Explore every episode of the podcast Ki to the City

When Richard Moon Sensei reaches out and personally recommends a guest like, “You have to talk to this guy, he was one of my very first training partners back in the day”—you don’t hesitate. So I didn’t.

His latest brilliant recommendation is David Brown, whose lineage traces directly back to the illustrious dawn of the 70s California Aikido happening.

He began his Aikido practice in 1971 at Aikido of Mountain View under Robert Nadeau Sensei.

David describes eloquently the Bay Area at a time when Vietnam protests were peaking, Beatniks and Hippies were morphing and flowering further as counterculture movements, and Aikido dojos were few and far between.

As he recalls, all his early teachers were Americans who’d traveled to Japan, trained with O-Sensei, Tohei sensei, and other senior Hombu instructors, bringing back a revolutionary, energy-first approach to movement.

Before Aikido, David was a Stanford student competing in track and field as a pole vaulter. That unique background gave him a leg-up when it came to ukemi.

While most beginners freeze at the prospect of being thrown through the air, David was already accustomed to flinging his body up 14 feet high and landing (relatively, I assume) safely on a mat.

Being upside down, inside out, or twisted in mid-air was second nature to him.

This aerial aptitude allowed David to become one of Robert Nadeau Sensei’s go-to demonstration uke.

He describes being thrown by Nadeau Sensei as a visceral, intoxicating sensation—like a surfer being caught and carried effortlessly by an ocean wave. It was this undeniable, tangible experience of an invisible field of energy that hooked David on Aikido for life.

Over the years, he’s had the fortune to take ukemi for a “who’s-who” of legends—including Tohei sensei, Hikitsuchi sensei, Saito sensei, Saotome sensei, and first Doshu, Kisshomaru Ueshiba sensei.

During our talk, David dropped this episode’s titular phrase; a gem that succinctly encapsulates martial practice extending beyond the mundane:

“Waza to survive, Ki to thrive.”

Mechanics, techniques, and forms are essential building blocks—survival tools that can keep us safe when physical pressure arrives/arises. But if training stops at technical execution, we might miss the entire transformative promise of the art. Ki—bringing deep, core-centered awareness and aligning with the life force—is what allows a human being to flourish, connect, and thrive. (I think…)

What makes David such a compelling guest is his complete lack of pretension. He doesn’t sanitize history or treat luminary figures as untouchable gods; he regards them as extraordinary human beings, albeit not without flaws and foibles.

Here’s a small sample of various vignettes he shares from his eclectic journey:

Meeting Coco the Gorilla! While studying at Stanford, David literally met the famous sign-language-trained gorilla in a campus parking lot. This is probably the most jealous I’ve ever been of a “celebrity encounter”. (Spoiler, he doesn’t think he could’ve applied nikkyo…)

Rooming with Peter Ralston: During a week-long Dominican College Aikido retreat, Nadeau Sensei assigned David to room with Peter Ralston (the first non-Asian to win the World Full-Contact Martial Arts Tournament). David recalls deep late-night talks where Ralston paraphrased his core life philosophy: “The purpose of life is to be. To increase our ability to be present for the event in the cosmos that is our existence.” That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

As president of the Stanford Aikido Club, David hosted Tohei Sensei, taking ukemi for his entire class and sitting next to him at the faculty club. He vividly recalls a poignant evening at the South San Francisco dojo where Tohei—sitting with a tumbler of bourbon after his historic split with Hombu Dojo—pointed to O-Sensei’s portrait and lamented the heartbreak of organizational division.

Perhaps most inspiring of all was David’s personal choice of life path…

Coming from a prominent background, everyone assumed he was destined for law school, politics, or high public office. But when family upheaval hit and he experienced the profound depth of Aikido, he made a conscious decision to walk away from corporate ambition. He took a job as a medical machinist at Stanford Medical Center—a career that allowed him to work with his hands and earn just enough to fund his true life’s passion: training.

I’m grateful to have received a few glimpses of wisdom from this ongoing life-training, and hope to convey and carry it forward as best as I can.

Enjoy the episode!

Aaaaand…

I’m deeply grateful to my (surprisingly) global audience for keeping these dialogues alive.

Extra special thanks to Aiki Extensions for their continual support of this podcast.

Aiki Extensions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to taking Aikido off the mat through grassroots Seed Grants for community peacemaking, outreach, and trauma recovery.

Learn more or apply for a grant at aikiextensions.org.

If you draw inspiration from these weekly conversations, please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber on our Substack.

And don’t forget to check out the brand new Bookstore!!!

Nick Walker Sensei, chief instructor of Aiki Arts Center in Berkeley, California, did not step into the dojo as a privileged 12 year old looking for an extra-curricular hobby.

By his own description, he was small, malnourished, and immersed in intensely violent poverty. Tired of being targeted by bullies, he made the conscious decision to “fight back”. But, circumstances being what they were, getting beat up on a regular basis, he realized he desperately needed some actual self defense skills to survive.

Fortunately, he found an Aikido dojo where he was able to develop the physical abilities needed to navigate his neighborhood, while also tapping into something infinitely more magical and profoundly transformative.

For the first time in his life, he encountered adults who possessed a clarity and dignity of character he’d yet to witness. As he candidly recalls, they were the very first positive role models in his life—the first grown-ups he could actually stand the thought of becoming like.

A passageway opened: he realized adulthood didn’t mean becoming someone who “totally sucks”. There was another path, and Aikido helped him draw the map.

I’ve mentioned in many of these conversations how I wish I found Aikido while living through my own adolescent chaos. I grew up poor as well, and while I was fortunate enough to be sheltered/spoiled a bit by Italian grandparents, I still know what it feels like to wake up on the wrong side of the tracks—shouldering a smoldering lingering chip, imagining the odds of success (in any and every endeavor) too vast to overcome.

But enough about me, back to Nick Sensei…

His development as an Aikidoka was uniquely accelerated because his learning process became tangibly intertwined with teaching from almost the very beginning.

Just four years in, at 16, his original teachers relocated, leaving the senior students to take over the dojo. He unexpectedly found himself stepping into an instructional role

Being handed the responsibility of teaching so young exponentially cultivated his own growth; it forced him to look at techniques analytically, asking what core principles were truly essential to transmit and how to break them down effectively for new-comers. Rather than simply absorbing precious wisdom for himself, he had to deconstruct it, making instruction an early engine of his technical and personal evolution.

Teaching so early in his journey also preserved a rare, immediate connection to the beginner’s experience. When one begins teaching after decades on the mat, there’s a risk that explanations can become overly abstract or disconnected from what a novice actually resonates with. Because he was still undergoing the mind-blowing breakthroughs of early aiki-exposure while simultaneously teaching, his memory of being brand-new remained fresh and vibrant. This allowed him to meet new students with authentic empathy and a genuine “beginner’s mind,” communicating the foundational magic of Aikido in an accessible, grounded, and deeply human way.

For the first 15 years of his practice, Nick Sensei didn’t have the luxury of treating Aikido as a merely abstract philosophy or theoretical exercise.

Coming up in a rough environment—then working as a bouncer, he repeatedly found himself in situations where he had to rely on Aikido in physical confrontations.

Having to utilize the art under “real-world” pressure gave him unvarnished, firsthand proof of its martial effectiveness—confirming that Aikido’s principles and mechanics can hold up when real violence is present.

Crucially, his physical application of the art was never about seeking out conflict or indulging in budo-bro bravado; it was for protection and community solidarity. During those formative years, Nick sensei put his body on the line to help defend urban queer communities against street violence and harassment. Facing these crises head-on allowed him to stress-test his technique while using Aikido for its highest purpose: serving as a protector of vulnerable people and spaces when safety was truly on the line.

For Nick Sensei, one of the most profound and beautiful dimensions of Aikido lies in the continuous practice of choosing the more peaceful, harmonious option at every turn. He describes this as a perpetual, conscious commitment to be governed by love rather than anger—an internal discipline he readily acknowledges was/is far more difficult than mastering any other aspect of the art. In fact, it’s a level of emotional and spiritual maturity he feels he didn’t fully get a handle on until reaching his early 50s, (so there’s still hope for me) highlighting that non-violence is an active, lifelong choice.

By prioritizing what will ultimately foster peace and serve love, he aligns his practice with O-Sensei’s ultimate vision: transcending the obsession with competition and “who can beat who in a fight,” and honoring Aikido as a transformative spiritual discipline of joy, connection, and harmony.

Having survived a tumultuous childhood, and intermittent periods of homelessness in his youth, he’s parlayed perseverance forged through practice, putting himself through college in his 30s, earning multiple degrees and becoming a published author and Professor of Somatic Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies.

This talk definitely inspired me, hope it does the same for you…

In the present-day, operating Aiki Arts Center as an independent dojo gives Nick sensei the creative freedom to explore the art without any organizational dogma.

Despite the physical aches and expected hardships accumulated over a hard-fought life, his baseline setting is one of deep happiness, groundedness, and profound gratitude just to be alive in his body.

His story is a masterclass in what happens when you take the lessons Aikido offers and apply them to the long game of human beingness.

But wait, there’s more….

He also brings excellent creative storytelling to life as writer of the super-cool webcomic Weird Luck. The comic blends Jungian themes and explorations of human consciousness into an imaginative, adventurous story world.

Aaaaand…

I’m deeply grateful to my (surprisingly) global audience for keeping these dialogues alive.

Extra special thanks to Aiki Extensions for their continual support of this podcast.

Aiki Extensions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to taking Aikido off the mat through grassroots Seed Grants for community peacemaking, outreach, and trauma recovery.

Learn more or apply for a grant at aikiextensions.org.

If you draw inspiration from these weekly conversations, please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber on our Substack.

And don’t forget to check out the brand new Bookstore!!!

Describing Josh Gold Sensei’s impact on the modern Budo landscape is no small task, and can’t be done justly in a social media episode “teaser” such as this.

He occupies a rare nexus of deep traditional lineage, perpetual technical fidelity, and faithful stewardship of cutting-edge martial arts media that continues to inform and connect practitioners across the globe.

As Chief Instructor, and co-founder of Ikazuchi Dojo in Irvine, California, his martial foundation has been honed through a 35-year deshi relationship with Haruo Matsuoka Sensei.

