Budo for Peace

Traditional Martial Arts :A conduit for behavioral change and

cross-cultural acceptance

Presented by: Danny Hakim, BFP Founder

ICSSPE Conference: September 15, 2011

About Danny HakimMartial Arts :

6th degree black belt in karateAustralian National Karate Team in five World ChampionshipsJapanese National Karate Team; European ChampionshipsCoach of Israeli Karate TeamStudent of Kancho Kanazawa

Publication :“Budo’s Potential for Peace: Breaking

Down Barriers in the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict”

Founded: World Education Program Budo for Peace Budokan Martial Arts &Fitness

Program

Producer: Shadya – Winner of International Documentary Film Festival, Amsterdam. PBS Educational Film Series.

Education:MA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Swinburne University

MARTIAL ARTS AS A MEDIATOR BETWEEN CULTURES WORLDWIDE

Budo is the Japanese word for martial arts Its literal translation is:

“The way to prevent conflict.”

Karate – 50 million practitioners

Taekwondo – 70 million practitioners

Judo – 2nd most popular sport worldwide

From Inner-being to external harmony

“The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit. Your spirit is the true shield.” - Morihei Ueshiba (Founder of Aikido)

Meditation- inner harmony, awareness

Budo values –pursuit of excellence

Gain self-control and responsibility

Achieve respect & harmony with others

Code of conduct.

“The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants” – Gichin Funakoshi (Father of Modern Karate)

Demands responsible behavior.

Hierarchy of seniority and skill represented by color belts

Built-in mentor system.

Uniforms promote equality and modesty

As a foreign culture, martial arts is a bridge between different cultures

Rituals

Budo philosophy

Dojo as a sanctuary

Asian language

and conceptsTraditional Martial Arts

PhilosophyWhile practicing budo, students learn correct manners, refine technical skills and develop the mind and body toward becoming a virtuous human being.

By applying what they’ve learned in training, BFP students learn to convert conflicts (both internal and external) into harmonious coexistence.

The focus is less on goals of technical skills or winning competition and more on understanding the true ideals of budo and cherishing its traditions

From enemies to opponents to partners• Shiai means competition;

literally testing each other.” Individuals compete to mutually develop their skills, not defeat one another.

• Partner - works with you, not

against you.

• Opponent - tries to make himself and his technique better - at your expense.

• Opponent and partner are the same. Both are equally necessary to improve.

“Bowing is an expression of gratitude and respect. In effect, you are thanking your opponent for giving you the opportunity to improve your technique” - Jigoro Kano (Founder of Judo)

Budo for Peace

Using martial arts as a mediator between cultures in the Middle East since 2004 .

Mission Statement

Our mission is to bring youth from conflict areas together to participate in traditional Asian martial arts and learn their intrinsic values; thereby breaking down barriers to coexistence.

GoalsPromote tolerance and inter-religious and inter-ethnic understanding.

Create public awareness of budo, as a means to promote coexistence between people in conflict.

Instill self confidence and inner harmony in the participants, and teach them to break down barriers of ignorance and distrust.

Develop an international network of “Ambassadors of Peace” through our young leaders.

History

BFP began as a one-time event in Delphi, Greece prior to the 2004 Athens Olympics .

Youth in conflict joined together under the Olympic theme “Lay down your weapons and compete in sports".

Organization activities

Educational Program Dojos (Martial Arts Clubs)

Coexistence & women’s

empowerment

Organization activities

Civic responsibility Affiliate (KiAi) Clubs Mentor Program

Educational Program• Taught in the local language• For children aged 9-15• Clubs meet for 90-minute

sessions twice weekly. • One hour of martial arts

training• Half an hour of games,

discussion and role play to connect the budo values to every day behavior.

Budo – Values for Life

Teaches basic values and life skills important for holistic development

Humility: Acting without self-importance Responsibility: Meeting challenges with a

brave spirit Courage and Commitment: Fighting injustice Honesty: Being truthful Gentleness: Living with affection and compassion Order: Being aware of what creates disorder

Budo – Values for Peace

Gives skills to resolve and prevent conflict and create conditions conducive to peace, from the interpersonal to the international

Intelligence: Understanding what prevents peaceWisdom: Living without fear Kindness: Caring for others as you would like to be cared forLove: Being a martial arts warrior for peaceSensitivity: Having empathy toward others Respect: Honoring the dignity of all life

Affiliate Club Benefits• Positive exposure in local

communities• Affiliate with fast-growing

youth movement promoting tolerance and non-violence.

• Opportunity to impact larger population

• Free educational program and training for instructors and mentors

Women’s Empowerment

Club Locations

Students

Bedouin11%

Arab Muslim26%

Arab Chris-tian11%

Druze5%

Religious Jews5%

New im-migrant

16%

Secular Jewish

26%

Ethnic/Religious Breakdown

Ages: •9-12 •13-17

Located throughout Israel’s social and geographic periphery

Traditional martial arts

KARATEJUDO AIKIDOKUNG FUTAEKWONDO

Evaluation of influenceQuestionnaire 2008-2009

Beginning of the year End of the year0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Are you willing to meet the “other”? (percent of respondents)

JewsArabs

BFP Sphere of Influence

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2010 2011 2012 2013

BFP dojoAffiliate dojoTotal dojos

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

2010 2011 2012 2013

CommunityFriends & FamilyKids

Number of Dojos over time Number of People influenced over time

Assumptions: 20 children per dojo; 20 friends & family per child

100 community members per dojo

Model for coexistence

Buiene Nujidat is a mixed Muslim and Bedouin town in the Galilee with a history of intra-city youth violence.

BFP classes reduced violence in Buiene and then connected its club with nearby Mitzpe Netofa, a religious Jewish village.

Future Goals

• Connect with millions of martial arts practitioners worldwide• Open international affiliate clubs; currently working with connections in

Palestinian Authority, Turkey, Jordan & France• Organize international events; now working with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign

Affairs & Turkish Karate Federation for 2012

www.budoforpeace.org

PHYSICAL DEMONSTRATION

INDIVIDUAL SKILLPARTNER ACTIVITYGROUP TRAINING