Aikido is a martial art that focuses on fluid hand-to-hand combat and grappling in less lethal manners, using systems of joint locks, throws, pinning techniques, and strikes, with the main goal to bring peaceful resolutions to situations of conflict.

Rowan University’s Japanese Culture club met with Associate Dean of the Ric Edelman College of Communication, Humanities & Social Sciences and Aikido Practitioner, Stephen Fleming, to practice native Japanese martial art, Aikido, on Feb. 17.

“You see, a lot of martial arts is about ego,” said Fleming. “That’s not really what we’re all about … You won’t see trophies and medals and all that stuff.”

Fleming has taught aikido at Rowan University for the past 15 years, with a total of 26 years under his black belt.

Fleming began learning Aikido because of his father, who was also an Aikido practitioner.

“He felt like it would be good to build your [Fleming] confidence,” said Fleming. “I was a bit of a shy kid, so he was like ‘this might be good to get you out of your shell.’”

The visiting Japanese Culture Club is a club that focuses on experiencing and celebrating Japanese culture through on and off-campus activities, while not relying on the usage of pop culture.

The club hosts events such as calligraphy nights, bento box competitions, karaoke nights, and a visit to the Shofuso Japanese Culture Center in Philadelphia, PA, to take a tour and do some community service.

“Everybody knows Japan for their food and anime,” said senior computer science major and Japanese Culture Club President, Matthew Jones. “But most people don’t know Japan for their people …We show Japan for what it really is and not just what their pop-culture shows.”

It’s a given that these two Rowan programs were bound to meet, having done so previously already.

Over a dozen Rowan Japanese Culture Club members attended the event, participating in an introductory lesson.

One of the attendees, a foreign student from Kanagawa, Japan, and a sophomore mechanical engineering major, Wataru Ukishima, is a practitioner of Karate with 10 years of experience. He spoke about the differences he saw between the two.

“There’s no punching or kicking (unlike karate),” said Ukishima.

Fleming demonstrated and taught multiple skills, such as defending against an attacker from behind, breaking a grip without breaking someone’s arm, defense against a knife, and how to manipulate joints to get your opponent off balance.

While not everyone wanted to take part in the practice or even knew what Aikido was, members of the club still showed up to learn and socialize with their club members. Including some members who are planning to study abroad in Japan, such as a sophomore history education major, Ava Rayfield.

“I’m here to hang out with my roommates, so I decided to come,” said Rayfield. “I don’t know what it’s about. I’ve never done it before, but it sounded interesting.”

The Japanese Culture Club hosts their usual meetings every other Tuesday between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. at James Hall, while the Aikido club hosts meetings on Tuesdays between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Rec Center.