in Clinical Practice © 2017 American Psychological Association 2017, Vol. 4, No. 2, 81–91 2326-4500/17/$12.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/scp0000134 : A Martial Art With , Somatic, Relational, and Spiritual Benefits for Veterans

David Lukoff Richard Strozzi-Heckler Sofia University, Palo Alto, California Strozzi Institute, Oakland, California

Aikido is a martial art that originated in and incorporates and breathing techniques from . Like all , it requires mindful concentration and physical exertion. In addition, it is a practice that also provides a spiritual perspective and includes social touch. These components make Aikido a unique form of mindfulness that has the potential to be particularly appealing to veterans coming from a Warrior Ethos tradition who are used to rigorous somatic . Mindfulness practices have shown efficacy with veterans, and the self- compassion, spiritual, and social touch dimensions of Aikido also offer benefits for this population, many of whom are struggling with these issues. Several pilot Aikido programs with veterans that show promise are described.

Keywords: mindfulness, veterans, PTSD, spirituality, martial arts

Aikido, like all martial arts, requires mindful spiritual dimensions in his martial art and de- concentration and physical exertion. In addi- scribed it as “The Way of Harmony.” tion, it is a compassion practice that provides a Aikido emphasizes working with a partner, spiritual perspective and social human touch. rather than , , or fighting Aikido emerged in twentieth-century Japan fol- against an opponent in competitive tourna- lowing an evolution of martial arts over hun- ments. neutralize and control dreds of years from a system of fighting arts attackers instead of violently defeating them. (bugei) designed to inflict injury and death, into Blending movements are used with breathing a Way (in the Eastern sense of or “do”— practices to somatically create harmony in con- path of self-development). Aikido translates as flictual encounters (Shioda, 1991). It has often the path (do) to a union (ai) with life-energy been described as a moving meditation because (ki). The founder of Aikido, it involves concentrating purposefully on each (1964), who was considered a “national trea- technique element, being aware of others, main- sure” for his martial arts mastery, had a spiritual taining balance, controlling breathing, and con- awakening in which he realized, necting with the training partner. These actions The Way of the Warrior has been misunderstood. It is establish a psychophysiological state of relaxed not a means to kill and destroy others. Those who seek attention in which one responds quickly, pre- to compete and better one another are making a terrible mistake. To smash, injure, or destroy is the worst thing cisely, and courageously to physical attacks, a human being can do. The real Way of a Warrior is to including those by multiple attackers (Lothes,

This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. prevent such slaughter—it is the Art of Peace, the Hakan, & Mochrie, 2015).

This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to bepower disseminated broadly. of . (Hyodo, 2010,p.76) The authors have decades of experience uti- Ueshiba highlighted the self-development and lizing Aikido with veterans and active military. We believe that Aikido has unique appeal and benefits for these populations because it is a martial art that is also a mindfulness practice, David Lukoff, Department of Clinical Psychology, Sofia somatic , compassion practice, and spir- University, Palo Alto, California; Richard Strozzi-Heckler, itual path while also providing opportunities for Strozzi Institute, Oakland, California. social touch. Veterans are at high risk for com- Correspondence concerning this article should be ad- dressed to David Lukoff, 101 Ross Street #30, Cotati, CA mitting suicide with an average of 20 veterans a 94931. E-mail: [email protected] day dying from suicide in 2014 (Currier, Kuhl-

81 82 LUKOFF AND STROZZI-HECKLER

man, & Smith, 2015). Posttraumatic stress dis- other words, causing you stress. After trying reactions order (PTSD) is the most common psychologi- such as pushing to fight back (fight), running away cal condition diagnosed among military (flight) and cowering (freezing), the MBSR training requires what is called blending in aikido....It personnel and contributes to a wide range of requires that we be aware of the other person as a other adverse health outcomes including panic stressor without losing our own balance of mind. attacks, depression, substance abuse, sleep dis- (Clark, 2017) turbance, family dysfunction, and occupational Remaining calm and balanced amid conflict is a impairment (Currier et al., 2015). Aikido is dis- mindfulness skill that is not an automatic re- cussed here as a practice that has the potential to be particularly beneficial for veterans struggling sponse, but can be learned through practices with these problems. that involves rigorous training in an alternative response to the “fight or flight” reaction. This method of dealing with conflict from a relaxed Mindfulness Practice grounded becomes a new learned coping response to stress in all forms of conflict, not Historically, meditation and related breathing just physical (Heckler, 1985; Strozzi-Heckler, have been a part of Japanese martial 1993). art traditions since the days of the Samurai in medieval Japan where warriors who dealt with While research documenting that training in life and death everyday embraced the medita- Aikido enhances mindfulness is more limited tion practices of Zen monks to help them calm than for sitting meditation techniques, there are their mind and body (Lothes, Hakan, & Kassab, a few studies that establish this connection. 2013; Stevens, 1992, 2001). Like , Aikido Lothes et al. (2013) investigated 159 partici- is often described as moving meditation or pants using two empirically validated scales of mindfulness in motion that requires stilling of mindfulness and awareness: the Kentucky In- the mind while the body is in motion. The ventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS) and the training process has many parallels with medi- Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale tation training. An Aikido student trying to (MAAS). Their survey asked participants their learn an unfamiliar technique is likely to have Aikido rank, which roughly corresponds to the distracting thoughts, such as “which foot goes number of years of regularly attending Aikido where? or “I’m not doing it right.” This is classes. A comparison group of non Aikido similar to the novice meditator who finds it practitioners who were not engaged in any difficult to stay focused on their breath or man- mindfulness practices was also assessed. The tra. But over time, with practice, both the med- pre black belt group with 3–44 months of train- itator and the Aikido practitioner improve their ing scored significantly higher than the control ability to recognize a distracting thought and group on both measures, and the black belt come back to the present. group with 66–348 months of training scored With continued training, Aikido students significantly higher than both the control group learn ways to defend themselves from not only and the pre black belt group. physical attacks, but from verbal and emotional Longitudinal research by the same authors attacks as well. For this reason, Aikido practices studied 12 Aikido students with no prior martial have been incorporated into nonmartial arts arts experience from their beginning through This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. mindfulness programs such as Jon Kabat-Zinn’s their first belt ranking tests (approximately 9 This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individualwell-researched user and is not to be disseminated broadly. and widely disseminated Mind- months of training). A control group of partic- fulness Based Stress Reduction program ipants was recruited from a psychology class. A (MBSR; Kabat-Zinn et al., 1992). For example, one-way repeated measures analysis of variance in one exercise developed by George Leonard (ANOVA) showed a significant effect of Aikido (1999), an Aikido sensei (teacher), MBSR stu- dents break up into pairs in order to, training on The Kentucky Inventory of Mind- fulness Skills (KIMS, p Ͻ .0001) and also on help us to act out with our bodies, in partnership with Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS, another person, the experience of responding instead of p Ͻ .01). Post hoc t tests run between Aikido reacting in threatening and stressful situations....In class, the partner who is “attacking” always represents and control groups on the KIMS and MAAS a situation or person who is “running you over,” in scores at each testing time showed statistically AIKIDO AND MINDFULNESS FOR VETERANS 83

significant differences between the control and Tai chi practices involve movements that are Aikido groups that were not present at baseline. similar to Aikido but are mostly done without a Lothes et al. (2015) conducted a second lon- training partner. Tai chi has been shown to gitudinal study with five Aikido students from increase lung capacity (Jahnke, Larkey, Rogers, the start of training through to their obtaining Etnier, & Lin, 2010) as well as benefiting “par- their black belts (a minimum of five years of ticipants by increasing flexibility, reducing training) at the University of North Carolina symptoms of depression, decreasing anxiety, Wilmington Aikido Club. The KIMS and and improving interpersonal sensitivity . . . bal- MAAS were administered to these participants ance, run times, quality of sleep, symptoms of at 9-month intervals during their training. One- compulsion, somatization and phobia, and de- way repeated measures ANOVAs showed a sig- creased hostility” (Webster, Luo, Krägeloh, nificant effect of Aikido experience on the Moir, & Henning, 2016, p. 103; also Solloway KIMS between start and black belt (p Ͻ .0334) et al., 2016; Wang et al., 2014). and also on the MAAS between start and black The research demonstrating that somatic ex- belt (p Ͻ .05). This longitudinal study docu- ercise has benefits for the brain and body is ments the long-term effects of Aikido training compelling, including reductions in depression, on mindfulness, and the results from these three enhanced well-being, and improved memory studies suggest that Aikido significantly en- and cognitive processing. Somatic exercise has hances mindfulness. Tai chi, also considered a been used as a form of behavioral activation in martial art and moving mindfulness practice treatment of depression to increase engagement (with some traditions emphasizing health bene- in activities that improve mood (Mazzucchelli, fits over martial prowess), has also demon- Kane, & Rees, 2010). Exercise triggers the re- strated a positive impact on mindfulness in stud- lease of serotonin, norepinephrine, endorphins, ies (Wayne, 2013). and dopamine that improve mood, reduce pain, Prior research has already established that, and relieve stress. Exercise has also been found “Mindfulness-based modalities have shown to facilitate neurogenesis including creating particular promise in veteran populations deal- stronger connections between brain regions, re- ing with PTSD” (Kopacz & Connery, 2015 p. ducing age-related brain atrophy, increasing 64). One vivid example is Rudy Reyes (2009), blood/nutrient flow to active regions, strength- a Recon Marine who has written a book and ening existing synapses, and building new syn- been featured in HBO’s Generation Kill and the apses through the release of Brain-Derived Neu- History Channel’s Apocalypse Man. In these rotrophic Factor (BDNF; Ratey, 2013). media, he describes how the psychological and Meditative movement has been proposed as a spiritual damage he suffered from tours of duty new category of somatic exercise with unique in Iraq and Afghanistan were repaired by the benefits (Clark, Schumann, & Mostofsky, 2015; practice of Asian martial arts disciplines. Larkey, Jahnke, Etnier, & Gonzalez, 2009). From a neuroscience perspective, Russell and A Somatic Practice Arcuri (2015) argue that, By moving in a mindful way, there may be an additive Martial arts training typically requires con- effect of training as the two elements of the practice stant bodily movement throughout a 60–90 min (mindfulness and movement) independently, and per- haps synergistically, engage common underlying sys- This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. class. While no study has demonstrated the ef- tems (the default mode network)...[W]orking with

This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individualfects user and is not to be disseminated broadly. of Aikido on aerobic capacity, studies with mindful movement may be one route to mindfulness other martial arts have shown that practitioners training for individuals who would struggle to sit still have better aerobic capacity, balance, strength, to complete the more commonly taught mindfulness body fat percentages, and flexibility compared practices. Drawing on our clinical experience working with sedentary controls (Douris et al., 2004). with individuals with severe and enduring mental health conditions...[mindful movement] can be used One review of the research concluded: to help those who are suffering and for whom current Martial arts are an increasingly common and important treatments are still far from adequate. (p. 1) form of exercise for many individuals. While any form of exercise benefits physical well-being, martial arts John Ratey, MD, is a clinical professor of may also improve the practitioner’s sense of psycho- psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an logical well-being. (Woodward, 2009,p.42) internationally recognized expert in neuropsy- 84 LUKOFF AND STROZZI-HECKLER

chiatry with over 60 peer-reviewed articles and learns how to avoid confrontations or clashes 11 books focused on the brain-fitness connec- with a challenger. Instead, he or she, tion. When he was asked during an interview accepts, joins, and moves responsively with the flow of which sports or activities were the most bene- the challenger’s energy in the direction in which it is ficial for the brain, his answer was martial arts: going. Such blending quells resistance, because the Aikidoist offers nothing for the challenger to resist. I think the very, very complicated ones. One is tae Hence...theAikidoist can guide the challenger in kwon do or , jujitsu—using your movement more positive and constructive directions. (Saposnek, while you’re learning and focusing and training your 1986–1987, p. 124) movements and then interacting with another person. All that puts a great strain on the brain, which the brain Defensive skills and control techniques allow actually . (Exercise and the Mind, 2001) the Aikidoist to contain the attack so that neither he or she nor the attackers are harmed. In con- A Compassion Practice trast, other martial arts include techniques de- signed to hurt an opponent. Aikido sensei also Compassion is the emotional response of car- inform and remind students that the physical ing for and wanting to help those who are suf- practices of Aikido teach how to cooperate with fering (Goetz, Keltner, & Simon-Thomas, others outside of the dojo (Heckler, 1985; West- 2010). Recent studies have shown that compas- brook & Ratti, 1970). sion training improves personal well-being, re- Another dimension of compassion in Aikido duces stress-related immune responses, and in- is that both partners need to take care of each creases positive affect, psychological and other to ensure that the training is safe. Incorrect somatic health, and pro-social behavior (Lutz, movement on the part of either partner may Brefczynski-Lewis, Johnstone, & Davidson, increase vulnerability to injury. Martial prac- 2008). These studies utilized a Buddhist prac- tices require attention to the well-being of one’s tice called metta (“lovingkindness”) in which partners, which is the essence of compassion. compassion is cultivated toward different peo- Conflict resolution techniques usually begin ple, including loved ones, strangers, difficult with first attempting to understand the other persons, and ultimately all people (Salzberg, person’s point of view. Within the context of a 2002). Compassion training always includes social interaction, blending entails listening, ac- self-compassion, which emphasizes cepting, acknowledging, and empathizing with toward one’s self, a feeling of connectedness the other person’s point of view while simulta- with others, and acceptance of distressing expe- neously maintaining one’s own point of view. riences (Neff, Kirkpatrick, & Rude, 2007). Self- Kroll (2013) and Levine (1994) have explicitly compassion can be a helpful self-care skill for extended Aikido training to verbal arguments to coping with the guilt and shame that many show that there are more options available than veterans report as well as other symptoms of dominating, obliging, or avoiding when con- PTSD (Thompson & Waltz, 2008). versing with others on contentious issues: “Ai- Developing compassion for others is inherent kido affords a framework for understanding ar- in the practice of Aikido (Frager, 1977). An oft gument as harmonization rather than cited quote from Ueshiba in dojos is, “to injure confrontation” (Kroll, 2008, p. 451). This “ex- an opponent is to injure yourself. To control pands...options for engaging in verbal con- aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of flict” (Kroll, 2015, p. 221). Aikido sensei Mit- This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. Peace” (Stevens, 1992). This stance of extend- sugi Satome described it this way, which This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly. ing compassion to all human beings inculcates applies to both physical and verbal attacks: the sincere desire to not harm others, including “When someone grabs your wrist, it does not attackers despite their aggression, but to “rec- mean the start of a fight; it is the beginning of a oncile where there is strife” (Westbrook & conversation” (cited in Levine, 2015). Through Ratti, 1970, p. 361). Aikido training enables a the use of Aikido-based somatic practices with person to better control somatic and emotional military and veterans, I (RS-H) have found that, reactions, thus allowing that person to behave in it’s possible to learn to make this kind of connection accordance with a philosophy of conflict reso- that creates deep listening to others, fosters genuine lution in situations that would otherwise trigger trust, encourages respect and dignity in the treatment of automatic behavioral reactions. An Aikidoist others and the negotiation of conflict in a way that AIKIDO AND MINDFULNESS FOR VETERANS 85

