony of the universe”. By assuming and constantly alternating in the practice of the roles of Shite and Uke, the Shadow becomes more and more assimilated. The result is increased tolerance of individual differences and the ability to see the greater self in each other. In advanced practice, it is the authentic self that is expressed more so than the ego. The highest expression of the art is paradoxically not to use physical technique. Its founder, Uyeshiba Sensei, was described as the most religious and greatest martial artist of his era, and out of this duality he created modern Aikido in his mature years. While Aikido is not a religion, it is comparable with the major religions. Modern society can benefit from Aikido since Aikido can best be understood by “doing” the practice of Aikido. It is a way to kinesthetically assimilate the abstract concepts of Budo and other eastern metaphysical systems. Even Christianity (“turn the other cheek”) is represented in the Aikido system, except that the cheek is turned before it is struck. Because of the spiritual basis of Aikido, the common ground (collective unconscious) may be of particular interest to Jungians. In teaching Aikido, for example, the geometry of the triangle, circle and square are the symbols of wholeness utilized to express a great many of the Aikido concepts and its physical expression. Aikido practice and its relevance for our Times will be emphasized as a system of health, stress management, conflict resolution, personal awareness and self-expression.

John Compagna, EDD, is a licensed psychologist who has worked in the field of Forensics for the past 18 years. Currently he is the Chief Psychologist at the State Correctional Institution at Graterford, a maximum security prison. His areas of interest are in Neo-Cognitive therapies and Meridian therapies. He is a member of the hostage negotiation team and the crisis intervention and stress management team at Graterford. He maintains a part-time private practice in Drexel Hill, PA, and is a consulting psychologist in a psychiatric private practice in Plymouth Meeting.

John is a third degree black belt in Doshinkan Aikido and holds an instructor’s certificate (Shidoin) granted to him by Yukio Utada Sensei, 7th degree black belt and president of the Aikido Association of North America. He teaches at the Doshinkan Headquarters Dojo and at the Upper Darby Adult Evening Program. He has served as an assistant instructor to Utada Sensei at Temple University, Rutgers, and Camden NJ, Beaver College, as well as teaching at numerous winter and summer workshops over the years.