Traditional Martial Arts:
A conduit for behavioral change and
cross-cultural acceptance
Presented by: Danny Hakim, BFP Founder
ICSSPE Conference: September 15, 2011
Budo for Peace
About
Danny Hakim
Martial Arts:
6th degree black belt in karate
Australian National Karate Team in
five World Championships
Japanese National Karate Team;
European Championships
Coach of Israeli Karate Team
Student 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
Budo is the Japanese word for martial arts
Its literal translation is:
“The way to prevent conflict.”
MARTIAL ARTS AS A MEDIATOR
BETWEEN CULTURES WORLDWIDE
Karate – 50 million practitioners
Taekwondo – 70 million practitioners
Judo – 2nd most popular sport worldwide
From Inner-being to external harmony
Meditation- inner harmony, awareness
Budo values –pursuit of excellence
Gain self-control and responsibility
Achieve respect & harmony with others
“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)
Code of conduct
.
Demands responsible behavior.
Hierarchy of seniority and skill
represented by color belts
Built-in mentor system.
Uniforms promote equality and
modesty
“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)
As a foreign culture, martial arts is a
bridge between different cultures
Rituals
Asian
language
and concepts
Traditional Martial Arts
Dojo as a
sanctuary
Budo
philosophy
Philosophy
While practicing budo, students learn correct
manners, refine technical skills and develop the mind
and body toward becoming a virtuous human being.
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
By applying what they’ve learned in training, BFP students
learn to convert conflicts (both internal and external) into
harmonious coexistence.
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.
Goals
Promote tolerance and inter-religious and inter-ethnic
understanding.
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.
Create public awareness of budo, as a means to promote
coexistence between people in conflict.
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 peace
Wisdom: Living without fear
Kindness: Caring for others as you would like
to be cared for
Love: Being a martial arts warrior for peace
Sensitivity: 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
Ages:
•9-12
•13-17
Ethnic/Religious
Breakdown Bedouin
11%
Located
throughout Israel’s
social and
geographic
periphery
Secular
Jewish
26%
New
immigrant
16%
Religious
Druze
Jews
5%
5%
Arab
Muslim
26%
Arab
Christian
11%
Traditional martial arts
Evaluation of influence
Questionnaire 2008-2009
Are you willing to meet the “other”? (percent of respondents)
120
100
80
Jews
60
Arabs
40
20
0
Beginning of the year
End of the year
BFP Sphere of Influence
70
35000
60
30000
50
25000
BFP dojo
Affiliate dojo
Total dojos
40
30
15000
20
10000
10
5000
0
0
2010
2011
2012
Community
Friends & Family
Kids
20000
2013
Number of Dojos over time
2010
2011
2013
Number of People influenced
over time
Assumptions: 20 children per dojo; 20 friends & family per child
100 community members per dojo
2012
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 SKILL
PARTNER ACTIVITY
GROUP TRAINING