results in a win-win for all involved. (Strozzi-Heckler, cluded that Aikido is a transformational practice 2007, p. 421) that: (a) results in a perceptual shift toward seeing oneself and the world as interconnected A and Community flows of energy; and (b) gives rise to the ability to extend love to others (Olliges, 2008). Practi- Spirituality is “the direct experience of one’s tioners often describe this flow of energy as ki connection and unity with others and the world” and report developing an experiential embodied (Sperry, 2016, p. 222). In contemporary society, understanding of harmony, energy, and spiritu- at least a quarter (and increasing) number of ality (Palmer, 2002). people practice secular spirituality outside of In the U.S. Army’s Comprehensive Soldier established religious institutions and identify as Fitness (CSF) program, spiritual fitness is con- “spiritual but not religious.” While America is a sidered a source of resilience for: quite diverse country, for a majority of the being able to accept the of a situation, develop population, their religious is still their creative coping strategies, find meaning in trauma, main source of spirituality (Pew Research Cen- maintain an optimistic view of the future, access their ter, 2015). Aikido can be considered a spiritual social support network, generate the motivation to per- practice, but it is not a . To train in severe, grow from adversity, and mitigate serious psy- chological problems such as posttraumatic stress dis- Aikido does not require adherence to any person order. (Pargament & Sweeney, 2011,p.59) or dogma. It has no or specific po- litical, economic, social agenda other than har- Like most and spiritual practices, Ai- monizing conflict to create peace. Aikido has no kido fosters learned optimism toward the world specific prescription or requirements for how (Sethi & Seligman, 1993), and resilience (Fag- one must live one’s life (e.g., The Ten Com- gianelli & Lukoff, 2006), both core aspects of mandments). The core of its spiritual beliefs spiritual fitness. focus on creating or restoring peace and har- It is well-documented that many veterans mony in human relationships, including within have spiritual struggles related to moral injury oneself. and other aspects of their military life. Research Aikido has been influenced strongly by Shin- has shown that spiritual fitness is a coping re- toism, Confucianism, and Buddhism (Stevens, source that improves outcomes from these 1992, 2001). It is practiced in a dojo, a word struggles (Kopacz & Connery, 2015). Aikido with Buddhist origins meaning “Place of Awak- may be particularly helpful for some veterans ening.” Contemporary Aikido has preserved who are experiencing spiritual struggles where this spiritual heritage by fostering an acceptance their “old meanings fail to provide comfort and of death and conflict without fear and attending solace, [and] they are left to look for new ex- to the present without distraction. Yet historian planations, values, and beliefs” (Kopacz & Taylor (1977), founder of the Harvard Aikido Connery, 2015,p.62;Lukoff, Lu, & Turner, Club, has argued that Aikido has evolved in 1992). America from its Japanese roots to shift the In addition, a protective factor identified in emphasis from, suicide prevention “is participation in person- ally meaningful activities, typically within a a martial art to a spiritual discipline....Thecontext in which it is taught is neither Japanese nor for purposes social context that brings the individual into contact with various resources and source of

This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. of martial ...butforpersonal growth appro- priate to the changing textures of American conscious- social support” (Bryan, Graham, & Roberge, This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly. ness...[This has led to] the development of a fluid 2015, p. 75). The multiple psychological and style that is uniquely contemporary and American in somatic health benefits of church membership character. (p. 12) are well-documented and could apply to being a In her ethnographic study of an Aikido dojo, member of an Aikido dojo, including lower Rothman (2000) found that the intimate somatic likelihood of suicidal ideation, attempts, and contact that occurs during training, combined deaths for which veterans are at high risk (Cur- with the spiritual goal of creating harmony in rier, Kuhlman, & Smith, 2015; Vieten et al., the universe and in one’s self, produced bonds 2016). Martial arts training programs that incor- among the Aikidoists. A phenomenological in- porate the core values of Aikido to develop terview study with Aikido practitioners con- spiritual fitness have been successfully imple- 86 LUKOFF AND STROZZI-HECKLER

mented by the author (RS-H) with Special Touch has important benefits for humans as Forces and in the Marine Corps Martial Arts primates. Grooming among many primate Program (MCMAP; Strozzi-Heckler, 2007). groups occupies 20% of time spent together, Within the Marine Corps, “where units are much more than is necessary for hygienic needs training regularly [in MCMAP], there is a sig- such as removing lice (Dunbar, 2010). Ameri- nificant reduction in alcohol and drug abuse, can society has strong taboos against intimate domestic violence, police incidents...unau- touch, and many consider America to be a thorized absences, lateness, fighting, and poor touch-deprived culture. Studies have shown that morale” (Strozzi-Heckler, 2007, p. 367). Aikido people in the United States touch each other dojos offer the structure and environment for much less than people in many other cultures. developing spiritual fitness by fulfilling basic For example, American, French, and Puerto Ri- needs for coping skills, relational connection, can friends were observed in a coffee shop to meaning, and social support within a spiritual determine how frequently physical contact oc- context. curred. American friends touched each other an average of only twice an hour, whereas French friends touched 110 times, and Puerto Rican Social Touch friends touched 180 times (Field, 2014). Yet touch has a positive effect on growth, brain While there is a component in Ai- waves, breathing, and heart rate, and decreases kido, most techniques are executed using hands. stress and anxiety (Derlega, Catanzaro, & Open handed combat was taught to samurai for Lewis, 2001). Lack of touch is associated with situations when they could not use their , depression, eating disorders, aggression, and , or bow and arrow, such as if they became self-injurious behaviors (Field, 2014). disarmed in battle or were in a place where Touch is our most social sense. Seeing, hear- carrying weapons was forbidden. In contempo- ing, smelling, and tasting can generally be done rary Aikido practice, hands are used to connect alone. Some neuroscientists even consider the with a partner rather than to or skin a “social organ” (Morrison, Löken, & them. As one Aikido sensei describes it: Olausson, 2010). All primates, from monkeys to In Aikido, as opposed to some other martial arts, the homo sapiens, rely on social touch. Among skin is being touched. It is not being hit, kicked or nonhuman primates, grooming is used to garner punched. There is contact, skin to skin. And for many favors, earn social standing, increase access to people, this is the first time they are being touched by resources. It is also a form of nonverbal com- another human being that day. It changes the flow of the internal and external conversation we have with munication that signifies a bonding gesture ourselves, and with others. We need to include another (Heslin & Alper, 1983). Humans are endowed person now....Aikido involves an almost joyful with a second nerve network in the skin con- willingness to be touched, to want to touch. (Rest, sisting of slow-conducting tactile C fibers that 2016a, pp. 72–73) sense affection and tenderness. This network Another sensei also views touch as foundational responds only to a gentle touch and activates to Aikido: areas of the brain involved in emotions. In ad- dition, the human hand possesses a particularly It’s really a quality of touch that you’re trying to learn. In general, your hands must be soft and yielding. Keep refined sense of touch that can detect a raised spot just three microns high (a human hair has a

