About Tim Warneka

Human Peformance Expert Tim Warneka

Biographical Sketch: Short Version

An internationally known human performance expert, Tim Warneka's interest in personal growth strategies began at the age of 10. Living in a house with two parents, five siblings (four sisters!), and one bathroom, Tim quickly learned the importance of communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution! From that point on, Tim has been a dedicated student of human performance.

Today, Tim helps people across the life-span to discover ways to create even more success in their lives. As a leadership expert, counselor, keynote speaker and author, he shows people—from children to senior citizens—how to lead lives that are more satisfying, productive and life-giving.

Holding black belt ranking in the Japanese non-violent martial art of Aikido, Tim is the author of several books including the internationally-acclaimed Leading People the Black Belt Way: Conquering the Five Core Problems Facing Leaders Today and The Way of Leading People: Unlocking Your Integral Leadership Skills with the Tao Te Ching and Black Belt Leader, Peaceful Leader: An Introduction to Catholic Servant Leadership and Healing Katrina: Volunteering in Post-Hurricane Mississippi. Tim has taught and trained people down the street and from all over the world.

Tim lives, works and plays on the southern shores of Lake Erie near Cleveland, Ohio.

Biographical Sketch: Long Version

Tim Warneka's interest in human performance strategies began at the age of 10. Living in a house with two parents, five siblings (four sisters!), and one bathroom, Tim quickly learned the importance of non-violent communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution! From that point on, Tim has been a dedicated student of human performance and personal growth.

Growing up in Lakewood, Ohio, Tim was immersed in the post-Vatican II Roman Catholic culture of St. Clements’ Elementary School, part of the Diocese of Cleveland, where he heard his first folk mass, which launched his interest in music and guitars. His involvement in the YMCA Indian Guides (now know as "Y Adventure Guides") with his father and brother sparked his interest in Native American culture, mythology, male development and group dynamics.



At age 12, Tim's family moved to Perry, Ohio, where he learned about the power of culture and groups on human behavior. While attending Perry High School, Tim participated in Lake Erie College’s Learning About Business (LAB) program, which ignited a passion for entrepreneurship that continues to the present day.

Tim graduated from Perry High School and began his undergraduate studies at the University of Dayton, Ohio’s largest private Catholic university. Beginning his studies in electrical engineering, Tim soon learned that he was fascinated by powers of a different sort as he was exposed to Freudian and Jungian psychology, the writings of Joseph Campbell and Eastern and Western contemplative approaches by various members of the Society of Mary (also known as the Marianists), the Catholic order that runs U.D.

While a short time in the school of business fanned his passion for entrepreneurship, Tim soon began pursuing his enthusiasm for human performance by majorning in psychology. In 1987, while his peers were out partying on the weekends, Tim could often be found volunteering for the Dayton Suicide Crisis Hotline, honing crisis intervention skills that he continues to use to this day.


After graduating from U.D. in 1989, Tim headed toward the great city of Chicago to begin his graduate training at Loyola University Chicago. On November 1st, 1989, Tim saw his first demonstration of Aikido (“The Art of Peace”) by Kisshomaru Ueshiba, son of Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido. It was love at first site.

Three days after watching the demonstration, Tim stepped onto the Aikido mat for the first time at the Midwest Aikido Center (MAC). He had the great good fortune to begin training under Akira Tohei sensei (sadly, now deceased), at the time the highest ranking Aikido instructor in North America, holding an 8th degree black belt.

Tim has been practicing Aikido continuously since then, currently training (and somtimes teaching) at the Cleveland Aikikai on Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Tim is fascinated by exploring off-the-mat application of Aikido principles.


Deciding that living in the windy city was a bit too much excitement for him, Tim returned to Cleveland, Ohio, where he completed his M.Ed. degree at Cleveland State University. After graduation, Tim spent one year in starting up a home-based therapy program at the Lake County Mental Health Center and then spent the next 10 years working at Crossroads, a child & adolescent community mental health center.

During his time at Crossroads, Tim was instrumental in developing cutting-edge programs for sexually- and physically- aggressive children, adolescents and their families. Tim got his first taste of leadership here, leading multi-disciplinary treatment teams comprising of social workers, counselors, psychologists, educators, psychiatrists, juvenile court personnel and others.

