Aikido And The Culture Wars

Exhibit "A": The USAF & The Gender Equity Petition

What are your Aikido values? Do you believe that loyalty to your Sensei is of the utmost importance? Or do you revere freedom of speech such that if push comes to shove, you’ll dare to speak truth to power? Or are you about deconstructing “dominating hierarchies” and fighting the good fight to ensure everyone has an equal seat at the table? Where you stand on these thorny issues depends on if your worldview is more traditional, modern, or post-modern. These often competing worldviews make up a conflict of values that impacts every aspect of our society and culture. This conflict is especially playing out in the Aikido world… inside every person, inside every dojo, and inside every Aikido organization. Welcome to Aikido and the Culture Wars. 

What Are The “Culture Wars”?

The term “culture wars” refers to a clash between different worldviews that we all too often see playing out in our social and cultural spaces. The particular worldview you hold will determine your cherished values.

Of all the different lenses a person may view reality though, there are 3 main worldviews on the frontlines of the culture wars. These 3 different perspectives are often at the bottom of the clashes and conflicts that we see on full display in the world around us. They are none other than the traditional, modern, and post-modern worldviews.

Traditional, Modern, and Post-Modern Worldviews

Below is a list of some of the “values codes” that emerge congruently with these 3 worldviews. There is a good chance that you can relate to many of the values below as things that you actually believe in. However, when there is a clash of these worldviews inside of you, where you land will determine your own “values center of gravity.”

Here are some of the values codes of these 3 worldviews:

  1. Traditional values include loyalty, respect, conformity, discipline, obedience, honor, commitment, faith, right and wrong, and truth (as in “we are the holders of the real truth”… as in “my teacher studied directly with O Sensei, therefore...”).
  2. Modern values include objectivity, equality, individual rights, freedom of speech, secularism, achievement, success, rationality, autonomy, atheism, and critical reason.
  3. Post-modern values include subjectivity, community, interconnectedness, equity, pluralism, diversity, emotional intelligence, interiors, relativism, deconstructionism, and tolerance.

How does this relate to Aikido?

Even though you may relate to many of the values above, like everyone, you have a “center of gravity” of values. Not only do your values center of gravity determine the social and cultural groups you have an affinity for, but it also determines the type of Aikido you are attracted to.

Just as there are traditional, modern, and post-modern worldviews, there are also traditional, modern, and post-modern types of Aikido, Aikido dojos, and Aikido organizations.

These 3 worldviews are ALL valid perspectives which at their best, express what is good, true, and beautiful in Aikido. The problem is that each one of these 3 worldviews sees itself not only as different but actually better than all the others.

Where these 3 different worldviews don’t meet is ground-zero for Aikido and the Culture Wars.

USAF – “Exhibit A” in Aikido And The Culture Wars

Recently a conflict for gender equity arose in the largest Aikido organization in the U.S., the United States Aikido Federation. A coalition of women in the USAF started a petition in support of gender equity that was making its rounds in social media.

I became aware of the petition Oct. 11th, 2019 when I read a public statement on social media by Penny Bernath Sensei. Bernath Sensei is one of the senior teachers in the USAF who I’ve been following on social media for some years. I have come to admire her for being a positive role model for women in Aikido.

However, I was taken by surprise when I saw in her statement that she was speaking against the way the petition was handled. The upshot of her public statement was that the value of “loyalty towards your teacher” is a greater priority than the value of “freedom of speech.”

I wrote a rebuttal to Bernath Sensei’s public statement, pointing out the “values conflict” of prioritizing respect and loyalty to your teachers over freedom of speech. This is a very common values struggle I see all too regularly in the way people organize throughout the Aikido world.

When my rebuttal was deleted from the comments section in Bernath Sensei’s public statement I decided to re-post the rebuttal on my blog (go here), and expand on it in this post in the context of Aikido and the culture wars.

As tends to be the case, these values struggles usually devolve into reductionist and polarized stances that can only see “zero-sum” solutions. Unfortunately, this is not exactly what you would expect from a martial art that touts itself as a “positive-sum” path of conflict resolution.

