2019, Volume 15

Aikido and care of the self: a path in physical education for well living



Marcel Franco1, Maria Isabel Mendes1

1Physical Education Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil


Author for correspondence: Marcel Franco; Physical Education Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil; email: macfranco1@gmail.com



Full text

Abstract

Background and Study Aim: Aikido is considered a modern budo. Created in Japan around 1942, aikido has its origins in several martial arts and some religious aspects. In turn, the care of the self represents an antique spirituality composed by knowledge and practices that have been passed down through ages. Our study aims to reflect on elements of the care of the self in aikido philosophy, identifying contributions for physical education.

Material and Methods: This is a qualitative study with an hermeneutic approach based on Paul Ricœur, which interprets some works by Morihei, Kisshomaru, Moriteru Ueshiba, and Michel Foucault.

Results: We identified notions of ki (vital energy), kotodama (spiritual study of sounds), misogi (purification) and budo (path of self-improvement) in aikido, and in the care of the self, formation of the ethical subject and their art of living. We identified elements of the care of the self in aikido, and finally we perceive physical education as an art of well living through the spirituality notion built from the identified elements.

Conclusions: We perceive this hermeneutic study as a possibility to identify the care of the self elements in aikido. Beyond this, the identified elements favors physical education sociophilosophical studies when we perceive them as a path, a lifestyle through the aesthetics of existence in the martial arts context, especially in the practice of budo, in the sense of considering it as an art of well living.


Key words: Budo, misogi, kotodama, ki, philosophy


Cite this article as:

AMA:

Franco M, Mendes M. Aikido and care of the self: a path in physical education for well living. ARCH BUDO. 2019;15:155-163

APA:

Franco, M., & Mendes, M.I. (2019). Aikido and care of the self: a path in physical education for well living. ARCH BUDO, 15, 155-163

Chicago:

Franco, Marcel, Mendes Maria Isabel. 2019. "Aikido and care of the self: a path in physical education for well living". ARCH BUDO 15: 155-163

Harvard:

Franco, M., and Mendes, M.I. (2019). Aikido and care of the self: a path in physical education for well living. ARCH BUDO, 15, pp.155-163

MLA:

Franco, M., and Mendes, M.I. "Aikido and care of the self: a path in physical education for well living." ARCH BUDO, vol. 15, 2019, pp. 155-163

Vancouver:

Franco M, Mendes MI. Aikido and care of the self: a path in physical education for well living. ARCH BUDO 2019; 15: 155-163