Before starting this podcast project, I wasn’t very familiar with many other Sensei outside my own real life every-day aiki-bubble. This commitment to Ki to the City has opened my eyes to a far vaster (more vast?) universe. Whenever I have a new guest on the show, I research their lineage to prepare. I’ve only glimpsed Matsuoka Sensei’s legacy and it’s incredibly impressive. I’m nowhere near qualified to write even a snippet of a biography for him, but if you listen to the episode, you’ll hear enough to want to look deeper on your own for sure.

At Ikazuchi Dojo, Josh Sensei is dedicated to promoting personal transformation through Aikido. Built on a commitment to preserve the heritage, traditions, and spirit of the art, he uses every resource available to innovate, refine, and elevate what it means to be a martial arts dojo in the 21st century.

Parallel to his dojo leadership, Josh Sensei serves as the Executive Editor of Aikido Journal. (aikidojournal.com.) This legendary publication, originally founded as Aiki News in 1974 by visionary martial arts historian Stanley Pranin sensei, houses a monumental half-century plus archive of interviews, historical documents, and technical research.

Shortly before his passing in 2017, Stan sensei handpicked Josh as his successor to safeguard and modernize this global treasure.

Keeping Aikido Journal thriving in the digital age (or whatever age we’re in now) is quite the heavy responsibility, but as he noted in our talk, it’s an essential service to the global Budo community—offering a portal to the historical origins and living evolution of the art.

During our conversation, Josh sensei articulated a perspective on Budo that hit deeply. He framed it as a “venue for character development”. Emphasizing that it’s optimized for personal growth, emotional maturity, and societal benefit. Genuine character cannot be absorbed wholly intellectually. One doesn’t build resilience or empathy by passively reading a thread or watching a clip. Character-building requires a physical, somatic venue—a space where we can encounter real friction, physical pressure, and emotional discomfort. Within limits, of course…

To turn his philosophical vision into a reality, Josh sensei partnered with Mark Tercek (former Partner at Goldman Sachs and CEO of The Nature Conservancy) in late 2019 to co-found Budo Accelerator, a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit.

Supported by an extraordinary board including martial artist, clinical psychologist, and previous guest (!) Ellis Amdur, Budo Accelerator bridges physical dojo training with accredited leadership and life-skills education.

While traditional martial arts training excels at forging physical discipline, emotional equanimity under pressure, and ethical integrity, Budo Accelerator creates the bridge required to translate those somatic reflexes into real-world academic and professional advancement—focusing on high school and collegiate students, particularly those from under-resourced backgrounds.

By the time this episode airs, Budo Accelerator will have reached an exhilarating milestone: After five years of testing and refining for over 1,000 students across Southern California—partnering with major institutions like UC Irvine—they are now kicking off their Budo Scholar program’s beta test of a nationwide program. With full national access coming in early 2027.

Budo Scholar operates through an innovative hybrid model: students continue (or begin) physical training at their local dojos while engaging in weekly online leadership modules centered on core concepts like empathy, courage, and non-violent de-escalation. Paired with real-world case studies from elite martial artists and practical exercises on and off the mat, students connect cross-country through digital cohort discussions.

Also, crucially, for young people who desperately want to train but cannot afford dojo tuition, Budo Accelerator provides full scholarships, paying local dojos directly so those students can step onto the mat.

By embedding accredited leadership pathways directly into local martial arts schools, Budo Scholar simultaneously equips the next generation with vital life skills while breathing youth, funding, and long-term vitality back into dojos

For full details click here: budoaccelerator.org/blog/what-we-have-been-building

In East Harlem, right outside my dojo window, I see firsthand the immense need for programs like this. Many young people in the neighborhood would thrive with the discipline, focus, and 4-dimensional exercise of Aikido if given the chance. I’m eager to explore how I can personally get involved with Budo Scholar and bring these scholarship pathways into my own community.

If you’re a dojo owner or instructor and you’d like to host scholars, click this link to find out how: budoaccelerator.org/partners

This talk with Josh Sensei definitely gave me an enormous surge of hope.

Many of us worry about aging demographics, declining youth enrollment, and the insularity of “traditional” martial arts. Budo Scholar completely flips that script. It gives teenagers and young adults promising reasons to keep training, while infusing fresh energy, vibrant youth, and financial support into dojos nationwide.

The future of Aikido is not about clinging to dogma or retreating into isolation; it’s about building authentic human connections and extending the vital medicine to the next generation(s).

The present is in good hands.

Aaaaand…

I’m deeply grateful to my (surprisingly) global audience for keeping these dialogues alive.

Extra special thanks to Aiki Extensions for their continual support of this podcast.

Aiki Extensions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to taking Aikido off the mat through grassroots Seed Grants for community peacemaking, outreach, and trauma recovery.

Learn more or apply for a grant at aikiextensions.org.

If you draw inspiration from these weekly conversations, please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber on our Substack.

And don’t forget to check out the brand new Bookstore!!!

It’s a great pleasure to welcome back Marco Rubatto Sensei for his second appearance on Ki to the City. (For more extensive background info, check out this link for the first one: Prior episode)

Marco sensei is the founder and chief instructor of Hara Kai Dojo in Torino, Italy, and for nearly two decades, he’s been building one of the richest, most thoughtful online archives in the Aikido world at his blog, Aikime.blogspot.com.

Traditionally trained in the Iwama tradition, he now performs an important role within the Evolutionary Aikido Community.

To me, what makes Marco sensei’s perspective so refreshing is his deep, authentic, spiritual foundation. Before he ever stepped into a dojo, he studied meditation in Assisi (yes, where St Francis was from!) under Father Anthony Elenjimittam—a Catholic priest who’d been a direct student of Mahatma Gandhi.

Weaving together transpersonal psychology, non-duality, and classical martial training, he approaches Aikido as a primal tool for transformation.

It’s so easy to view conflict through a winner/loser lens, defining strength by the capacity to defeat an opponent or conquer a problem. For Marco Sensei, conflict is not a problem to be avoided, a battle to be won, or a flaw in the universe—it’s a “fantastic catalyst for evolution”.

When conflict arises, there’s immediate potential for growth. He describes it as a “guardian of the gate”. When you hit a frictive situation—whether it’s a difficult technique on the mat, a leaky roof, or a painful personal situation—you’re standing at a threshold. One can either retreat into a ‘comfort zone’ (leaving less chance for possible evolution) or find the courage to step through the gate and allow the friction to transform you…

I’m obviously still working on this myself, but talking to Marco sensei makes it easier to imagine actually putting this philosophy into practice.

We also discussed the danger of splitting ourselves too definitively between our spiritual and physical sides. Marco sensei points out that in Italian (a language I really should speak), the word for devil (diavolo) shares its etymological root with that which divides or splits things apart.

It’s too tempting sometimes to embrace a lofty spiritual path, hoping to hover above the bumpy roads of physical life. True practice means honoring both halves of the (probably illusory) equation: remaining grounded in the physical world while simultaneously cultivating a deeper awareness.

One of my favorite parts of this conversation was learning about how Marco sensei treats his Dojo creatively as a somatic canvas. Rather than always training locked in rigid, dogmatic repetition, he uses innovative methods to bypass the analytical mind to achieve real-time presence.

For instance: sometimes, during a 2 hour class, the first hour will be dedicated to developing formal technical structure. But in the second hour, he’ll put on music to help students let go of their cerebral tension and drop directly into their bodies.

Citing O-Sensei’s maxim to “learn and forget,” Marco sensei uses music as a way to dismantle intellectual rigidity so that fluid, spontaneous movement can emerge.

He also sometimes uses a meditation bell during kaeshi waza. A practice he learned from Patrick Cassidy sensei.

While people are practicing, Marco sensei rings the bell unannounced. The moment the chime sounds, everyone must freeze instantly, assess their zanshin (awareness), and immediately switch roles—forcing uke to become nage within a split second, and vice versa.

We have a meditation bell on our Kamiza, so you know I’m going to try this!

In addition to its effectiveness for awareness training, Aikido should serve as a social antidote during times of intense interpersonal polarization. Marco sensei recalls how during Covid, his dojo faced the same sociopolitical divisions that split communities worldwide. Rather than allowing those ideological straitjackets to divide the dojo, he used physical contact on the mat as a way to keep people connected despite their differences. How did he do this? Listen to the episode and find out…

And…

I’m deeply grateful to my (surprisingly) global audience for keeping these dialogues alive.

Extra special thanks to Aiki Extensions for their continual support of this podcast.

Aiki Extensions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to taking Aikido off the mat through grassroots Seed Grants for community peacemaking, outreach, and trauma recovery.

Learn more or apply for a grant at aikiextensions.org.

If you draw inspiration from these weekly conversations, please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber on our Substack.

And don’t forget to check out the brand new Bookstore!!!

I met Elise Youssoufian virtually via Linda Holiday Sensei’s (online) Misogi class.

This bi-weekly class is an amazing oasis for people (world-wide) to practice and study Chinkon Kishin.

Sometimes during the class we break off into smaller groups to discuss our own impressions.

By the luck of the Zoom draw, I’ve been fortunate on multiple occasions to end up in a group with Elise.

I’m always struck by the depth of her perspective, as well as the genuine interest she shows in others’, and figured it would be cool to have her on the show, so… Voila!

Currently training at the Aiki Arts Center in Berkeley, California, Elise only recently began her Aikido journey (2022). By conventional standards, that would qualify her as a relative beginner. Yet, from the first moment she speaks about the art, it’s clear that she possesses wisdom far beyond her hours in the dojo.

Her very entry into Aikido was forged in the fire of profound personal and collective crisis.

In early 2022, while living in Armenia amidst regional war and the tail end of Covid isolation, she received an unexpected, serious medical diagnosis.

Faced with immense uncertainty about her own future, this sudden shock became the catalyst that pushed her to finally fulfill a years-long desire to step into a dojo.

When she returned to the United States (for treatment), Aikido became her somatic anchor.

On her first day at the Aiki Arts Center, Elise was handed a copy of Linda Holiday Sensei’s, Journey to the Heart of Aikido.