I’m calling this particular values struggle unfolding in the USAF “exhibit A” in Aikido and the Culture Wars.

The Independent Coalition Of USAF Women

On Sept. 14th, 2019 a group of high-ranking women teachers in the USAF created a coalition and started a petition called “Support Women in the United States Aikido Federation.” This petition was created to address a long-term experience of gender inequity in the USAF leadership.

Go Here To See The Main Grievances Of The Petition

The gender equity petition’s main request for improvement points to the contradiction between the USAF’s official non-discrimination policy, and how said policy is practiced at the higher levels of organizational leadership.

To this end, the petitioners make a good-faith argument in the opening statement of their petition:

Opening statement of the petition  to Support Women in the United States Aikido Federation

With love for the Martial Art of Aikido, and deep gratitude and respect for our teachers and mentors, we the undersigned, as concerned members of the United States Aikido Federation, urge the USAF Board, Technical Committee, and leadership to act now to fully support women in the USAF organization.

The Independent Coalition of USAF Women

A Culture Of Fear And Retaliation

However, the coalition’s reasons for starting the petition go much deeper than the gender equity issue.  This can be seen this excerpt of the preamble to the timeline of events that is posted on the Independent Coalition of USAF Women’s facebook page:

Preamble from the Timeline Of Events:

After years of speaking with multiple women and men who expressed frustration and dismay at perceived gender disparities in the United States Aikido Federation and fear of speaking, and after hearing multiple stories of retaliation against or dismissal of individuals who did try to speak up… the Coalition was formed to stand up as a group for themselves and for those afraid to speak out.

The Coalition developed the Petition to Support Women in the USAF, as a plea for gender equity. It was designed to be released online in order to reach primarily USAF members who had not had a voice. It was carefully worded to be positive and non-accusatory since it was to be public.

It did not mention fear or retaliation, just the goals of gender equity, although its purpose was, in fact, to protect supporters from unwitnessed retaliation and to be heard.

Independent Coalition Of USAF Women

It is clear in the public statements of the coalition that the petitioners are speaking out at the risk of retaliation and being alienated in their own community because of an unspoken culture of fear and retribution towards members taking a stand on these kinds of issues.

An Integration Of Values Codes

What impressed me in the above official statements of the coalition is that they are demonstrating an admirable integration of worldviews. Whether intentionally, or unintentionally, in the above statements, they have carefully written in the values codes of each of the 3 worldviews that usually clash in the Aikido culture wars.

They show honor and respect for their lineage (traditional worldview values), they exercise their freedom of assembly and speech (modern worldview values), and take a stand for social justice by giving voice to the marginalized and speaking out for gender equity (post-modern worldview values).

Such integration of worldviews is not an easy thing to pull off, especially when confronting difficult issues. Yet in their public statements the petitioners do so without conflict or contradiction, and with agility, clarity, and authenticity.

The integration of these 3 values codes can be seen in these excerpts taken from the above official statements:

Traditional Values Codes:

  • “With a love for the Martial Art of Aikido” – (Value code: honoring the art and teachings)
  • “… and deep gratitude and respect for our teachers and mentors” – (Value code: honoring the lineage)
  • “[The petition] was carefully worded to be positive and non-accusatory since it was to be public” – (Value code: respectful of hierarchy)

Modern Values Codes:

  • “We the undersigned, as concerned members of the United States Aikido Federation” – (Value code: freedom of assembly)
  • “…urge the USAF Board, Technical Committee, and leadership to act now” – (Value code: freedom of speech)
  • “The Coalition developed the Petition to Support Women in the USAF”
    – (Value code: exercising their right to petition authority)

Post-Modern Values Codes:

  • “The Coalition was formed to stand up as a group for themselves and for those afraid to speak out.” – (Values code: advocacy for the marginalized)
  • “…purpose was, in fact, to protect supporters from unwitnessed retaliation.” – (Values code: social justice)
  • “…urge the USAF Board, Technical Committee, and leadership to act now to fully support women in the USAF organization” – (Values code: gender equity)

The USAF Board Of Directors Response To The Petition

On Oct. 4th, 2019, in response to the petition, the USAF board published an official statement, addressing in detail the main points of the petition. They open their response with the official non-discrimination policy from the USAF website:

A Statement from the USAF Board of Directors

The USAF does not advocate, support, or practice unlawful discrimination based on age, ethnicity, gender, national origin, disability, race, size, religion, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.