In 1995, Tim completed his three-year counseling residency, passed the state licensing board and was awarded an independent counselor’s license (L.P.C.C.) by the State of Ohio. In 1998, Tim launched his private practice where he offered his consulting, coaching and keynote speaking services to individuals and organizations.


In 1999, Tim formed the Black Belt Consulting Group to better serve the demand for his work.

In 2000, Tim began his post-graduate training at the world-famous Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, where he spent the next five years completing advanced training to become a certified Gestalt practitioner. Tim completed the initial 18-month Gestalt Training Program, the advanced track training program in Working With Physical Process as well as the advanced training track Working Integrally with Groups and Small Systems. It was at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland where Tim first encountered the writings of Ken Wilber and the integral approach, a perspective which has increasingly come to influence Tim’s work. In addition to his Gestalt training, Tim has studied with Paul Linden, Ph.D., 5th degree Aikido black belt and creator of the Being in Movement© mindbody training as well as training in Nervous System Energy Work created by Jim Kepner and Carol DeSanto.

Believing that everyone is called to be a leader, in 2003 Tim created Asogomi Publishing International, an independent publishing company Tim founded to deepen the public's awarness about new frontiers in leadership science and research.

In 2005, Tim responded to the national crisis that was Hurricane Katrina, spending 2 weeks in Southern Mississippi with an international disaster relief organization.

In 2006, Tim released his first book Leading People the Black Belt Way: Conquering the Five Core Problems Facing Leaders Today. Backed by over three years of independent research, Leading People the Black Belt Way has received international acclaim and consistently received positive reviews on Amazon and other on-line book retailers.

The year 2007 saw the release of Tim's book Healing Katrina: Volunteering in Post-Hurricane Mississippi, a compilation of the blog and journal that Tim kept while volunteeing in Mississippi. He also released his book The Way of Leading People: An Integral Interpretation of Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, co-authored by Tim and his brother Patrick Warneka (who took phenomenal pictures for this work). The Way of Leading People features a foreword by noted somatic leadership expert Richard Strozzi Heckler.

After years of researching spirituality and leadership, 2008 saw the release of Black Belt Leader, Peaceful Leader: An Introduction to Catholic Servant Leadership, with a foreword by Bro. Ray Fitz, S.M., Ph.D., past president of the University of Dayton.

When he’s not writing or spending time with his wife and two children, Tim provides Keynote Speeches and presentations to organizations across the United States and around the world, coaches and counsels individuals, families and groups, and provides leadership training at the local, state and national levels.

Tim is an active member of St. Noel’s Catholic Church in Willoughby Hills, Ohio, practices various forms of Eastern & Western meditation and contemplation, and is a board member of Aiki Extensions, an international organization dedicated to taking the principles of Aikido off the mat.

Tim loves camping and hiking in the woods with his family, fly-fishing, being silly with his kids, poking the fires in his wood burning soapstone stove, playing the guitar (he owns a 1930's Gibson jazz archtop and a 1980 Yamaha SBG-2000 solidbody electric guitar) and listening to all styles of music.

Tim has recently begun exploring the world of Apple computers with the recent purchase of a Macbook laptop as his publishing company moves into the realm of video creation.

His alternate career choices? “If I wasn’t doing what I’m doing, I’d enjoy being either a sushi chef ... or a blacksmith!”

He lives, works and plays on the shores of Lake Erie in Lake County near Cleveland, Ohio.


Interested in Having Tim Help You Discover Success

Email Tim today!

or call 440.944.4746

========================================
About Aikido

"Aikido is the embodiment of Emotional Intelligence."

-Tim Warneka

Leadership expert, coach, keynote speaker and counselor Tim Warneka has been practicing Aikido continuously since 1989 and holds black belt ranking.

Far more than a system of self defense—the Japanese martial art of Aikido is a powerful tool for transforming people. Practiced by men, women & children around the world, Aikido is embodied conflict resolution, it provides an understanding power at deeper levels, it can be a spiritual journey, and even become a Way of life.

We live in an era where—for the first time in history—humans are capable of destroying all life on the planet. The choice is very simple: we will either learn to live in a way that peacefully addresses our violence, anger and aggression or they will destroy us. Aikido offers some solutions to this dilemma.