For a newcomer, receiving a book that dives so deeply and lovingly into the spiritual philosophy and living lineage of O-Sensei right at the beginning is a remarkable (and somewhat enviable) way to start.

Receiving such a transmission of wisdom on day one inspired her to weave the physical practice with an underlying current of spiritual purpose, a cultivation of Ki and common sense.

Along with an inquisitive intuition for exploring roots, Elise brings a rich background as a poet, artist, and PhD student (in Women’s Spirituality at the California Institute of Integral Studies.)

As a poet, she’s noticed her writing transform after she started practicing Aikido several times a week. Rather than getting lost in overly intellectual explanations, her poems became shorter, cleaner, and sharper—mirroring the distillation process of daily practice and Misogi.

Elise is also doing extraordinary work reclaiming Armenian Needlelace—an endangered ancestral craft—which forms the core of her PhD dissertation research.

I implore you to explore her stunning artistic work and important initiatives on her website: eliseyoussoufian.com.

For a deeper look into Elise’s ancestral research and creative preservation work, check out the Armenian Needlelace Initiative. The project is dedicated to documenting, practicing, and evolving traditional Armenian needlelace, keeping vital lineal wisdom alive and tangible in our modern world.

I won’t spoil too much of the episode because I want you to listen to it, obviously…. If you do, you’ll hear Elise paint a profound metaphor connecting this ancestral handwork to Aikido, trauma, and human resilience:

In needlelace every pattern and geometric shape is built by tying individual knots and loops.

If one loop becomes torn, damaged or frayed, the entire lace does not unravel or collapse. Because every intersection is anchored by a firm, intentional knot, the surrounding web remains completely intact. Here’s a living model for personal healing and collective survival. Even when we receive individual wounds, the strength of our core connections keeps us whole.

I’m so grateful for this reminder that damage does not mean destruction, and that our right to exist and create beauty remains unbroken.

Elise exemplifies how wisdom isn’t a function of how long you’ve worn a black belt—it’s about the quality of presence and intention you bring to the practice.

I’m deeply grateful to my (surprisingly) global audience for keeping these dialogues alive.

Extra special thanks to Aiki Extensions for their continual support of this podcast.

Aiki Extensions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to taking Aikido off the mat through grassroots Seed Grants for community peacemaking, outreach, and trauma recovery.

Learn more or apply for a grant at aikiextensions.org.

If you draw inspiration from these weekly conversations, please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber on our Substack.

And don’t forget to check out the brand new Bookstore!!!

I’ve been fortunate to converse with some of the most brilliant minds in Aikido.

Sometimes, a connection happens that truly feels like a deliberate cosmic coordination.

I first heard about Luke Archer’s Verbal Aikido dojo last year during my talk with Quentin Cooke sensei. Of course, I was instantly intrigued, but it landed on a large, subsequently misplaced, “look into this later” list.

Then, recently, out of the blue, Richard Moon Sensei reached out to introduce us.

When you get recommendations pointing to the exact same person from both Quentin Cooke and Richard Moon, you don’t ignore it. Their dual endorsement made it evident that Luke Archer is doing something truly amazing, practical, and functional with Aikido principles out in the “real world”.

In 2009, Luke was asked to develop an innovative conflict management process to help professionals handle intense, interpersonal crises.

Rather than teaching people how to win a debate or shut “their opponent” down with a clever comeback, he channeled O-Sensei’s fundamental vision: how to defend yourself while simultaneously protecting your attacker.

This led to the foundation of Verbal Aikido.

While he started practicing physical Aikido over twenty years ago, that journey has been marked by persistent injury challenges. These constraints have rendered his time on the mat to an on-and-off cycle, training for a year or two before being sidelined for another.

But rather than seeing this as a limitation, He’s embraced it as a teaching gift. This regularity of being put out of action has been a constant whisper to “stay a beginner”.

Relishing the role of novice can keep the somatic experience of vulnerability, confusion, and struggle fresh. “Beginner’s mind” directly informs his work, allowing him to extend genuine compassion and understanding to people who are entirely new to de-escalating.

Luke reminds us that O-Sensei noted we don’t truly understand Aikido until we can perceive it on its physical, spiritual, and psychological levels.

Verbal Aikido is a key psychological and linguistic application of principle. It’s designed so that when a verbal attack is thrown at you, you can find your way back to center and avoid creating unnecessary tension.

Verbal Aikido triggers a somatic “reboot”—an active choice to step away, observe internal holding patterns, and remove defensive armor so we can return to a cleaner, quieter state of aliveness.

Luke emphasizes how the more we counterattack, push, or resist, the more violent energy we’ll receive in return. Verbal Aikido is a method of non-resistance that prioritizes the relationship over “who’s right”.

But in this episode we don’t just talk theory, Luke allowed me to try out a Verbal Aikido scenario in real time. You’ll have to listen to the episode for that. No spoilers here ;)

Verbal Aikido isn’t just a one-time seminar; it’s a lifelong practice. Luke’s verbal dojo has been running weekly practice sessions for eleven years. It functions precisely like a traditional physical dojo, complete with “verbal stretching,” a grading system, and structured “verbal sparring” where practitioners rotate roles as Attacker, Practitioner, and Scribe.

I hope to have Luke back on very soon to discuss much more in greater depth and detail. So stay tuned for that!

Many thanks to Aiki Extensions for their continual support of this project. Check out the amazing work they’re doing over at: Aikiextensions.org

And… please don’t forget to check out the new Ki to the City Bookstore for Richard Moon’s inspiring work of vivifying literary art, Create a Beautiful World

I have an exciting (and mildly nerve-wracking) announcement:

Today, Monday, August 31st, I’m officially launching my Ki to the City bookstore.

I’d like to sincerely thank Aiki Extensions, Kayla Feder Sensei, and Don Dickie Sensei, for their generous support in this endeavor. I’m so honored that you believed in this project enough to help me get it started.

The first physical book available is the paperback edition of Richard Moon Sensei’s, Create a Beautiful World in Three Aikido Lessons.

Until now, Create a Beautiful World has existed only as a digital work of ephemeral online wisdom afloat in the cloud. I’m proud to manifest it into an elegant, tactile vessel you can hold in your hands. Of course, you can hold a phone in your hands and read the digital version, but you know what I mean, right?

A real bona-fide book!

Richard Sensei describes the genesis of this inspired work as a seed planted fifty years ago, back when he wrote a draft titled Aikido in Three Easy Lessons. That original version was designed to help people get present, harmonize with their immediate situations, and let their natural creativity flow from a centered state. (I’m working on making that one available too!)

The complete metamorphosis into Create a Beautiful World happened rather recently, during a late-night/early-morning moment of reckoning when he sat up wondering what his art truly meant in the face of our self-inflicted global crises.

He surmised that his fifty years of training couldn’t just be about cozy self-centering; the practice had to actively extend outward to meet the heavy, collective challenges we face as a species.

He told me that it was as if the Aiki-Kami—the divine spirit of Aikido—suddenly woke him up in the middle of the night, sat him straight down in front of his computer, and channeled the book through his fingers.

Writing in that quiet space, he stripped down and condensed a half-century of somatic wisdom into three simple pillars—Feel, Breathe, and Enjoy—creating a work of art that I, myself, intend to employ as a modern-day Tao Te Ching.

When I was younger, I used to carry a physical copy of the Tao everywhere, opening it to a random page whenever I’d get stressed out, just to be reminded to breathe and realign with the universe. Now I can do the same with a random page of “Moonspeak” when things get hectic, like a somatic circuit breaker.

Joining Richard to talk about the book (and much more) is his long-time student, Kenneth Kron Sensei. Together, they lay out an incredibly evolved psychospiritual philosophy, bridging ancient wisdom with the cutting-edge technology of today.

This talk took an unexpected turn when Kenneth Sensei made another major announcement that I obviously wasn’t prepared for. One that lets us span both ends of the technological spectrum.

On one side, we’re going back almost to the stone age to publish a physical book; on the other, Kenneth Sensei is introducing a futuristic tool that carries Moon Sensei’s wisdom into the super-digital age. An AI chat-bot. (stay tuned for that, and reach out directly for updates)

(Update: here’s the link… Quantum Aikido. use KiToTheCity as the invitation code)

Both in this discussion, and in his wonderful book, Richard Moon Sensei challenges us to face the warrior’s ultimate test.

For him, true Budo is an active, volitional choice to feel the glow of life that is yourself, breathe in harmony with that aliveness, and enjoy yourself on purpose.

If you’re new to the show, and you’ve yet to hear of Richard Moon Sensei, he’s been on twice before. Here’s the links to those episodes:

First appearance

Second appearance

He also has hundreds of great videos on his youtube channel, so check that out as well!

And…

Aikido calls us to do more than just train.

For some of us, simply getting on the mat is where we are right now—and that’s important. But the deeper I’ve gotten into Aikido, the more I’ve felt that it has something to offer beyond the dojo.

That’s the main reason I started this podcast. I love Aikido, and I want to explore more of what positive effects it can have in society.

One of the organizations that has greatly supported this work is Aiki Extensions. They believe in Harmony in Action—that Aikido was meant to help heal a sick world, and that what we practice is much more than a collection of techniques.

If you have an idea or a project that takes aikido principles beyond the mat, Aiki Extensions offers seed grants that can help you get your project off the ground. I highly recommend reaching out. You can find them at www.aikiextensions.org/seed-grants.

Learn more, get connected, and build your Aiki project.

Also, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. It would help a lot!

Last week, I came across a video online titled “State of Aikido & Modern Society.”

It was a raw, provocative, and deeply honest commentary which struck such a resonant chord in me that I immediately reached out to its creator and asked him to come back on the show.

Nick Regnier Sensei, chief instructor of Aspire Aikido London, has been a huge inspiration to me since back when (if you’re a day one listener, you’ll remember) he was my very first guest.

Please go back and listen to that riveting conversation here: First interview, it’s already nostalgic for me. Way back in January of 2025. You can also check out his blog here: Aspire Aikido Blog

In the meantime, let me briefly remind you why Nick Sensei’s story is such a poignant example of how Aikido practice can transform a perceived limitation into a profound personal gift.

He was born with severe hearing loss. Growing up (in Brittany, France) he had to navigate a quiet landscape by lip-reading and wearing bulky, uncomfortable, analog hearing aids. In a society built predominantly around verbalization, everyday communication was a grueling process, having to concentrate twice as hard to snatch a few fleeting words from a sentence to mentally piece the rest of the meaning together.

By the end of a normal day, his brain was often completely fried.

But when he incidentally walked into an Aikido dojo as a teenager, his entire reality shifted.

Once training began, Nick Sensei realized something revolutionary: he didn’t need his hearing aids at all. He could take them off entirely, leaving the struggle of spoken word deciphering behind. On the tatami, he could communicate through more purely somatic language. He trained his eyes to study the geometry of the instructor’s movements, and relied on his physical sense of touch, distance, and partner attunement to understand.

For the first time in his life, he felt completely whole, not a “disabled” person trying to catch up; but flowing and centered. In fact, because his non-verbal attunement and proprioception were so highly sensitized, he discovered he could execute breakfalls and throws with a level of coordination and skill that surpassed many of his able-bodied peers.

That breakthrough assuaged his internal fears. He recognized that the only thing holding him back was the anxiety in which he’d enveloped himself.

This newfound physical and mental confidence gave him the courage (a few years later) to pack his bags and relocate to London to build a successful career in the hospitality and security industries, which ultimately led him to establish his own dojo, Aspire Aikido.

He chose the name “Aspire” aptly as a tribute to his own transformation.

Since we last spoke, a lot has changed. Aspire Aikido has moved to a beautiful, residential neighborhood in Finchley Central (North London). Nick Sensei’s technical prowess has also continued to bloom. In both our talks, he lays his impressive lineage out clearly, explaining how he spent years refining his center, diving deep into traditional weapons to master the body’s structural alignment, and even cross-training in Shotokan Karate to further test his posture.

This rich foundation and constant search for deeper precision set the stage perfectly for a technical and creative collaboration forged during the isolation of Covid. That’s when Nick Sensei came upon the videos of Said Sebbagh Sensei, who has built an extraordinary, thriving movement in Algeria.

When he first watched Sebbagh Sensei’s movement, he recounts how he was immediately shocked and deeply inspired. What stood out to him was a level of fluidity, martial integrity, and dynamic power that he had rarely seen captured on screen; where weapons and empty-handed skills were completely and seamlessly integrated.

To Nick Sensei, who’d been actively searching for a way to show the world that Aikido has real, undeniable martial efficacy, Sebbagh Sensei represented the ultimate standard. He saw an instructor who successfully commanded an incredibly electric, high-energy dojo full of young, passionate students—proving that a dynamically honest, martially sound approach could successfully capture the attention of the younger generation.

What began as a chance online discovery during lockdown quickly evolved into a genuine, real-world partnership:

Inspired, Nick Sensei reached out directly, sparking a dialogue. Once travel restrictions eased, he brought his vision to life, hosting Sebbagh Sensei in the U.K. for a series of highly successful, sold-out seminars starting in August 2022.

He’s also traveled directly to Sebbagh Sensei’s dojo in Algeria to train in person, experiencing firsthand the high-vibe, and explosive energy of the local students.

If you visit Nick Sensei’s YouTube channel, you’ll see the fruits of this collaboration: dozens of beautifully edited, high-retention clips of Sebbagh Sensei’s dynamic training.

That’s also where you’ll see the video, mentioned at the opening, which catalyzed this episode.

In “State of Aikido and Modern Society”. Nick Sensei addresses the critical crisis of dojo enrollment and links it directly to our generational “war on focus.” We’re living in a society dominated by smartphones and video games—an ecosystem designed for immediate, effortless gratification. If we want food, if we want entertainment, we touch a button on a screen.

The basic human capacity to commit to a difficult, long-term, and demanding discipline is being systematically eroded.

This is where the concept of Kaizen—continuous, incremental improvement—becomes our daily medicine….

Want to hear more about that?

Check out the episode!!!

(Just one quick technical note: Nick Sensei’s hearing aid caused a little echo in my voice that I couldn’t do anything with post edit. Sorry about that.)

And….

Aikido calls us to do more than just train.

For some of us, simply getting on the mat is where we are right now—and that’s important. But the deeper I’ve gotten into Aikido, the more I’ve felt that it has something to offer beyond the dojo.

That’s the main reason I started this podcast. I love Aikido, and I want to explore more of what positive effects it can have in society.

One of the organizations that has greatly supported this work is Aiki Extensions. They believe in Harmony in Action—that Aikido was meant to help heal a sick world, and that what we practice is much more than a collection of techniques.

If you have an idea or a project that takes aikido principles beyond the mat, Aiki Extensions offers seed grants that can help you get your project off the ground. I highly recommend reaching out. You can find them at www.aikiextensions.org/seed-grants.

Learn more, get connected, and build your Aiki project.

Also, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. It would help a lot!

As I approach the 24th anniversary of my first Aikido class (8/15/02… I remember it well because it’s also the day I found my beloved tuxedo cat Chiki abandoned in a Chinatown alley), I’ve been reflecting on what it means to lead an Aikido class.

Having recently been doing so more often at Bond Street Dojo, and with my Sandan test (potentially) on the horizon, the depth of that responsibility is often on my mind.

It’s easy to fall into the routine of demonstrating a technique four times and expecting more or less faithful mimicry by the class, but I know there should be more to it than that.

Conversing with Scott Berg Sensei (chief instructor of Aikido of Alamo) never fails to vividly enhance my perspective.

I was going to say he inspires me to be a better teacher, but it’s more than that.

In truth, he inspires me to want to be a better communicator.

In his second (auditory) appearance on the show, Scott sensei poses crucial questions every instructor of every art should have the courage to ask themselves:

“How do we know what to teach?

And how do we validate what we teach?”

For someone of his physical stature, answering that question superficially would be too easy. Standing at 6’5” and weighing nearly 250 pounds, he’s an athletic, imposing, highly skilled, Shihan. He could easily dominate almost anyone he trains with, and due to the social norms of the dojo, his students could understandably defer to complying to his “techniques” without resistance.

Yet, Scott sensei completely rejects this as a measure of efficacy. To him, the physical techniques of Aikido are not the art; they are the language we use to understand it.

Instead of focusing on perfecting predetermined forms, he suggests we study the underlying principles of relationship and alignment.

Physical forms—like Ikkyo or Kotegaeshi—are temporary constructs, convenient common shapes that manifest when a non-violent, physical dialogue is working.

Speaking of language, if you haven’t heard his incredible background story, I implore you to listen to his previous episode…

In the meantime, I’ll briefly encapsulate it for you…

Born deaf. By the time a (now common surgical procedure) was devised to restore his hearing, he’d already missed the critical developmental window for early speech acquisition. Most of his childhood was spent in silent observation, unable to even pronounce his own name in seventh grade, with a hospital psychiatrist going so far as to suggest to his parents that he should be institutionalized.

Growing up under these isolating circumstances, Scott sensei became a master of seeing the world in the third person. He observed life without writing himself into the story.

When he found Aikido, he discovered a realm where he didn’t need spoken words to connect. The physical communication gave him a somatic language to communicate in, allowing him to transition fully to a first-person participant.

Over decades of training, the ease he found on the mat has given him the confidence to speak and teach in front of large groups of people—a task that was once completely and utterly overwhelming.

I’m honored, once again, to offer him the vehicle to express his voice in all facets of his self-admitted “unique vocabulary.”

Also, seriously, please check out his Substack.

Elegantly sparse, his writing avoids attempting to establish absolute truths.

Instead, he uses his platform to express alternative perspectives that invite readers to think for themselves…

Oh, and some extraordinary photography.

I have a big announcement coming next week, but for now…

Ki to the City remains entirely reader/listener-supported. If you draw inspiration from these dialogues and wish to help me keep this podcast alive, please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com. As a token of my gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

Sometimes… ok, more than sometimes, I wonder What am I actually practicing for?

Is it to master “martial technique”, to chase external validation of rank, just for fun, to blow off some steam?

Or is it to touch something more elusive—achieving fleeting somatic fusion, facilitating fluid grace in motion?

Who knows? But, On this episode, I had the pleasure of hosting a guest who brings a refreshing perspective to these exact inquiries: Elizabeth Anaya.

Elizabeth currently trains at the Kongoshinkan Dojo in Norwalk, Connecticut.

What makes her perspective uniquely compelling (to me) is her rich experience as violinist (or fiddler, depending on the gig), educator, and certified Suzuki music teacher.

As a Suzuki educator, her teaching is rooted in the revolutionary philosophy of Shinichi Suzuki, who, I learned, designed a formalized methodology to teach playing the violin as a native language—focusing on breaking down highly complex, unforgiving physical tasks into smaller, more manageable steps fostered by a supportive environment.

During our talk, Elizabeth shares a story from Suzuki’s foundational book, Nurtured by Love, that perfectly mirrors the slow, patient cultivation of Shugyo on the mat. She recounted how, hstorically, young warriors in training were instructed to plant a fast-growing hemp seed and jump over the sprout every day.

As the plant grew incrementally, the student’s physical capacity grew alongside it, allowing them to eventually jump high in the air without feeling such a sharp, sudden, overwhelming barrier.

This “growth mindset” is how Elizabeth approaches both music education and her own Aikido practice. She elegantly bridges the gap between the demanding world of classical pedagogy and gently persuasive creative exploration.

As Aikidoka, we’re constantly navigating the tension between polished technical forms (composition) and the spontaneous flow of Jiyu Waza (improvisation). Very similar to music…

Elizabeth shares her personal experience of preparing for a recent test where she had to execute a total free response for the first time, learning how to drop her analytical, calculating mind to let her body simply react and flow.

We also spoke with raw honesty about the physical realities and bodily compromises that come with years of intensive training. Elizabeth candidly discussed how her knees have “changed” over the past year to the point where sitting in Seiza or practicing Suwari waza for more than twenty seconds causes intense discomfort.

This sparked a vital conversation about how Aikido organizations structure their grading requirements, and whether the community needs to do a better job of adapting to modern practitioners’ physical limitations so that the art remains a source of life-long well-being rather than joint-destroying attrition.