USAF Board Of Directors

This initial response from the USAF Board Of Directors was thorough, addressing each of the petition’s requests in detail (see full response here).

However, there were 2 notable exceptions in their response:

  1. The USAF board expressed regret that they had no chance to respond to the petition before it was circulated.  Petitions don’t work like that, even more so when there is an ongoing culture of fear (see point 2). The best way to “catch and kill” dissent is to keep it from the public eye through the threat of punitive action from the powers that be. Petitions are based on freedom of speech, and the right for any stakeholder to bring grievances to authorities.
  2. The “culture of fear” and lack of freedom of speech were not addressed. In fact, in some cases, punitive action from above has been taken against both women and men who exercised their legal right (and arguably their moral responsibility) and chose to speak publicly in support of the issues of the petition. This punitive action seems to be continuing with some petitioners being ostracized from the community, and in some cases “blacklisted” from dojos and seminars.

Message From The USAF Board Of Directors

On Nov. 11th the USAF website posted an official “Message From The Board Of Directors.” This official message followed the USAF’s annual Board meeting at Florida Aikikai’s winter camp. As you can see in the official message below, they discussed how to address the gender equity petition of the Independent Coalition Of USAF Women.

In the first part of this statement they address new initiatives to be taken on the gender equity issue:

– “Message From The Board Of Directors”

During our meeting, we discussed a petition on gender equity which had been posted on Facebook and otherwise circulated by a Coalition of women in Aikido. We also discussed a related proposal from another group interested in advancing diversity and equity and ways to grow and strengthen the USAF.

The Board is fully committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the USAF. Based on our own deliberations and several constructive recommendations we have received, we will be implementing a series of changes, starting with the creation of a Working Group to explore gender and equity issues.

USAF Board Of Directors

In this first part of the message, it is admirable to read that the “Board is fully committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the USAF.” Furthermore, it is clear that the Board is taking the gender equity issue seriously and will be “implementing a series of changes, starting with the creation of a Working Group to explore gender and equity issues.

However, this statement raises more questions than it answers:

  1. In the Board’s discussion of the gender equity petition they “also discussed a related proposal from another group interested in advancing diversity and equity.” – It is not clear if this other group’s “related proposal” actually covers the same issues as the coalition’s petition. If not, then it begs the question is this just an attempt at damage control?
  2. Why has the Coalition of Independent USAF Women not been included in the “working group”? (that becomes clear below…)
  3. Will this “working group” give acknowledgment to, and be speaking for those who are afraid to speak out?
  4. By establishing “a working group to explore gender equity issues” is the USAF Board giving tacit acknowledgment that a gender equity issue actually exists?

Despite the constructive start of the first part of the Board’s message, the second part takes a more punitive turn:

– “Message From The Board Of Directors” (cont.)

According to our Code of Conduct, “all members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on the USAF and Aikido.”

… we are disappointed by the Coalition’s divisive behaviors, especially on social media, which have included public attacks on the USAF, its Board, and Yamada Sensei.

As such, we have notified the coalition that we will only work with USAF members in good standing who share our goals of promoting gender equity in an honorable, transparent and mutually respectful manner.

We want all USAF members to know we are grateful to Yamada Sensei for the organization he has created and built. Furthermore, the Board fully supports Yamada Sensei and has complete confidence in his leadership now and going forward.

USAF Board Of Directors

The retaliatory language in the second part of the message undermines the Board’s stated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the first part of the statement.

