The martial art of Aikido was used as an intervention with 15 middle and high school students with severe emotional disturbances in an alternative educational setting. Students with an extensive history of violently disruptive and assaultive behaviors were trained for 12 weeks in this nonviolent Japanese martial art in order to achieve the following outcomes: reduce disruptive classroom behaviors and verbally abusive and physically assaultive behaviors toward other students and staff members, and decrease the number of school-wide disciplinary referrals for violent behaviors. The training focused on peaceful conflict resolution, nonviolent self-defense, individual and group confrontation management, and autogenic relaxation training. Significant improvements were achieved in reducing violent behaviors during the training sessions, and these positive behaviors transferred into other classrooms. Parents and administrators also noted positive behaviors exhibited by student participants, including enhanced respect for authority and peers, improved conflict de-escalation skills, and enhanced feelings of confidence and self-worth. It was found that Aikido training can be implemented with a minimum of scheduling disruptions and financial expenditure. Appended is a 12-week behavioral summary chart. (Contains 46 references.) (SW)