Are we training to become feudal warriors? Or to alleviate stress, regulate our nervous systems, and fine tune the alignment between mind and body?

I’ll also let you in on a bit of a behind-the-scenes secret:

Elizabeth hosted a successful podcast of her own for years. When we first scheduled this recording, I fully intended to pick her brain and steal all her secrets. However, once I hit record, our conversation immediately took off into such deeply fascinating waters that I never actually got around to it.

Additionally, you might notice that the last 5 minutes of our conversation is missing from the audio. God only knows what digital glitch gremlin devoured those final moments, but fret not—(that’s a music joke, get it? fret?)—I plan on asking Elizabeth to come back on the show very soon so we can continue our dialogue and (hopefully) discuss making me more adept at the art of podcasting!

“Ki to the City” remains entirely reader-supported. If you draw inspiration from these conversations and wish to help me keep this podcast on the airwaves, please consider signing up as a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution to support our production, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com. As a token of my immense gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s beautiful and deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

I love when a conversation occurs that feels less like a structured interview (not that I ever really execute those) and more like an open-ended exploration of the psyche itself—where artistic and healing modalities seamlessly merge.

IMHO, this latest episode accomplishes exactly that.

It was an honor and a pleasure to converse with Michael Gordon sensei, chief instructor and founder of Senshin Ki Aikido in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

As a fellow creative spirit who’s spent a lifetime exploring the crossroads of art (including martial), psychology and philosophy (psychosophy?), Michael sensei brings a multidimensionally profound, erudite perspective to the proverbial table.

Our dialogue was a rich, expansive journey that mirrors his own through the worlds of music, transpersonal psychotherapy, and the fascinating, often misunderstood, energetic lineage of Ki Aikido.

Michael Sensei’s early adult life (like my own) was oriented towards the intense creative consciousness of musical ambition. Growing up amidst the rocky, wild coastlines and deep forests of British Columbia, he developed an early, intuitive sensitivity to the rhythms of nature.

Moonlighting under his musical name, Myk Gordon, he’s built an acclaimed, career as a recording artist, capturing complexities of the heart through soulful, evocative songwriting.

Yet, as an ambitious young performer navigating the high-pressure music scene, he realized he was lacking a vital sense of inner peace, grounding, and balance. He began searching for an inwardly transformative discipline—one that was non-violent, non-combative, and focused on self-cultivation.

Sound familiar?

Quite fortuitously, (I love that word) he stumbled upon a local Aikido class taught by a couple recently returned from the UK. They were students of Ken Williams sensei, as I learned in the discussion, one of the most historically significant pioneers of Aikido in Great Britain.

Williams Sensei’s primary teacher was the legendary Kenshiro Abbe Sensei—direct student of O-Sensei. Abbe Sensei had brought many of the founder’s most prominent early disciples to the UK, cultivating a rigorous, highly traditional martial culture. Williams sensei then, crucially, spent a decade studying directly under Koichi Tohei Sensei.

It’s through this incredible lineage that Michael Sensei learned of Tohei Sensei’s revolutionary breakthrough: the realization that instead of training rotely physically for years hoping to eventually achieve those hard to describe attributes we’re all in search of, one could focus on Ki development and mind-body unification from day one.

This hybrid foundation—combining powerful, impeccable Aikido technique with exercises for developing calmness and stability in daily life—suited him perfectly. He spent a year training intensively at the Ki Federation headquarters in the UK under Ian Aitkenhead Sensei.

In 2010, seeking to preserve the integrity of these teachings outside of organizational politics, Michael Sensei and his senior students founded Senshin Ki Aikido as an independent, autonomous organization.

One of the most remarkable chapters of his story occurred that very same year.

While riding his motorcycle, Michael sensei was T-boned at an intersection by a car running a red light. The impact was obviously catastrophic, instantly knocking the bike out from underneath him.

In that split second, Michael sensei attributes survival entirely to his Aikido training. Bypassing the brain’s panic, his somatic “primordial software” took over instinctively. He executed flawless ukemi—extending his arm, absorbing the initial force through his shoulder, throwing his legs up, and turning his head away from the impact.

While bystanders marveled that he survived the impact at all, he stayed completely awake, utilizing disciplined breath-awareness to regulate his nervous system and prevent his body from shutting down from the sheer physical shock.

It’s a stunning, real-world testament to how our cherished practice can throw a literal lifeline in moments of crisis.

Michael Sensei is also a highly respected psychotherapist, holding an MSc in Consciousness & Transpersonal Psychology and a PhD from Simon Fraser University. His exceptional scholarly work bridges the gap between clinical psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and the embodied wisdom of the Aikido dojo.

It was an incredibly rich, inspiring exchange—one I can’t do justice to here, and one that will surely continue into the future.

To further explore Michael sensei’s extraordinary work, listen to his music, or connect with his training, please visit the links below:

* Senshin Ki Aikido Dojo: senshinkiaikido.com

* Professional & Author Website: magordon.ca

* Official YouTube Music Channel: Myk Gordon on YouTube

As Ki to the City continues to (slowly but ever-so-surely) cultivate a global community of “interesting aikido people”, I often find myself wishing I had more time (or energy, I’ll take either, thanks) to more fully absorb and share the wellspring of wisdom shared by the extraordinary guests who have joined me.

“Ki to the City” remains entirely reader-supported. If you draw inspiration from these conversations and wish to help me keep this podcast on the airwaves, please consider signing up as a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution to support our production, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com. As a token of my immense gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s beautiful and deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

On this episode on Ki to the City, I have (had?...I never know which tense to use) the distinct privilege of speaking with Dr. Steven Reidbord.

Dr. Reidbord has been practicing psychiatry and psychodynamic psychotherapy in San Francisco for roughly 30 years.

Alongside his extensive medical career—which includes formally teaching psychiatry residents the art of traditional therapy—he’s dedicated a quarter of a century to the sincere study of Aikido.

His aiki journey began at City Aikido with the legendary Robert Nadeau sensei, and as we speak (spoke?) he’s patiently awaiting the official documentation of his Sandan to arrive.

Dr Reidbord hosts a fantastic YouTube channel called “More Than Meds”, where he explores depth psychotherapy and humanistic psychiatry in a highly engaging, entertaining, and informative way, while emphasizing the importance of depth-oriented psychotherapy within a field that has become increasingly hyper-focused on medication and surface-level symptom management

What I find most uniquely vital is his elegant transference of Aikido-based wisdom into the realm of mainstream mental health.

He has an entire playlist dedicated specifically to Aikido and Psychotherapy, featuring incredibly fascinating psychodynamic parallels revolving around ukemi, musubi, takemusu aiki, and much more…

There’s even an interview (or two) with Richard Moon Sensei!

I highly encourage you to head on over there before even listening to this.

But still, please come back and listen to the episode of course.

We get pretty deep.

“Ki to the City” remains a reader-supported publication. If you draw inspiration from these dialogues and wish to help me keep this podcast alive, I humbly ask for your support. Please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com, and as a token of my immense gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

Forged on the gritty, vibrant streets of the Bronx, with that no-nonsense, straight-talking, unpretentious honesty—speaking with Ralph Legnini sensei felt like sitting down at the kitchen table with one of my cousins.

It was cool and easy talking Aikido with a fellow Italian-American from NYC. (Despite my being currently raw vegan with a tendency to lapse into metaphysical discourse, the mulberry didn’t fall far from the tree.)

We bypassed formalities and dove straight into the sweaty, and sometimes sociologically uncomfortable, reality of what it means to dedicate your lifeforce to an art form (or two).

Before he ever stepped onto the mat, Ralph sensei was already a master-student of harmony in a universe remarkably parallel to Aikido. He boasts a cinematic and illustrious career, attaining to some pretty rarified air in the music industry.

His grandfather immigrated from Italy to play piano in the silent movie theaters of Manhattan, passing that melodious lifeblood down to Ralph’s father, who worked with the who’s who of big bands and T.V. orchestras.

Although he admits it didn’t come easy to him, Ralph sensei worked hard to take that Pythagorean torch and run with it. While persistently gigging, he worked his way into the producers’ control room alongside the legendary Nile Rodgers, shaping records for global icons like Madonna, David Bowie, and Mick Jagger.

He ultimately moved up to Woodstock (where he fortuitously discovered Aikido) to manage studio productions for Todd Rundgren, overseeing albums for the Psychedelic Furs, and Meat Loaf, while recording and performing on guitar with luminaries like Kate Pierson of The B-52’s, Dr. John, and Pete Seeger.

Ralph Sensei understands what it means to perform under immense pressure, blend with unpredictable energies, and manage / navigate a room full of egos.

During our conversation, of course, we spoke at length on the intersections between musical performance and Aikido practice.

He lyrically articulates how both are fundamentally rooted in the concept of musubi—the energetic connection and tying together of harmonious forces.

Just as a musician spends years rigorously drilling scales, chords, and theory, an Aikidoka meticulously practices their foundational technique. However, when the stage lights come on—or when you step into the unpredictable “tornado” of attackers during randori—you must (for the most part) abandon all premeditated intellectual designs.

Drawing a brilliant parallel to watching Carlos Santana enter a transcendental, shamanic, flow state during a live performance, Ralph sensei illustrates how you must quiet the discord in your mind, drop your center, and trust your intuitive, embodied awareness to simply play.

It’s in this zone, where the conscious mind dissolves and pure creative energy pulses through the instrument, that true musubi is achieved and the spontaneous, divine creation of takemusu aiki physically manifests.

As we traverse together the path of martial arts, we inevitably encounter the friction of human fallibility. Aikido dojos, like all social ecosystems, can sometimes drift from O Sensei’s highest ideals.

Rather than allowing himself to become disillusioned by dogmatic rigidity, politics, or hierarchical ego-traps that stifle creative spaces, Ralph sensei chose a path of constructive action. He embodied that famous, perhaps slightly trite, but undeniably profound maxim: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

In 2023, he and Annette Mackrel Sensei took a courageous leap and co-founded the Art of Peace Dojo, operating as a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit inside a historic old Firehouse in Stone Ridge, N.Y.

