Gently and Friendly

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I work for a marketing company, and one of our clients is owned by a Japanese firm. The Japanese owners recently introduced a new marketing tagline: "Gently and Friendly." The American division decided that this tagline, although it might be suitable for Japanese audiences, did not convey the way that they were driving, aggressive and technology-focused, and so they are using a different tagline.

I was thinking about this issue on the way home from teaching the first aikido class of the semester. Maybe this "tagline" would not be suitable for most martial arts, because it doesn't convey the driving, aggressive, "win at all costs" attitude that they want to portray. But perhaps "gently and friendly" would work for Kokikai Aikido?

Don't get me wrong, I don't think we need a tagline!  But it's fun to think through the idea... So,"gently" might represent the way we use less effort, staying as relaxed as possible.  "Friendly" could refer to the result, which is that nage (the person who is defending) always retains control of the situation, having the ability to suit the throw to the strength of the attacker (throwing both smaller and larger people exactly as hard as they need to be thrown) and to the situation (for example so that our training, while remaining realistic, doesn't have to be a bruise-fest). Sometimes Sensei jokingly says, "Aikido is love and harmony," (as he effortlessly tosses some weight-lifting 3rd degree black belt to the ground from a standstill).  Maybe that's "gently and friendly!"

"Gently and friendly" stayed on my mind as I practiced yoga, and realized that it applied here as well. In yoga we don't usually practice with partners, so I used the idea of being gentle and friendly to myself throughout my practice.

In fact, the more I think about it, "Gently and Friendly" would make a pretty decent bumper sticker.

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