In 2015, I stepped onto the mat for my first Aikido class in Geelong, Australia. At the time, I was working with troubled youth and soon after in a large hospital. I began Aikido out of an interest in Japanese philosophy and self-defence, but what I discovered quickly went far beyond physical practice. The lessons from the dojo began shaping my daily interactions, deepening my capacity for leadership, conflict resolution, and responding to crises with calm presence.

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Since then, I’ve continued learning from teachers around the world, travelling to explore how Aikido principles can be applied in many settings. If you’d like to find out about in-person classes in Geelong, Australia or team development workshops, please email me at jessicaconnorkennedy@gmail.com