However, because people are biologically hard-wired to resist against force, embodying these quality of openness and harmony is counter-intuitive for most of us. Aikido gives us a real-life place to practice these qualities in order to re-program our inner software into ways of living and working that are more successful.



“Aikido is a way to reconcile the world
and make human beings one family.”
- Master Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido


[The following description of the Japanese martial art of Aikido has been adapted from Tim Warneka’s book Leading People the Black Belt Way. Tim uses the principles of Aikido in everything he does, from working with individuals to consulting with large corporations. For additional perspectives on Aikido and suggested readings, please see the related links at the end of this section.]

Aikido: Brief Description



One of the most modern of martial arts, Aikido is a Japanese martial art that is practiced by millions of men, women and children around the world. Aikido was developed by Morihei Ueshiba (c.1883-1968) —arguably the greatest martial artist who ever lived. Master Ueshiba is often referred to as “O’Sensei” (great teacher) by Aikido practitioners. Aikido is a revolutionary, non-aggressive martial art that seeks the resolution of conflict. There are no competitions, contests or trophies in Aikido. When training in Aikido, people ideally practice together in an open, family-style of training.

Often translated as “the Way of Harmony,” or "The Art of Peace," Aikido teaches you to be more successful by blending harmoniously with people. Master Ueshiba did not talk about harmony just because the idea sounded good and made people feel warm and fuzzy inside. He spoke of harmony from the pragmatic perspective of a martial artist: Harmony works better. A powerfully effective martial art, Aikido has been incorporated into the training of Special Forces in militaries around the world.

"To win without fighting is best." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Aikido: Full Description

One of the most modern of martial arts, Aikido was developed by Morihei Ueshiba (c.1883- 1968)—arguably the greatest martial artist who ever lived. Aikido is a revolutionary, non-aggressive martial art that seeks the resolution of conflict. Often called “The Way of the Spirit of Harmony,” Aikido is the physical embodiment of the Win/Win strategy and has been incorporated in Special Forces and US Marine Corps training programs, as well as in militaries around the world. In the Marine Corps, the program -- created in part by Aikido teacher Richard Strozzi Heckler -- is known as the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, and it is taught at MACE, or Martial Arts Center for Excellence.

A powerful form of self-defense, Aikido is a very difficult art that demands an enormous investment of time and effort. Earning a black belt in Aikido typically takes anywhere from five to ten years of intensive practice several times each week. While the results are well worth the effort, not everyone can make such an enormous time commitment. Tim has committed himself to giving people who cannot make this commitment another way: The Black Belt Way.


The Art of Harmony. One of the best ways for people to comprehensively understand harmony is by examining it through the lens of Aikido. Aikido teaches you that you will be more successful when you blend harmoniously with people. Master Ueshiba was not talking about harmony just because the idea sounded good and made people feel warm and fuzzy inside. He spoke of harmony from the pragmatic perspective of a martial artist: Harmony works better.

While he was alive, Master Ueshiba repeatedly proved that harmony leads to success, and he did so in the most practical terms. In Asia, if you create a martial art and call that art effective, people are going to come and test your art. They do this by trying to kill you. Nothing personal. You simply have to put your money where your mouth is. As the founder of Aikido, Master Ueshiba walked his talk. Many different fighters from all walks of the world challenged Master Ueshiba, and he was never defeated and he rarely injured anyone who challenged him.

Aikido practitioners practice techniques against both armed and unarmed attackers. We practice techniques where our partner attacks us with knives (tanto), sticks (jo), and swords (bokken). Aikido also emphasizes practicing against multiple attackers.

Aikido is a rarity in the martial arts world as it is one of the few arts that hold a deeply ingrained spiritual and ethical component. Prior to developing Aikido, Master Ueshiba was already recognized in Japan as a great martial artist when he became disillusioned with the competitive, hurtful face of the martial art world where ethical principles and effective practice materialized as separate disciplines. A deeply spiritual man, Master Ueshiba sought to combine ethical principles with effective martial arts practice. He developed the art of Aikido as a way to bridge the gap he saw between these two realms, and he even went so far as to state that, “In true budo [martial arts], there are no enemies. True budo is a function of love… Aikido is the manifestation of love.”


