Looking at a typical aikidō exercise, this paper explores the potential embedded in the reflexive mode revealed through aikidō. What does it mean to be reflexive with one's entire body? What does non-discursive ethical reflexivity mean? And what does a non-discursive reflexivity amount to? I will engage with these questions in Deleuzian terms.
Paper long abstract:
The students of aikidō - a pacifistic martial art - transform the aggressive relationship between them, which always sets out with an attack, into smooth circular movement, annihilating the effects of violence. In view of the simple characteristics of a typical aikidō exercise, this paper sets out to explore the potential embedded in the reflexive mode revealed through aikidō. First, since aikidō is utterly embodied, what does it mean to be reflexive with one's entire body? Secondly, given that aikidō has an ethical pacific project, embedded in body movement alone, what does non-discursive ethical reflexivity mean? and finally, forming the sociality of aikidō and its project does not depend on representations or discourse, reflexivity on the other hand, is often understood in relation to discourse, what then does a non-discursive reflexivity amount to? I will engage with these questions in Deleuzian terms.