Morihei Ueshiba, or Osensei (great teacher) created Aikido in the early 1940s. A master of several classical Japanese martial arts (budo) including judo, kendo and jujitsu, Osensei developed Aikido to respond to the modern world.

According to his son, Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Aikido is orthodox because it inherits the spiritual and martial tradition of ancient Japan. But Osensei concluded that the true spirit of budo cannot be found in a competitive atmosphere where brute force dominates and the goal is victory at any cost. Instead, the path of Aikido leads to “victory over self” and is realized in the quest for self perfection of body, mind and spirit.

Much of project management is practicing the art of reconciliation, of finding consensus among multiple parties and narrowing to the “sweet spot” of design where many problems are solved by means of a singular design form, choice of material and/or method of manufacture.  Becoming a successful project manager requires discipline and knowledge.  Aikido is my way toward self-knowledge and mastery, and it brings me insight that is indispensable regardless of what I do, but particularly in my professional practice.

Here is an inspiring New Year resolution from Osensei:

Use your body to create forms; use your spirit to transcend forms; unify body and spirit to activate the Art of Peace.