Both men and women can be strong and confident without being arrogant or unnecessarily aggressive.
“Toxic Masculinity” is not allowed in Aikido practice. Training is for women and men together, with mutual respect and recognition of physical differences. Over the years, I have had to tell two men to leave the dojo specifically because they reveled in hurting the female students. Fortunately, they were highly exceptional and in no way representative of the vast majority of men on the mat.
The typical attitudes and behaviors of those who demonstrate toxic masculinity usually make it unlikely that they would start, let alone stay with, Aikido training. That is too bad in that macho males might be helped in overcoming their negative inclinations through the atmosphere and examples in the dojo.
For a good discussion of Toxic Masculinity, go to the following website:
