Founded in 2002 by José Roberto Bueno, Harmony in Action is a non-profit organization headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil. We work to build a culture of peace in our society by applying the principles of Aikido, a Japanese martial art unique in its commitment to harmony, cooperation and non-violence.

We teach business leaders in some of Brazil's largest corporations and children from some of its poorest favelas (shantytown slums). While they inhabit very different worlds, if you look beneath the surface you find people with fundamental human needs like respect, social harmony, personal freedom, and self-development.

2008 saw the release of the short documentary, Harmony in Action, produced by Heath Curdts and Philip Emminger (USA). This film explores our project through the voices of its many diverse participants, including aikidoists, community volunteers, business leaders, and disadvantaged youth from the Jacqueline's Garden community of São Paulo.

We have an ongoing commitment to offer free Aikido classes for disadvantaged youth aged 7 to 17. Aikido offers them hope and a path of harmony and personal development, and an alternative to the violence that plagues their impoverished urban communities. The heart of the project is formed by black belts in Aikido that direct the training with the support of other volunteers. We currently serve children from favelas in São Paulo and Recife, and the youth themselves are now becoming black-belt candidates in the Path of Harmony.

At lectures and demonstrations in corporate environments, José Bueno Sensei cheerfully presents practical and inspiring lessons in using Aikido strategy to deal with difficult challenges and conflicts. Open dialogue and simple physical movements create space for a series of insights and new perceptions about the exercise of leadership in the world of business. The connection between Aikido and the daily lives of participants is immediate and often profound.

There are many ways to contribute to the mission of Harmony in Action: as a donor, a volunteer, or even by starting a similar program in your own community. International donations may be made through Aiki-Extensions, a US tax-exempt 501(c)3 non-profit organization supporting projects that apply the principles of Aikido beyond the borders of the traditional dojo.
Click here to donate.