This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. your hands very relaxed and heavy. You never want to grab or clutch. This cuts off your ki and makes it diameter of 50 to 100 microns). This remark- This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly. impossible to feel where your partner is going. A light, able sensitivity is attributable to about 2,000 soft, relaxed touch is all that is necessary (Bornstein, touch receptors in each individual fingertip 1998). (Flanagan, Randall, & Lederman, 2001). The Aikido includes frequent skin-to-skin contact, soothing power of touch is attributed to the and many techniques require that bodies be release of oxytocin and endorphins and decrease positioned next to each other, and that hands in cortisol when being touched (Field, 2014). touch necks and arms, and sometimes faces. In While emphasizing touch may at first seem the dojo, students consent to being touched. out of bounds within military health care, touch Some who are uncomfortable with this kind of has been recognized through the development intimate touch discontinue their training. and rollout of the U.S. Army Nursing Corps AIKIDO AND MINDFULNESS FOR VETERANS 87

“Patient Caring-Touch System, a system that ual harassment, and 20% experienced overt sex- has allowed us to closely listen to the voices of ual assault during military service” (Van Pelt, our patients and our staff” (Gordon, 2012,p.1). 2011, p. 8). Aikido for Veterans and Families Many veterans report that they miss the cama- has established research partnerships to launch a raderie and intimacy they had with their military controlled study of outcomes among women buddies. In addition, many have problems con- veterans associated with this training. trolling arousal when feeling threatened, which In another program at the Cincinnati VA, interferes with giving or receiving social touch. psychologist Tobias Weiss observed that during Practicing social touching and also receiving therapy, caring touch constitute additional potential ben- I was drawing more and more on my experiences with efits of Aikido practice for veterans. Aikido to explain the nature of conflict...that the philosophy of Aikido is the perfect augment to chal- Aikido With Veterans lenging irrational beliefs and finding stuck points keep- ing veterans from trauma recovery....Aikido would The VA has an active adaptive sports pro- offer a physical way of reinforcing the messages of gram whose goal is to help veterans therapy for those who learn more by doing. (Weiss, from the VA into society by using adaptive 2008) sports to help them adjust. They have been In coordination with Aikido of Cincinnati, he supporting Tai Chi, , , and was able to secure mats and instructors. The VA , and this year Aikido was added to the VA chaplain granted permission to spread mats and Adaptive Sports Program in the Denver region. create a temporary dojo every Monday night in The benefits of Aikido as summarized in this the chapel on the residential unit. The instruc- article are echoed in this text from the homep- tors met with many challenges during the age of the VA Adaptive Sports program: classes including recognizing and addressing Disabled Veterans of all ages and abilities report better the ways that Aikido might trigger reexperienc- health, new friendships and a better quality of life ing of trauma, working with the medical limi- when participating in adaptive sports. Disabled Veter- tations of the veterans, and addressing the ans who are physically active simply have more fun! deeply ingrained tendencies of individuals with (https://www.va.gov/adaptivesports/). PTSD to avoid conflict at all cost. The feedback Several projects are bringing Aikido training from the veterans was overwhelmingly positive: to veterans. Aikido for Veterans and Families is “It improved my sense of well-being.” “It im- a nonprofit organization in Colorado that re- proved concentration.” “I never expected to cently applied to the VA Adaptive Sports Grant come in for PTSD treatment and find myself in Program for funding. For the past several years, an Aikido class, but it tied in great with the free training has been offered to veterans and message of finding a way of becoming unstuck their family members at a dojo in Colorado in my recovery” (Weiss, Chard, & Shumm, Springs just outside Fort Carson. They are 2011). working with the Denver VA Department of Because of the positive responses, Weiss or- Recreation Therapy. David Drake, cofounder of ganized an ongoing Aikido program in both the the program, reports that, “Veterans participat- men’s and women’s residential units. They also ing over a period of just a few sessions have conducted a study of 39 women diagnosed with reported feeling calmer, more capable of adjust- PTSD who participated in a supplemental Ai- This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. ing to situations outside their control, and are kido group in addition to the standard 7-week This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly. experiencing a greater feeling of well being than residential cognitive processing therapy (CPT). before they began practicing Aikido” (Aikido Their outcomes were compared with a group of for Veterans and Families, D. Drake, personal 61 women who participated in the CPT program communication, January 18, 2017). without the Aikido component. There were no Aikido for Veterans and Families has reached pretreatment differences on any of the mea- out to women veterans, many of whom have sures, but at post test, the Aikido group showed experienced military sexual trauma. “Studies a significantly greater decrease in self-reported conducted by the Government Accountability symptoms of PTSD as measured by the Post- Office in 2007 indicated that 25% to 50% of all traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (p Ͻ .045), military women experienced some type of sex- and in depression as measured by the Beck 88 LUKOFF AND STROZZI-HECKLER

