Published in the national magazine ProgettoAiki, issue no. 5, February 2024.

This article was inspired by a conversation with an LGBTQIA+ activist. We took an overall look at the sporting panorama and tried to give an additional reading on how a non-competitive discipline like Aikido can be considered. We try in fact to highlight its innovative aspects compared to other sports group activities. These qualities, often in the background, could be appreciated by a world that is increasingly attentive to psychological care and well-being.

Let’s start from here: Aikido is about feeling. Because there is no need to overwhelm your partner, it is crucial to the aim of the practice to set your ability on the knowledge of your partner. This requires considerable sensitivity in practitioners, which is cultivated on the tatami thanks to the frequent changes of mat mates. Mat mates who, based on their physique, gender, and grade, are different and unique. Forcing us to quickly perceive each other’s capabilities and limitations in the shortest time possible.
A training methodology structured in this way transforms gender differences from obstacles into opportunities, allowing us to use them as an added value to enhance our skills.

If we think about it, this point of view is incredibly modern and not often emphasized. In fact, there are very few sports that allow training without gender distinctions. In many existing sports, gender inclusion is treated as a marginal experiment that requires compromise on both sides.
The unique aspect of Aikido, when we practice on the tatami is finding a space where the interaction between two people—who come into physical contact with each other—is not defined by their physical differences. On the contrary, the gender difference becomes an asset, something that benefits both practitioners. If this difference were absent, it would be a missed opportunity.
Based on these thoughts, I found a growing interest in Aikido among people who make egalitarian rights their battle.

I’ll give you a more practical example, November 20th is recognized each year as the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to honor the victims of transphobia. Transgender people often exclude themselves from sports, especially in the transition phase.
In such cases, it is crucial to communicate the existence of a space in sports activities where physical labels do not require rigid definitions. In Aikido, for example, we do not impose male or female classifications based on biological traits.
It’s important to note that this is not about persuading them to practice, but rather about presenting a worldview that, even if only heard, can open up important new opportunities for inclusion.

I would like to mention another point that is particularly meaningful to me. During practice, each of us develops characteristic traits, whether through movements, imbalances, or projections. The key is that Aikido, while firmly grounded in teachings codified by the master(s) of reference, takes on a distinctly personal form—it becomes a true expression of the practitioner in that precise moment.
Let’s try an experiment: Imagine practicing with any of your friends. Visualize a technique or hold. Most likely, in addition to the image, you can also perceive the sensations that your partner transmits to you on the tatami, such as an contact, an immobilization.
As you switch partners, your sensations change. Each person leaves an indelible mark that we can easily recognize, even with our eyes closed. This personalization—this self-expression—is what makes the practice so fascinating.
Finding your own uniqueness on the mat contributes to the well-being we often talk about in our community, turning the tatami into a sort of safe space where you can relax and be yourself. By cultivating a space where cooperation and mutual assistance are the foundation of practice, we challenge the competitive and stifling dynamics that many amateur athletes often suffer.

In the town where I am writing to you, some teenagers were removed from a sports association because they were deemed underperforming. This might make sense from a business perspective, but it remains questionable on a fundamental human level.

Sometimes, we are tempted to describe Aikido in a way that belongs to the past—a past saturated with conflicts and contrasts, based on ideas that are no longer relevant. If we promote Aikido as an invincible martial art dedicated solely to self-defense, we are likely using the wrong approach, hiding the true nuances of the practice and the genuine benefits we can derive from what we do on the mat.

This is where the idea of drawing inspiration from LGBTQIA+ initiatives comes in. These initiatives are always focused on the free expression of human beings, precisely because activists understand what it means to live in a world that limits one’s true nature. Discussing how we encourage care for ourselves and others has created fertile ground for a profound dialogue among us.

I wish to conclude, looking for a safe place is sometimes identified as a way to hide yourself, let me clarify this it is now an incorrect and outdated point of view. The free expression of human beings is perfectly legitimated and based on healthy needs. Therefore, interpreting the dojo as a safe place carries enormous social value and could attract many people searching for such an environment.
Describing how Aikido is shaped as an extremely customizable practice—where the unique and expressive style of each individual flourishes through the expression of their own movement—offers a deep and inspiring narrative that we are not typically accustomed to hearing.

These are just a few aspects that help to highlight the nuances of Aikido. In any case, I hope they serve to inspire further ideas, projects, and opportunities. There are certainly many individuals and organizations ready to engage in dialogue.

For comparisons or information, I have attached the link to the report: European Survey Outsport: the relevance of sexual orientation and gender identity in sport in Europe.
https://www.out-sport.eu/?lang=it
[email protected]

Greetings to everyone. See you on the mat.
Rocco Nardi

• Versione Italiana
• Aikido