They’ve intentionally stripped away any sense of a rigid, exclusionary attitude to create a sanctuary entirely dedicated to the non-competitive, peaceful, conflict resolving aspects of O-Sensei’s vision.

In their vibrant children’s programs—highly recommended by local child psychologists—they’ve consciously removed the obsession with rank, eliminating the colored belt system entirely in order to prevent seeds of jealousy and status-seeking from taking root in young minds.

They’re demonstrating how Aikido can remain a living, breathing, continuously evolving practice that both influences, and adapts to, the world it inhabits.

Ralph sensei reminds us that we can bring our own gritty, beautiful, and distinct cultural humanity to the dojo, offering our authentic selves.

If you’re interested in hearing how a master musician transmutes the geometry of harmony from the studio, to the stage, and to the dojo, you should absolutely listen to this episode.

And, of course, check out his music:

His current band

His music website

“Ki to the City” remains a reader-supported publication. If you draw inspiration from these dialogues and wish to help me keep this podcast humming along, I humbly ask for your support. Please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com. As a token of my immense gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

If you’re anywhere near the Tri-state area, or fancy flying on a whim, consider this your official, enthusiastic invitation:

Bond Street Dojo will be hosting Melissa Bell Sensei for a special seminar this coming weekend, July 17th, 18th, and 19th.

Melissa Sensei is Chief Instructor at Sarasota Aikikai, a dojo with some pretty immense historical gravity; Sarasota was the very first American city where Saotome Sensei settled upon leaving Japan in 1975 to spread O-Sensei’s vision.

Being the custodian of such a lineally vital dojo is a massive responsibility, and Melissa Sensei carries that lineage forward sincerely, with integrity and grace.

Her Aikido origin story began in 1992 at the famed Aikido Shobukan Dojo in D.C.

During those formative years, Shobukan was the epicenter of ASU in the United States. Saotome Sensei was still in residence at the time. Surrounded by a bevy of influential teachers, Melissa Sensei described the environment as nothing short of extraordinary—like attending a master-level seminar every single night.

But what makes Melissa Sensei’s practice so fascinating to me is how she’s augmented this immaculate traditional foundation through passionate, cross-disciplinary research.

She brings two seemingly radically different, yet entirely complementary, influences to her Aikido: Argentine Tango and Shotokan Karate.

Her dedicated exploration of improvisational Tango fundamentally deepens her understanding of musubi. In Tango, she says, there’s nowhere else to go and nowhere else to be; the follower must stay completely present, maintaining a vertical axis while remaining exquisitely sensitive to the leader’s subtle physical cues. This non-verbal dialogue translates fluently into the dojo, enhancing environmental awareness and the ability to seamlessly blend.

On the other end of the spectrum, Melissa Sensei spent years subjecting herself to the rigors of a legit striking art, earning a Shodan in Shotokan Karate under the legendary Rick Hotton Sensei. By studying striking so deeply, she gained a visceral understanding of an attacker’s true biomechanics, velocity, and intent.

The synthesis of these diverse disciplines is intriguing to say the least. Tango provides a breathtakingly fluid grace, while Karate ensures a sharp, pragmatic martial reality. The result is an expression of Aikido that is soft, inviting, and effortlessly beautiful, yet contains an enormous wellspring of (gentle) crushing power. It’s a perfect embodiment of balancing the sword that takes life with the sword that gives life.

But as they say: you truly have to feel it to believe it.

If you want to experience how relational (or is it rotational?) momentum (you’ll get the joke after you hear the episode), attention to posture, and (gentle) crushing power can completely revolutionize your practice, please come join us at Bond Street Dojo this weekend (July 17th-19th)

I want to write more, but we just recorded this yesterday and I need to get it out in time…

As promised, here is Melissa Sensei’s future Seminar Schedule

Support Ki to the City

“Ki to the City” remains a reader-supported publication. If you draw inspiration from these dialogues and wish to help me keep this podcast alive and growing, I humbly ask for your support. Please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com, and as a token of my immense gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

Today’s guest brings a uniquely brilliant and multifaceted perspective into the fold.

Andre Igor sensei’s foray into the realm of martial arts began from a place many can intimately relate to: being bullied at school.

Searching for a solution to this daily torment, he asked his mother for a life-changing gift for his 14th birthday—Karate lessons.

Lucky for us, she agreed, setting him on a lifelong path that began at a Shotokan dojo in his home country of Haiti.

While Karate soon provided him the physical aptitude to make the bullying stop, Igor sensei’s deep intellect and lifelong interest in human psychology has led him to a profound realization. He recognized that bullies are essentially speaking a language of violence, and responding to them with physical force is merely conversing in their destructive tongue. He began searching for additional ways to communicate.

This search ultimately led him to Aikido. Coming from a strong striking background, Igor sensei was fascinated by Aikido’s emphasis on closing the distance and merging with the attacker in order to neutralize a threat without destroying it. Dealing with proximity and horizontality.

I was blown away by Igor sensei’s ability to seamlessly describe and articulate Aikido as both a devastatingly effective martial art and a profoundly deep spiritual philosophy.

When discussing the practical effectiveness of Aikido, he draws directly from his own lived experience, noting how “In Haiti things can be very chaotic, things can explode at any minute”. Igor sensei credits this intense environment with giving him the unique opportunity to genuinely test the application of Aikido in dangerous situations, while still taking care to emphasize that the ultimate goal of the martial artist is not simply to avoid fighting, but to also actively protect the aggressor from their own aggression.

He’s uncovered a fascinating paradox: in a “street” attack, the aggressor commits 100% to their violence. They never entertain the thought that you might respond with a simple Taisabaki. It’s this absolute commitment to a violent act that provides the sincere opportunity for an Aikidoka to blend and safely neutralize the threat. Ultimately, it is the aggressor’s own total commitment to destruction that causes them to fail in their pursuit.

Crucially, Igor Sensei takes his profound philosophy off the mat and directly into schools.

Recognizing wisely that keeping such wisdom confined to private clubs limits its societal impact, he’s dedicated much of his time to organizational outreach.

Founded in 2008, Dojodai is a non-profit organization established by Igor Sensei with the primary mission of promoting Shotokan Karate and Aikido to the youth in Haiti. Over the years, the organization has thrived and significantly expanded its impact by bringing martial arts directly to where the children are—partnering with local schools to integrate training into their physical education programs. Today, Dojodai has successfully grown into an impressive network encompassing nine dojos, six instructors, and over 600 students.

To bolster these efforts and further promote the country’s martial arts culture, they launched Budoka Magazine in December 2021. Serving as Haiti’s first-ever martial arts magazine, it acts as a powerful initiative to connect and inspire the local community.

This publication operates alongside other highly successful grassroots programs, such as the “Girls Don’t Pay” initiative, which removed financial barriers for female practitioners and led to a massive surge of female participation in the organization’s training and tournaments.

Realizing that a broader structure was necessary to achieve a truly impactful societal impact, they established a sister organization in the United States called the Emergence Foundation. This US-based non-profit was created with the comprehensive goal of promoting sports, martial arts education, and health as a unified concept. Together, the two entities work in perfect tandem: the Emergence Foundation provides overarching support and resources, while Dojodai acts as the “on-the-ground” hand in Haiti, actively teaching these life-changing concepts to the youth.

I sincerely hope to have Igor sensei back on soon as I feel like we were just beginning to scratch the surface.

Please visit the Dojodai Aikido Fund to support his valiant effort to promote Aikido among youth in Haiti.

“Ki to the City” remains a reader-supported publication. If you draw inspiration from these dialogues and wish to help me keep this podcast alive, I humbly ask for your support. Please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com, and as a token of my immense gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

I met today’s guest in Linda Holiday Sensei’s online misogi class, where I quickly noticed that she always has profoundly interesting, deeply reflective things to say.

I’m truly honored to offer this platform to share her insights with you.

Joana Corbett da Silveira is the guiding current behind Shizen Aikido (in Ilhabela, Brazil.) True to its name, which translates to “Nature,” her dojo practice is magnificently immersed in the natural world.

In fact, before securing her current space, she taught right on the beach, keiko on the sand, beneath the open sky, cusping the sea. Talk about a dream…

During our conversation, she eloquently describes how the elements became her ultimate teachers; the soft shifting ground would reveal the true alignment of their kamae through footprints, and the powerful ocean wind would sometimes literally sway their bokken during strikes.

Immersing in these elemental, energetic “beautiful island” surroundings sounds like a wonderful way to experience standing on the Floating Bridge of Heaven.

Joana’s Aiki journey underwent what you might call a dimensional shift in consciousness during Covid, when she discovered the teachings of Senseis; Jan Nevelius, Richard Moon, Mary Heiny, and Linda Holiday. These extraordinary teachers profoundly influenced and empowered her to discover her own authentic expression of the art.

She describes this transformative period as “coming out of the box”—learning to release attachments to rigid systems, conventional hierarchies, and the sometimes paralyzing need for external approval. By bravely stepping out of this traditional box, she transitioned away from a purely physical, adrenaline-fueled practice into a much softer, deeply fluid internal exploration.

Central to this evolution is her deep integration of Qigong, a practice she embraced wholeheartedly after studying with Jan Nevelius Sensei. Joana Sensei beautifully conceptualizes this practice as exploring the “natural architecture of the body”. ( and I’d trust Joana Sensei’s expertise in architecture, she has a degree!)

Rather than relying on forced movements that inevitably wear down our joints, she uses Qigong principles to reorganize the human structure from the inside out—properly aligning the tailbone, the spine, and the feet as prescribed by nature. This deep internal work serves as an expression of musubi, tying together physical structure and energetic flow, allowing one to move with freedom, longevity, and through an extraordinary dialogue with the body’s subtle needs.

Joana Sensei takes this profound somatic knowledge off the mat and into daily life. She explains how even the simple, mundane act of standing up from a chair requires an awareness of our natural bodily architecture. By consistently practicing what constitutes Qigong, we can actively regulate our own nervous system wherever we are—whether dealing with a stressful conversation or stepping into an intimidating environment.

Joana is clearly passionate about building an interconnected world family of Aikidoka. Hey. what a coincidence, me too!