Depression Inventory II (p ϭ .007; Weiss et al., next to the attacker, viewing the world from the 2011). other’s perspective. For veterans who have re- Portsmouth Aikido in New Hampshire offers lational problems such somatic practices that free Aikido classes for veterans, uniformed ser- can trigger compassion for self and others could vices personnel, and first responders. The pro- be a potential resource for improving relational gram was triggered by the activism and book of skills. I described this training to them as learn- veteran sensei Tom Osborn who spent decades ing to “roll with the punches” and returning to a of his life bringing Aikido to veterans. For centered stance. Many veterans with prior mar- many veterans, service is still an important tial arts experience resonated with this martial value from their warrior training. Tom Osborn metaphor of “rolling with the punches” in their (2012) embodied this value in his book and lives. numerous training workshops around the Even veterans who are physically chal- United States on Aikido with veterans. He lenged can engage in Aikido practices. A pointed out that, “it would be nice to contribute to bringing peace to the entire world, or even variant called Low Impact Aikido allows a one little part, but I can only do that as I learn to trainee to be a peaceful warrior myself” (p. 87). have a full experience of aikido without the falls and Based on his own experience, he argued rolls....Youcanbring balance, energy, your own for the unique benefits of Aikido compared center and intention into play on the mat and move with your training partner in a powerful and effective man- ner...aikido as a martial art could be taught and , tai chi, Gong, and other solo forms of med- transmitted to those with limited abilities to move on itation, [that] lack a direct, physical relationship with the mat. (Rest, 2016b) the feelings of vulnerability and helplessness that are often the root of the underlying trauma. (Osborn, 2012, However, it should be acknowledged Aikido p. 28) is not an intervention that would appeal to or Aiki-Extensions, a nonprofit organization fo- benefit all veterans, and also that a strong evi- cused on applications of Aikido off the mat, dence base for Aikido does not currently exist. also has an active program to promote Aikido We concur this this conclusion reached by for veterans (Aikido for Veterans Launches Weitlauf, Weiss, Makin-Byrd, Turchik, and the New Program, 2014). Veteran Safety Initiative Writing Collaborative (2013): Conclusion In recognition that self-defense training is an under researched area of intervention, we suggest that pa- Aikido training is a potentially therapeutic tients be encouraged to “test out” training programs in practice for some veterans coping with PTSD. which they are interested, but to do so cautiously, and During my (DL) 14 years as a psychologist at with a well-informed perspective of the known bene- the San Francisco Veterans Medical Center, I fits, unknown risks, and limited evidence for utility as often used Aikido techniques with patients in a risk reduction tool. (p. 23) PTSD therapy groups as well as in coping with Many mindfulness practices are a source for HIV and AIDS, coping with chronic illness, wellness, spiritual meaning, community, and coping with chronic pain, and substance abuse compassion (Lukoff, Wallace, Liberman, & groups. One focus in all of these groups was This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. self-compassion, learning to substitute comfort- Burke, 1986). But Aikido has benefits that This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly. ing and caring self-statements for negative self- many other mindfulness practices lack, includ- evaluations. One particularly useful Aikido ing providing somatic fitness exercises and op- technique I found was tai no henko, which portunities for social touch. Aikido has been involves one partner grabbing the other’s wrist. less researched than some other mindfulness The person being grabbed practices dampening practices, yet these extra components suggest down their startle reaction by not engaging in that Aikido could be particularly appealing to negative self-talk and taking deep breaths and veterans coming from a Warrior Ethos tradition relaxing while being grabbed. Then, with con- who are used to rigorous somatic training trol, he or she gently executes a turn so that he (Strozzi-Heckler, 2007; U.S. Department of the or she is no longer being grabbed but is right Army, 2006). AIKIDO AND MINDFULNESS FOR VETERANS 89