Master Ueshiba’s words are strikingly familiar to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech, in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 11, 1964 in which Dr. King said, “Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence...The foundation of such a method is love.” Leaders who aspire to follow the spiritual insights of Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Dorothy Day and Mother Theresa would do well to study the principles of Aikido.

Master Ueshiba saw the martial arts as an activity that played a crucial role in the development of personal character. This fact is often lost on the Western world, as we are so enamored with the heroes who appear on our theater screens—characters who are able to defeat multitudes of enemies and walk away unscathed. Many people have fallen under the siren song of unlimited power that Hollywood spins around martial arts. In reality, in Asia, the martial arts have been viewed historically as a way of refining character.

In his work, Master Ueshiba drew from the Asian religions and philosophies of Zen Buddhism, Shinto, and Taoism. In fact, people often refer to Aikido as “Zen in motion.” It is not necessary to believe in any particular religion as Aikido is practiced by people of every faith around the world. Achieving a calm state in the quiet of the meditation room is all well and good, but how well does that translate into your day-to-day life? One of the goals of The Black Belt Way is striving to maintain a relaxed and supple calmness in the midst of increasingly conflictual situations—a perfect fit for leaders, don’t you think?

The genius of Aikido teaches us that being open and relaxed is the safest and most effective way to be a leader. Verbal, mental and emotional leadership challenges can be dealt with more effectively when we can remain relaxed and open. Because we are hard-wired to resist against force, embodying the quality of openness is counter-intuitive for many leaders.

Training Tips for Timid Beginners (by Nev Sagiba)

NON TOXIC DOJO - STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP!

"When you train ENJOY. Enjoy movement for its own sake.

Do not obsess with "getting it right" the first time, then stand around beating yourself up mentally because you think you are wrong.

Or chattering. You are not on display. It is not an exam. You are not wrong."

“Be open” is very easy to say, yet, very difficult to actually do. For most leaders, staying open requires continual practice. On the Aikido mat, attacks come in the form of strikes, punches, grabs, and even weapons. When someone is coming to punch me, I notice a tightening of my muscles, and a strong desire to either hide my head in my arms or hit the person back.

Thankfully, most leadership challenges do not come in the same physical form as on the Aikido mat, but the effect on our bodies is the same.

Aikido is far more than self defense—it is embodied conflict resolution. For me, practicing Aikido is like having a laboratory where I can go and attempt to physically embody the insights from the great wisdom traditions of the world: turn the other cheek; do unto others as you would have them do unto you; do no harm.

We live in an era where—for the first time in history—humans are capable of destroying all life on the planet. With humanity's long history of violence toward one another, "business as usual" will no longer suffice.

Our collective choice is very simple: we will either learn to live in a way that peacefully addresses our violence, anger and aggression or they will destroy us … and all future generations. The great gift that Morihei Ueshiba gave the world through Aikido offers some possible solutions to avoiding that nightmare that the legacy of human violence may bring us.

The rest, as they say, is up to us.



Great Books on Aikido


Suggested Readings

Leading People the Black Belt Way:
Conquering the Five Core Problems Facing Leaders Today
by Tim Warneka

Principles of Aikido and Emotional Intelligence applied to leadership.

Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere
by Adele Westbrook and Oscar Ratti

A classic book on Aikido. Highly recommended.

In Search of the Warrior Spirit: Teaching Awareness Disciplines to the Green Berets
by Richard Strozzi Heckler
A fascinating account about blending Aikido principles with modern-day Special Forces.


The Intuitive Body: Aikido as Clairsentient Practice
by Wendy Palmer

A wonderful book that teaches you how to develop your body as a tool of awareness.



"The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace. Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow... Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter."
- Master Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido

To learn more about how the principles of Aikido can change your life, email or call Tim at 440.944.4746 today!

=====================================

Contact Tim

Human performance expert and author Tim Warneka is based near Cleveland, Ohio and provides keynote speeches, consultations and trainings at the local, national and international levels. All of Tim's work draws from the both the strength of Emotional Intelligence as well as the power of the revolutionary non-violent martial art of Aikido.

Landline:
You can contact Tim by phone at: 440.944.4746