She emphasizes that Aikido is fundamentally about person-to-person relationships, and she actively wants to network, share ideas, and train together across lineages. I highly encourage everyone listening to reach out, say hello, and connect with her directly on Instagram, where she shares her ongoing Metamorfose Ambulante (an amazing song from the City of God soundtrack which I mentioned at the beginning of our talk, which is highly relevant to the discussion.)

Shizen Dojo Instagram Link

Personal Instagram link

Please help support Ki to the City

“Ki to the City” remains a reader-supported publication. If you draw inspiration from these dialogues and wish to help me keep this podcast alive in the modern world, I humbly ask for your support. Please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution (or maybe have some editing work for me!), you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com, and as a token of my immense gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

One of the very first people to reach out with encouraging words when I announced that I was starting this project was Crystal Aldrich Sensei, owner and head instructor of Aikido New London County.

Crystal Sensei and I go way back (it’s nice to get some “tri-state” representation on the show) and her support has meant the world to me. She’s a tireless builder of bridges and a fierce champion for the global Aikido community, genuinely doing exactly what I hope(d) to achieve with this podcast: keeping Aikido vibrant, making it accessible, and ensuring its survival in the modern world.

Crystal Sensei treats networking and human connection as a vital responsibility. While some lament about declining membership, she is actively heading in the opposite direction. Defying the odds and the trend of closing dojos, she (relatively) recently took the monumental leap to open a new one.

Opening a dedicated space, especially now, requires an unbelievable amount of hard work, grit, faith, and bravery, yet she’s succeeded quite brilliantly. By committing to her role as a Sensei with unwavering dedication, she’s cultivated a thriving community to be proud of.

She’s proving that people are hungry for the harmonious and culturally rich practice of Aikido—they just need to be invited in properly.

Yet another commendable aspect of Crystal Sensei’s presence in the Aikido world is the vital example she provides for marginalized demographics. She understands profoundly that representation matters. As a female Dojo Cho, she stands as a beacon for women coming up in the ranks who might be searching the mat for someone who looks like them. She mindfully creates space for female instructors at her seminars and actively works to make her dojo a welcoming, highly visible haven for the LGBTQ+ community. By consciously shedding rigid, exclusionary attitudes of the past, she ensures that anyone seeking empowerment, safety, and a better version of themselves can find solace on her tatami.

Beyond the physical walls of her dojo, Crystal’s exemplary work extends to the global stage through her role as a strategist and producer for Aiki Extensions. She’s been instrumental in rebranding their digital presence and helping to promote the availability of AE seed grants for those earnestly looking to use Aikido for social good.

I can’t stress this enough: Crystal’s work is invaluable. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to reach membership goals, or simply interested in expanding further the “Art of Peace” in your community, I highly encourage you to get in touch with her:

For Aiki Extensions related inquires: media@aikiextensions.org

And follow her @aikidonlc on all the social media platforms

Also, join her Aiki-Forward mailing list to learn more about the non-profit organization she’s forming dedicated to helping Aikido thrive for future generations.

Crystal Sensei’s aim is to bring together instructors, students, dojo owners, and supporters who care deeply about preserving the heart of Aikido while exploring new ideas, better teaching methods, stronger communities, and sustainable growth.

I’m honored to share her mission with you

Support Ki to the City

Ki to the City” remains a reader-supported publication. If you draw inspiration from these dialogues and wish to help me keep this project alive, I humbly ask for your support. Please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution to help offset the costs of production, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com, and as a token of my immense gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

This is a bit of an experimental bonus…kinda.

I told you a few episodes back (if you’ve been following at home) that I’m creatively engaging with Kayla Feder Sensei on a exciting book project. Well, I’m pleased to say it’s coming along splendidly, and I thought it might be interesting to give you a peek behind the curtain at the creative process.

If you’re new to this show, check out this link to my previous conversation with Kayla Sensei for all the pertinent background information.

Saying I’m enthusiastic about this project, would be an understatement.

Kayla Sensei has such a captivating cadence and her wisdom and insight are more than book-worthy. I’m honored to document her unique place in the Aikido and, let’s be ambitious, why not, literary landscape.

by the way, if you can think of anyone who you know secretly wants to write a book, but doesn’t think it’s practical or possible, send them my way. thanks…

I was supposed to be writing today, or figuring out some “next steps” but I made this video instead. Don’t know why I can’t resist black and white.

Amazing energy at the dojo lately, hope it’s a sign of things to come.

One fateful day, whilst walking past the wrestling room at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, a literal flash of light reflecting off a katana caught Michael Weber Sensei’s eye, drawing him into his first Aikido demonstration—and he never looked back.

He began his Aikido journey in 1989 with John Boland Sensei. Very soon after, his practice would be fundamentally shaped by a life-changing encounter with Mary Heiny Sensei during a seminar.

In our talk, Michael Sensei describes a visceral, mystical reaction to Mary Sensei’s presence—the room’s colors shifted to gold, and he was moved to tears by a profound inner sense of peace. He also described feeling as though he’d been hit on the back of the head. All the while a profound inner voice assuring him that “it’s going to be okay”.

This meeting provided the spark he needed to ultimately move beyond his identity as a “hotshot” student and seek a deeper, more internal understanding of the art. Inspired by Mary Sensei’s example as a pioneer who persevered through societal barriers and physical obstacles with “never-say-die” determination, he eventually uprooted his life and moved to Japan to train in the Shingu lineage under Michio Hikitsuchi Sensei.

Training at the Kumano Juku Dojo placed him squarely at the center of O-Sensei’s spiritual legacy.

In Shingu, Michael Sensei absorbed a philosophy that viewed Aikido techniques not as combat strategies, but as tools to observe one’s interior landscape, emphasizing the subtle ripple of the mind and the discipline of Shugyo training, to move past the limitations of the ego.

By serendipitously connecting with Hikitsuchi Sensei, he became part of a direct transmission chain reaching back to O Sensei’s most private and religiously inspired period of development in the Kumano mountains.

As a high school teacher, Michael Sensei views the classroom as an extension of the dojo. He shares a brilliant story of walking into a room on the brink of violence, where a hot-tempered student was being relentlessly bullied. Utilizing his extraordinary listening, he bypassed his own panic, and delivered a perfectly timed kiai to freeze the room, breaking the destructive trance of the moment.

Then, employing some masterful musubi, he removed the agitated student from his audience, guided him into the hallway, and aligned with his perspective. By challenging the young man to be the “bigger person,” Michael Sensei successfully guided him past his instinctual hardware, transforming a potentially devastating physical brawl into a moment of peaceful de-escalation.

He also translates an Aiki inspired ethic into his parallel career as a published author—applying Hikitsuchi Sensei’s mandate of Shugyo (showing up to the dojo every single day, even if only for 10 minutes) by enforcing a strict daily discipline to write at least one sentence, no matter what.

I’ve often been brutally honest on this podcast about my own writing foibles, posing as an amateur prose poet attempting to express the metaphysical vastness of Aikido (and life). It can be a daunting endeavor to sit in isolation and attempt to forge something meaningful and positive. Writing, much like dojo practice, sometimes requires an intense internal reckoning with one’s own simultaneous arrogance and self-doubt.

This is exactly why the advice Michael Sensei offered me toward the end of our conversation struck such a motivating chord. What did he say? Well, you’ll have to listen for yourself ;)

His Current projects: publishing fantasy novels and role playing games for a fantasy world in development since he needed to stay awake in a high school geometry course back in 1984.

He’s got two novels out with another release planned for this October. Drafts are in line to release some more over the next several years. Links here for The New Apprentice and Finish the Mission.

And check out his dojo!

Aikido of Wales

Bringing these transformative dialogues to the “airwaves” is a labor of love, buuuut, Ki to the City remains a reader-supported publication. If you draw inspiration from these conversations and wish to help me keep this project alive. I humbly ask for your support. Please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com, and as a token of my immense gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

To say my talk with Matt Fluty Sensei got deep would be an understatement.

We waded into some heavy but hopeful, and highly inspiring territory.

I always read the transcripts of the interviews before I try to write these intros. For this one I feel like it deserves time (weeks) that unfortunately I don’t have at the moment to even begin to scratch the surface of Matt Sensei’s incredibly acute spiritual acumen.

Importantly, we discussed the therapeutic value of Aikido during wartime—a reality that’s eerily becoming more urgent for us—reflecting on how O-Sensei lived through a most perilous era, through two “world wars”, and still had the spiritual genius to produce the miraculous gift of Aikido.

If Aikido was developed as a spiritual and physical answer to that calamitous time, it could absolutely hold answers for our current maligned milieu. This is one reason why it’s absolutely vital for us modern practitioners to keep alive what O-Sensei’s art was truly rooted in, Ban Yu Ai Go—the spirit of the loving protection of all things in the universe.

Matt Sensei views Aikido practice predominately through the lens of Misogi (purification). I sure am leaning this way myself.

He does a masterful job of explaining how untreated trauma creates a rigid “defensive physiology” that could lead individuals (and cultures) towards either withdrawal or hostile contention. By sincerely practicing Aikido, we actively purify the seeds of fear, aggression, and hatred that exist within our own hearts.

Perhaps the most inspirational and refreshing perspective Matt Sensei relayed was his answer to the declining numbers in dojo populations. He views Aikido communities as vital models of genuine human interconnectedness.

He compares the dojo to a torii—a traditional Shinto gate. Even if classes are small, we must keep these physical portals open so people can step away from a culture of rampant consumption to interface with real life energy. Ki.

Matt Fluty Sensei splits his teaching time at Aikido Center Sacramento and Tahoe Mountain Aikido and lives in a really cool tree house!

I implored him to write some more. After you hear this episode, reach out to him and do the same. His message is important and worth hearing far and wide.

“Ki to the City” remains a reader-supported publication. If you draw inspiration from these dialogues and wish to help me keep this podcast alive, I humbly ask for your support. Please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com, and as a token of my gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

Raso Hultgren Sensei, Chief Instructor of Aikido of Missoula, vividly synthesizes and embodies the artistic fluidity, rigorous physicality, and metaphysical mystery of Aikido.

Raso Sensei’s Aikido journey began in 1971, taking root in the fertile, (counter)-cultural grounds of Santa Cruz under the guidance of Robert Frager Sensei.

