Introducing- A Culture of Care
To my Aikido community,
I invite you to read this with an open mind and heart, knowing that it comes from the heart of someone who loves our community and loves Aikido. As I write this, I am holding the spirit of everyone who feels discarded by society’s “return to normalcy.” This writing is dedicated to Emily Honig, who died of cancer on Oct 13 of this year. She wanted to train for as long as her body would allow, but didn’t feel safe due to the removal of COVID precautions at her dojo.
This year (2023) has been hell for me. I spent the first half of the year undergoing aggressive treatment for leukemia and I’m still in treatment, albeit less aggressive. In the photo you can see an example of one of my morning’s medication/supplement regimen. I realize you may not see it now since my strength is back and I no longer look the way we think cancer patients look, but it has been and continues to be extremely difficult… beyond words.
“taking care of uke is about more than just not breaking wrists”
I want to be part of a community that cares for all its members including those with weakened immune systems, disabilities, or illnesses that make one especially vulnerable to COVID and other sicknesses. When we step onto the mat we agree to take care of one another. As we know, taking care of uke is about more than just not breaking wrists, just as Aikido isn’t just about what we do on the mat. Aikido is about taking care of everyone we meet, to the best of our ability, throughout our lives. It’s what I’ve loved about Aikido since I was a kid.
When the change in vaccination policy at my dojo was announced, it was like a punch to the solar plexus. At this point in my treatment COVID could cause serious complications. In fact, it can cause serious complications in anyone. COVID-19 is currently the third leading cause of death in the US, after heart disease and all types of cancers combined. But this isn’t about COVID or living in fear, it’s about being a community that prioritizes creating a safe place for everyone to train. This extends to our loved ones at home and the greater community.
this isn’t about COVID or living in fear, it’s about being a community that prioritizes creating a safe place for everyone to train
The main argument I hear against vaccination requirements today is that the original vaccines are no longer effective, which is true. However, the answer to outdated precautions is not the removal of precautions, it is to continuously update them so that they continue to be effective protections.
the answer to outdated precautions is not the removal of precautions
After the announcement that my dojo would drop the vaccination requirement, I was scared that my concerns would not matter. I, like many others, felt left behind or dismissed while much of the world returned to “normalcy.” I was scared to hear my community say,
“Yeah, but you’re an outlier,” as if my safety doesn’t matter.
Many of the people I’ve trained with after my medical leave have told me that they’re so glad to have me back on the mat and how much they value training with me... but it’s difficult to believe as the safety measures designed to protect me and other vulnerable people fall away. I have asked the dojocho to reconsider the removal of the vaccination requirement at her dojo, to no avail.
While I do believe vaccinations are necessary protections, this isn’t about requiring them, it’s about taking steps to ensure that your community is as safe as possible for the most vulnerable members.
This is an invitation to commit, as a greater community, to a “culture of care.” To commit to take what may be inconvenient individual actions to benefit the whole. This means getting vaccinated in the event of emergent diseases. It means staying home if you are experiencing symptoms of illness. If someone at home is sick wear a mask in the dojo. If you think you feel a tiny tickle in your throat but you could be imagining it, please take a COVID test and wear a mask even if you test negative. An abundance of caution helps to protect all of us. Vaccinations aren’t 100% effective and everyone’s risk profiles are different, so please don’t assume that if everyone is vaccinated no precautions are needed. The good news is that the more steps we take as individuals, the safer we will all be.
If my cancer does come back, I hope your dojo will be a safe place for me to train. I hope that you will implement permanent protocols designed to take care of the vulnerable members in your communities, even if you don’t know who they are.
See you on the mat
César San Miguel
co-founder and co-chief instructor of Oakland Aikido
(updated for accuracy, April 18, 2024)