References self-development and mind-body harmony. In C. Garfield (Ed.), Rediscovery of the body (pp. 171– Aikido for veterans launches new program: Coordi- 183). New York, NY: Dell. nated efforts directly helping veterans recover. Goetz, J. L., Keltner, D., & Simon-Thomas, E. (2014, January). Musubi, Aiki Extensions Newslet- (2010). Compassion: An evolutionary analysis and ter. Retrieved from http://www.aiki-extensions.org/ empirical review. Psychological Bulletin, 136, news.asp 351–374. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0018807 Bornstein, H. (1998). Aikido from the inside out: Gordon, V. (2012). Womack unveils the Caring Quality of touch. Retrieved from http://www Touch system. Womack Army Medical Center .designeq.com/deq/aikido/insideout/Connection Quarterly Newsletter. Retrieved from http:// .html armynursecorps.amedd.army.mil/news/Womack Bryan, C. J., Graham, E., & Roberge, E. (2015). ArmyMedicalCenterArticle_Redacted.pdf Living a life worth living: Spirituality and suicide Heckler, R. (1985). Aikido and the new warrior. risk in military personnel. Spirituality in Clinical Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. Practice, 2, 74–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ Heslin, R., & Alper, T. (1983). Touch: A bonding scp0000056 gesture. In J. M. Wiemann & R. P. Harrison (Eds.), Clark, D., Schumann, F., & Mostofsky, S. H. (2015). Nonverbal interaction (pp. 47–74). Beverly Hills, Mindful movement and skilled attention. Frontiers CA: Sage. in Human Neuroscience, 9, 297. http://dx.doi.org/ Hyodo, R. (2010). Adjusting though reflex: Romanc- 10.3389/fnhum.2015.00297 ing Zen. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. Clark, G. (2017). M. B. S. R. Course: Aikido. Re- Jahnke, R., Larkey, L., Rogers, C., Etnier, J., & Lin, trieved from http://www.mbsrcourse.net/aikido- F. (2010). A comprehensive review of health ben- full-article efits of Qigong and Tai Chi. American Journal of Currier, J. M., Kuhlman, S., & Smith, P. N. (2015). Health Promotion, 24, e1–e25. http://dx.doi.org/ Empirical and ethical considerations for address- 10.4278/ajhp.081013-LIT-248 ing spirituality among veterans and other military Kabat-Zinn, J., Massion, A., Kristeller, J., Peterson, populations at risk for suicide. Spirituality in Clin- L., Fletcher, K., Pbert, L.,...Santorelli, S. (1992). ical Practice, 2, 68–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduc- scp0000057 tion program in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Derlega, V. J., Catanzaro, D., & Lewis, R. J. (2001). American Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 936–943. Perceptions about tactile intimacy in same-sex and http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/ajp.149.7.936 opposite sex pairs based on research participants’ Kopacz, M., & Connery, A. (2015). The veteran sexual orientation. Psychology of Men & Mascu- spiritual struggle. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, linity, 2, 124–132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1524- 2, 61–67. 9220.2.2.124 Kroll, B. (2008). Arguing with adversaries: Aikido, Douris, P., Chinan, A., Gomez, M., Aw, A., Steffens, rhetoric, and the art of peace. College Composition D., & Weiss, S. (2004). Fitness levels of middle and Communication, 59, 451–472. aged martial art practitioners. British Journal of Kroll, B. (2013). The open hand: Arguing as an art of Sports Medicine, 38, 143–147. http://dx.doi.org/10 peace. Boulder, CO: Utah State University Press. .1136/bjsm.2002.001768 Kroll, B. (2015). Rhetorical Aikido: Arguing as an art Dunbar, R. I. (2010). The social role of touch in of peace. In W. Wagner (Ed.), Aikido: The trinity humans and primates: Behavioural function and of conflict transformation (pp. 209–222). neurobiological mechanisms. Neuroscience and Schweinfurt, Germany: Springer. Biobehavioral Reviews, 34, 260–268. http://dx.doi Larkey, L., Jahnke, R., Etnier, J., Gonzalez, J. (2009). .org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2008.07.001 Meditative movement as a category of exercise: This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. Exercise and the Mind. (2001). Infinite Mind #189 Implications for research. Journal of Physical Ac- This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not[CD to be disseminated broadly. ROM]. Cambridge, MA: Lichtenstein Cre- tivity and Health, 6, 230–238. ative Media. Leonard, G. (1999). The way of Aikido: Life lessons Faggianelli, P., & Lukoff, D. (2006). Aikido and from an American sensei. New York, NY: Plume. : A study of psychotherapists who Levine, D. (1994). Social conflict, aggression, and are aikido practitioners. Journal of Transpersonal the body in Euro-American and Asian thought. Psychology, 38, 159–178. International Journal of Group Tensions, 24, 205– Field, T. (2014). Touch. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 217. Flanagan, J. R., & Lederman, S. J. (2001). Neurobi- Levine, D. (2015). Aikido and mediation. In W. ology: Feeling bumps and holes. Nature, 412, Wagner (Ed.), AiKiDô: The trinity of conflict 389–391. transformation (pp. 137–158). New York, NY: Frager, R. (1977). Aikido–A Japanese approach to Springer Publishing. 90 LUKOFF AND STROZZI-HECKLER