Rather, in this public statement, they revert to excluding language directed towards the cause of the “attacks”, namely the Independent Coalition Of USAF Women.

The second half of this statement contains several contradictions, and one question:

  1. The USAF Board expressed their disappointment in the coalition, and that they see them as reflecting negatively on the organization and Aikido. – One could counter that by putting forth this petition and speaking for those afraid to speak out, the coalition has taken a risk of retaliation and of becoming pariahs in their own community. This is a demonstration of exceptional courage that reflects positively on their character, on the teachers who helped shape said character, and on the very art of Aikido itself.
  2. The Board notified the coalition that they will only work with “USAF members in good standing who are interested in promoting gender equity in an honorable, transparent and mutually respectful manner.” – This is ironic because the whole point of the coalition and it’s petition is that the way gender equity grievances have been dealt with in the past has been neither honorable, transparent, nor mutually respectful.
  3. The only reason the USAF Board of Directors are addressing gender equity is because of the petition brought forth by the Independent Coalition Of USAF Women. Excluding the coalition from the working group undermines the board’s claim of being “fully committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the USAF.”
  4. Why the sudden declaration of fielty to Yamada Sensei?

The Elephant In The Room

Nothing happens in a vacuum. Even though the Independent Coalition Of USAF Women created a petition directed specifically at gender inequity, the elephant in the room is the lack of freedom of speech and the culture of fear towards speaking openly against such issues.

As the coalition states in the preamble to the timeline of events: “the Coalition was formed to stand up as a group for themselves and for those afraid to speak out.”

Seen in this light, the combined statements from the USAF Board are a mixed message at best. In some ways reaffirming their commitment to “advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the USAF.” In other ways seeming to perpetuate the culture of fear and retaliation for speaking out.

Everybody Has A Piece Of The Truth

Up close, these issues, with all their personal and communal dynamics, can appear extremely complicated. But if you zoom out and view things with an integral lens (the “Integral Worldview”), you can see that the different stands people take in the culture wars are based on traditional, modern, or post-modern values.

These are ALL valid points of view, otherwise, they would not exist. Everyone has a piece of the truth, and all truths are partial. But when it comes to the culture wars, some truths are more partial than others.

Evolving Aikido And The Cultural Wars

Traditional, modern, and post-modern worldviews are not simply 3 different and relative perspectives. Rather they are expressions of 3 progressive stages of human development.

Modernism evolved as a response to the limitations of the traditional worldview. And in turn, post-modernism evolved as a response to the limitations of the modernist worldview.

None of these worldviews is wrong, as each one serves the developmental needs of an individual or group at a given stage. Viewing these worldviews through an integral lens helps you to see how they are necessary developmental stations along the arc of human evolution.

But what is important to understand about these developmental worldviews on the frontlines of Aikido and the Culture Wars is this:

The more evolved your Aikido worldview is, the more inclusive your values. The less evolved your Aikido worldview is, the less inclusive your values.

So, What Are Your Values?

It is said that the organizations that have the most inclusive values will attract the best people, who will do the best work, for the best reasons.

As an organization, I have no doubt that the USAF is a platform for what is good, true, and beautiful about Aikido. After all, they have produced some of the top Aikido teachers in the world. Not to mention the women who are fearlessly bringing their Aikido to the gender equity issue.

How this current gender equity issue plays out for the USAF will determine its “values center of gravity.” Is it a post-modern organization that beautifully holds traditional and modern values in a “nested hierarchy”? Or is it a traditional organization that preserves what is good from the past, but alienates a large population of its membership?

Whatever the case may be, one thing is clear: if the leadership of the USAF does not evolve on this issue then there is a good chance that they will lose many of their best people. Women and men for whom the “values box” no longer fits. It is just too small.

Interested In More On The Gender Equity Issue In The USAF? Here Are Several Relevant Links:

Question: What is your experience of Aikido and the Culture Wars? Join the conversation by leaving your comments below!

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