Aikido! "The way to harmonize (to become one) with the universe." It is a form of martial art that I have been practicing since 1998. I was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and had attended Saint Joseph's School up to ninth grade before emigrating to the United States in August 1990. While in Ethiopia I had briefly studied Tae Kwan Do for two years. My interest in martial arts peaked again after I saw the movie 'Above the Law' and noticed how Steven Segal expended little energy to throw his opponents all over the place! So I went to a local dojo (training center) in San Jose to see for myself if that truly were the case.

My prior experience in Tae Kwan Do and Jijutsu had taught me that the stronger you are the better. The techniques were clear-cut, there was a right way and a wrong way to execute a movement; it was black and white. In contrast, Aikido portrayed many colors, diverse movements. There was always more than one way to accomplish a technique. After three months of Aikido I was addicted.

Today, I regularly attend the dojo at the School of Psychology in Palo Alto (Aikido I.T.P.), but I also practice at another dojo in Mountain View as well as at De Anza Community College. I practice a minimum of two hours a day, five to six days a week. Currently I am a 'second Kyu', which is equivalent to Brown Belt.

The principles of Aikido do not reflect the popular image of martial arts as action-packed, somewhat dangerous, and sometimes competitive. As you go through the practice of Aikido you may find that Aikido is a non-competitive sport that deals with energy, mind, and body. By energy, I mean that the art emphasizes how to perceive other people's energy and how you can in turn extend or blend your own energy with their movements. If I have to put it into numbers Iíd say that 70% of Aikido is emphasis on 'Self' and only 30% is about 'Defense.' Mentally, I found that it also helps you to be more calm and focused on your objectives. Ultimately, your body is used to mostly to understand others rather than to hurt them.

Aikido has helped me grow in many ways, some of which were completely unexpected. I must say, first and foremost, that it made me a very open-minded person. I have learned to accept others for who they are and try to understand them rather than to judge them. It made me extremely patient and calm. I am now more able to look at the ëbigger pictureí and abstain from being too quick in my judgments. I feel centered and focused. I feel balanced and attempt to think of ways to be fair. My belief in fairness is much stronger now than before and in turn it has helped me to have better interactions with others around me. Physically, Aikido teaches you a lot about yourself and how your body works. It becomes easier for you to learn to understand others.

I apply the lessons of Aikido to my work and my personal life, but perhaps one night stands out among all other moments of my life where Aikido helped me immensely. Although I have practiced martial arts for five years now I have always hoped that I would not need to be pulled into a fight. However, my hope was challenged on February 14, 2003 when I became a victim of a carjack attempt as I was coming out of a 7-Eleven store. By the end of the confrontation I had been stabbed on my left thigh and hit with the bottom of a gun on the right side of my head, causing the gun to fire and the bullet to soar over my head. While my family said their prayers and thanked God for keeping me alive, my Aikido classmates wondered whether the knowledge of Aikido aided me in this situation.

No martial arts expert can be faster than a bullet, so I am very conscious of the fact that God was watching over me. But I also firmly believe that the lessons played a major role in my being able to handle 3 men ‚ two with knives and the other armed with a gun. I remained calm not scared. I was focused and was aware of everything that was happening, and eventually I was able to walk back into the store as they struggled to hold me back. My centeredness allowed me to remember details such as the faces, clothing, tattoos, and even the type of knives and guns held against me; shortly after the incident two out of the three men were captured based on my descriptions to the police. Details I remembered helped the police. My aim was to think clearly and try not to agitate the robbers any more than they already were. I would like to think that I could have easily avoided the stabbing were it not for the gun that was pressed against my right ribs. Aikido taught me that it is not simply about fighting and beating someone, but analyzing circumstances and acting accordingly. If I had attempted to disable one or two of the guys using techniques I had learned I would have been killed by the third person. However, better judgment and smooth movements kept me alive. So my advice? Donít go to 7-Eleven anymore! (Just kidding).

I hope that in the future I will get more opportunities to teach and share what I know about Aikido with others. Once I am qualified, Iíd like to teach on a part-time basis and I envision owning my own dojo. There is nothing that makes me happier than to see a smile on someoneís face because I have been helpful to him or her.

My real advice is this: live life to the fullest. Be simple and caring. Don't get upset over a problem. Instead, use your best effort to find a solution. After all, getting upset will not fix any problem; it will just give you more headaches. Understand and respect others rather than judge them. Remember, it takes more energy, more effort, and more time to be mean and rude when it won't take as much effort to be nice. But donít just take my word for it. Try it and see for yourself. Should you decide to get involved in a martial art my advice is to join an Aikido dojo. Last but not least, if you want to be the winner in any physical conflict, remember, the winner is always the one who avoids the fight before it begins. Best wishes to you all and God Bless!