Lothes, J., Hakan, R., & Kassab, K. (2013). Aikido Ratey, J. (2013). Spark: The revolutionary new sci- experience and its relation to mindfulness: A two- ence of exercise and the brain. New York, NY: part study. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 116, 30– Little, Brown and Company. 39. http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/22.23.PMS.116.1 Rest, P. (2016a). Aikido: An everyday approach to .30-39 the martial art that can transform your life & the Lothes, J., Hakan, R., & Mochrie, K. (2015). Differ- world. Santa Rosa, CA: Paul Frederick Rest. ences of novice to black belt Aikido practitioners Rest, P. (2016b). A low impact Aikido program— in mindfulness: A longitudinal study. International Aikido for everyone. Aikido Journal. Retrieved Journal of Wellbeing, 5, 63–71. http://dx.doi.org/ from http://aikidojournal.com/2016/05/02/a-low- 10.5502/ijw.v5i3.4 impact-aikido-program-aikido-for-everyone-by- Lukoff, D., Lu, F., & Turner, R. (1992). Toward a paul-rest/ more culturally sensitive DSM–IV. Psychoreli- Reyes, R. (2009). Hero living: Seven strides to gious and psychospiritual problems. Journal of awaken your infinite power. New York, NY: New Nervous and Mental Disease, 180, 673–682. American Library. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00005053-199211000- Rothman, R. (2000). Aikido sensibilities: The socio- 00001 of connection and its role in the consti- Lukoff, D., Wallace, C. J., Liberman, R. P., & Burke, tution of community at North Bay Aikido in Santa K. (1986). A holistic health program for chronic Cruz, CA. Available from ProQuest Dissertation schizophrenic patients. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 12, and Thesis database (UMI No. 3003213). 274–282. Russell, T. A., & Arcuri, S. M. (2015). A neurophys- Lutz, A., Brefczynski-Lewis, J., Johnstone, T., & iological and neuropsychological consideration of Davidson, R. J. (2008). Regulation of the neural mindful movement: Clinical and research implica- circuitry of emotion by compassion meditation: tions. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 9, 1–17. Effects of meditative expertise. PLoS ONE, 3(3), http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00282 e1897. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone Salzberg, S. (2002). Lovingkindness: The revolution- .0001897 ary art of happiness. Boston, MA: Shambhala. Mazzucchelli, T. G., Kane, R. T., & Rees, C. S. Saposnek, D. T. (1986–1987). Aikido: A systems (2010). Behavioral activation interventions for model for maneuvering in mediation. Mediation well-being: A meta-analysis. The Journal of Pos- Quarterly, 14–15, 119–136. itive Psychology, 5, 105–121. http://dx.doi.org/10 Sethi, S., & Seligman, M. (1993). Optimism and fun- .1080/17439760903569154 damentalism. Psychological Science, 4, 256–259. Morrison, I., Löken, L. S., & Olausson, H. (2010). Shioda, G. (1991). Aikido Shugyo: Harmony in con- The skin as a social organ. Experimental Brain frontation. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Shindokan Research, 204, 305–314. http://dx.doi.org/10 International. .1007/s00221-009-2007-y Solloway, M. R., Taylor, S. L., Shekelle, P. G., Neff, K. D., Kirkpatrick, K. L., & Rude, S. S. (2007). Miake-Lye, I. M., Beroes, J. M., Shanman, R. M., Self-compassion and adaptive psychological func- & Hempel, S. (2016). An evidence map of the tioning. Journal of Research in Personality, 41, effect of Tai Chi on health outcomes. Systematic 139–154. Reviews, 5, 1–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/ Olliges, S. (2008). A phenomenological study of the s13643-016-0300-y experience of cultivating love for all beings in the Sperry, L. (2016). Secular spirituality and spiritually practice of aikido. Available from ProQuest Dis- sensitive clinical practice. Spirituality in Clinical sertation and Thesis database (UMI No. 1456516). Practice, 3, 221–223. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2006.03.004 Stevens, J. (1992). The art of peace. Boston, MA: Osborn, T. (2012). Combat related post traumatic Random House. stress disorder: A holistic approach. Amherst, Stevens, J. (2001). Philosophy of Aikido. New York, This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. MA: Levellers Press. NY: Kodansha America. This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individualPalmer, user and is not to be disseminated broadly. W. (2002). The practice of freedom: Aikido Strozzi-Heckler, R. (1993). The anatomy of change. principles as a spiritual guide. Berkeley, CA: Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. Rodwell Press. Strozzi-Heckler, R. (2007). In search of the warrior Pargament, K. I., & Sweeney, P. J. (2011). Building . Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. spiritual fitness in the Army: An innovative ap- Taylor, E. (1977). Aikido: The evolution of a martial proach to a vital aspect of human development. art into a spiritual discipline. Somatics, 6, 8–12. American Psychologist, 66, 58–64. http://dx.doi Thompson, B. L., & Waltz, J. (2008). Self- .org/10.1037/a0021657 compassion and PTSD symptom severity. Journal Pew Research Center. (2015). America’s changing of Traumatic Stress, 21, 556–558. religious landscape. Washington, DC: Pew Re- U.S. Department of the Army. (2006). Army leader- search Center. ship: Competent, confident, and agile (Field Man- AIKIDO AND MINDFULNESS FOR VETERANS 91

ual 6–22). Washington, DC: Headquarters, De- Weiss, T. C. (2008). Aikido and the care of veterans with partment of the Army. Retrieved from http://www posttraumatic stress disorder. Retrieved from http:// .fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm6-22.pdf archive.usafaikidonews.com/2008/3/article_2.shtml Van Pelt, J. (2011). Military sexual trauma. Social Work Weiss, T. C., Chard, K. M., & Shumm, J. A. (2011). Today, 11, 8–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jts.20374 Aikido as an augment to women’s residential Vieten, C., Scammell, S., Pierce, A., Pilato, R., Am- PTSD treatment. Paper presented at the Associa- mondson, I., Pargament, K., & Lukoff, D. (2016). tion for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, To- Competencies for psychologists in the domains of ronto, Canada. religion and spirituality. Spirituality in Clinical Weitlauf, J., Weiss, T., Makin-Byrd, K., Turchik, J., Practice, 3, 92–114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ & the Veteran Safety Initiative Writing Collabor- scp0000078 ative. (2013). Self-defense training and personal Wang, F., Man, J., Lee, O., Wu, T., Benson, H., Fricchione, G.,...Yeung, A. (2014). The effects safety enhancement for women with interpersonal of tai chi on depression, anxiety, and psychological abuse exposure: Key considerations. Federal well-being: A systematic review and meta- Practitioner, 30(suppl. 3), 21s–25s. analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Med- Westbrook, A., & Ratti, O. (1970). Aikido and the icine, 21, 605–617. dynamic sphere: An illustrated introduction. Bos- Wayne, P. (2013). The Harvard Medical School ton, MA: Turtle. guide to Tai Chi: 12 weeks to a healthy body, Woodward, T. (2009). A review of the effects of strong heart, and sharp mind. Boston, MA: Sham- martial arts practice on health. Wisconsin Medical bala Publications. Journal, 108, 40–43. Webster, C., Luo, A. Y., Krägeloh, C., Moir, F., & Henning, M. (2016). A systematic review of the health benefits of Tai Chi for students in higher Received February 1, 2017 . Preventive Medicine Reports, 3, 103– Revision received May 16, 2017 112. Accepted May 30, 2017 Ⅲ This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.