The path eventually led her to a direct, intensive apprenticeship with Saotome Sensei, and then some years training deeply with Ikeda Sensei in Boulder.

Because of her dedication to O Sensei’s profound teachings, Saotome Sensei named her an original member of the Ueshiba Juku— “Academy of the Founder”—ennobling her with the joyous duty of carrying O-Sensei’s legacy forward into the modern era.

Raso Sensei possesses an unparalleled ability to articulate the delicate balance between serious martial intention and “grounded flamboyance”.

Before Aikido, she wove a rich tapestry of experience in the performing arts, studying theater, music, and dance. She initially felt so strongly drawn to this world that pursuing it professionally seemed like her clear and unquestionable life path.

This artistic foundation deeply informed her early attraction to Aikido, as the art’s flowing movements and focus on the “inner dimension” of life strongly appealed to her sensibilities, allowing her to explore this depth without the need for “an audience”.

Although she briefly returned to theater later on and found it exciting to re-engage that creative channel, she ultimately realized that the performing arts interfered with her true calling—Aikido and her inner spiritual path—prompting her to leave it behind and fully dedicate herself to the dojo.

I know the feeling…

It’s a genuine and incredible honor to be able to share her perspective and wisdom with you.

Ki to the City remains a reader-supported publication. If you draw inspiration from these dialogues and wish to help me keep this podcast going, I humbly ask for your support. Please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber.

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com. As a token of my gratitude, you will receive a complimentary copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

Hi, welcome to Ki to the City.

I sincerely apologize for the recent lag in putting out new episodes.

For whatever reason, this month, there’s been a lot of weird technical issues and scheduling changes at the last minute (from both myself and guests).

Please stick with me. I promise there’s a couple of really interesting episodes en route. One is already “in the can,” so to speak, but it’s been delayed due to one of those aforementioned “technical issues.”

In a little while, I’m going to be speaking to a very special guest—someone I’ve been trying to get on the show for a long time. Not going to give away any spoilers, but stay tuned. Please.

And I do hope to get back on the regular weekly schedule again starting in May (which is… checks calendar… tomorrow).

The good news is: the book I’m working on with Kayla Feder Sensei is taking shape very nicely and wholly inspiring me to push forward through this very difficult time, even when mostly everything else is going haywire.

And I have one more brief, but scintillatingly exciting announcement… if you like chocolate, that is.

You’ll notice the title of this post is “The Tao of Cacao.”

I know I should’ve dubbed it the “Do of Cocoa” to be more aligned with the specific art that I’m consumed by, but cocoa has gone through an alkalizing process. Cacao is pure.

Vanessa Barg, a very good friend of mine and former employer, has this amazing healthy chocolate company called Gnosis. It’s not just healthy; I’m saying “it’s healthy” as a bonus, in addition to being the most delicious chocolate you’ve ever tasted.

It’s all made by hand with love. Low glycemic. Unparalleled ingredient sourcing.

For instance, right now, she’s making these truffles—Kanematsu Matcha Strawberry—that are so good that… I really can’t find the words. Can food taste brilliant?

Personally, I’m unable to drink caffeinated beverages, so I’m basically powered by Gnosis chocolate at the moment and Vanessa is generous enough to do a little bartering here. So, full disclosure, I’m being rewarded with chocolate for this mention.

And she’s also generous enough that, if you mention my name or Ki to the City when you order from her website, she’s give you a free bar of chocolate.

We all win!

Like I said, please stick with me. There are new episodes on the horizon, and please support the show if you can. I could really use the boost…

Thanks for listening.

This is, for sure, one of the most encouraging episodes I’ve had the good fortune to record.

I honestly don’t think I can fully express how in awe I am at the optimistic bravery, fortitude, and radiant positivity of my guest, Molly Hale Sensei.

Her story is ineffably powerful and spiritually uplifting.

Molly Sensei’s Aikido journey began unexpectedly (as, I’m learning, most do) during a workshop at the Lomi School in 1984. It was there, during a profoundly dazzling encounter with a bokken strike, that she instantly developed a strong magnetic attraction to the art.

This experience led her to begin training with Frank Doran Sensei at Aikido West, and due to the plethora of great dojos in her immediate vicinity, she was able to immediately immerse herself in many different modes of practice under such luminous Sensei as Hiroshi Ikeda, Bill Witt, and Bob Nadeau…

It’s been a full week since we recorded the conversation, and I’ve really been struggling to write this intro—because I don’t want to reduce such a compelling and intense story into “copy for social media” / “trying to promote my podcast.”

I think I made the right decision in asking Molly Sensei for a quick call yesterday so I could ask her one more question. I’m not going to tell you the question. I’ve already broken the 4th wall enough in this post, but as a reward for indulging my clumsy juggling of sincere writing and podcast promoting, here’s her answer in a direct quote…

“I can’t imagine life without training. The depth of the community, the depth of the training, the support of the community. Looking at how the practice supports movement, in life, in general. Then you wrap that around the loving protection for all living things! I am one of those living things! Continually immersing in that because… you know, living in a quadriplegic body is not simple. Aikido is infinite adaptation for anybody. Not just me, but for anybody. We’re constantly adapting to what is. And my “what is” looks a little different. So, to me, it’s universal. Aikido can be practiced by anyone who has this intention of a loving practice.”

Many of you may already know her story. For more background, I highly, highly, highly recommend taking some time to visit her website and watching this remarkable documentary: Moment by Moment

Thirty-one years ago, Molly Sensei’s life was forever altered when she fell asleep at the wheel, her car flipping end-over-end at 65 MPH before coming to a crashing halt.

What she described to me in the conversation is still giving me goosebumps while I write this: a genuine out-of-body experience. She found herself high above her physical form, looking back down at her upside-down Acura with its wheels still spinning.

In that ethereal space, she felt with absolute certainty that there was a choice to be made: Stay or go.

Suddenly, a voice commanded, “Molly Ruth, get back in your body!”

Because “Molly Ruth” was the name her parents only used when they demanded her immediate, unquestioning attention, the command resonated in her core. She made the conscious choice to return, snapping back into her physical form to face the arduous road ahead.

Trapped in the wreckage for nearly two hours, she hung upside down, suspended by the steering wheel at her hip line. Yet, in the midst of this horrific predicament, she did not panic or ask, “Why me?”. Instead, she realized with profound clarity that her entire life’s physical and spiritual training had been preparing her for this exact moment.

To survive, Molly relied on her extensive understanding of somatics, leaning heavily on her study of Continuum (a movement practice focusing on the liquid nature of human biology and utilizing deep micro-movements that ride on the breath). Using a breathing pattern she had learned from the practice’s founder (Emilie Conrad) just a month prior, she was able to stay conscious, centered, and keep her airway open. The one time she allowed herself to relax, her airway was immediately cut off, forcing her to consciously wriggle her body back up and re-engage her breath to stay alive.

Her miraculous rescue and recovery were synchronistically interwoven with the community she’d spent her life building. Just for one example: the off-duty sheriff who stopped to control traffic and reassure the anxious fire rescue team knew Molly Sensei because they trained in Aikido together.

In the grueling months that followed her catastrophic spinal cord injury, it was this same loving Aikido community that surrounded her in the hospital—bringing her meals, holding her, and supporting an astonishing recovery that continues to defy all medical expectations.

The initial medical prognosis delivered was devastating: doctors told her she would never have any movement below her shoulders again. But, armed with her wisdom of the body’s potential—particularly from her work in Continuum and of course, Aikido—Molly Sensei quietly refused to accept their limitations, choosing not to wrap her identity around their dire diagnosis.

Taking her healing into her own hands, about six weeks after the accident, she contacted her chiropractor, Bill Ruck. Because he didn’t have privileges at Stanford Hospital, Bill had to sneak into her room in the dead of night. With the utmost care, he opened the “clamshell” of her restrictive halo brace and meticulously tapped her ribs and clavicle back into place (the sheer force of the impact had blown her ribs right off her sternum.)

When the physicians arrived for their morning rounds just twelve hours later, they were astounded to find Molly suddenly able to shrug her shoulders and then some. Knowing the strict hospital rules that had been surreptitiously bypassed to achieve this breakthrough, Molly couldn’t tell the doctors how her mobility had so suddenly returned.

Her rehabilitation ultimately led her back to the element where she felt the most free and safe: the water. A self described water baby, she’d been a competitive swimmer and coached the boys she wasn’t allowed to officially beat in races. She spent hours upon hours in a warm water therapy pool, allowing the hydrostatic massage and resonant field of the water to gently stimulate her tissues.

It was a painstakingly slow process; taking almost seven full years for her to get her legs underneath her enough to simply stand up in the pool and trust that she wouldn’t collapse.

That relentless dedication paid off, and today she uses the water to walk, do yoga, squats, and of course, teach Aikido.

Her profound drive to reclaim her life didn’t stop in the pool. Molly Sensei successfully petitioned her insurance and medical teams to become the first adult quadriplegic in her program permitted to ride a horse. This incredible undertaking culminated in her riding horseback down into the crater of a dormant volcano on the island of Maui.

But to me, the most miraculous part of Molly’s ongoing journey is how lucky we all are that she continues to teach Aikido.

Today she teaches with her husband, Jeremy at their home dojo, Aikido of Penn Valley in the hallowed foothills of the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains.

Instructing from her wheelchair, she imparts the most refined elements of the art: how to move a partner entirely without force, and how to maintain connection, dignity, and balance even when “stepping off the line” is physically impossible.

Molly Sensei’s teaching philosophy focuses on the essence of internal connection and the practice of doing no harm. By exploring the purest forms of Musubi and Takemusu Aiki, she demonstrates that true power lies in a generous heart and a centered presence.

She stands as a breathtaking reminder of what a true, indomitable spirit looks like.

I could keep going, but I’ll let you listen for yourself.

It’s way better than I’ve described…

On this episode, I had the honor of sitting down with Sam Zeitlin, a remarkable thinker and Aikidoka whose life-path exemplifies the very synthesis many of us are seeking.

Sam has cultivated a fascinating, multidisciplinary practice that defies easy categorization…

She’s been practicing Aikido since 2010 in the enchanted Bay Area, mostly at City Aikido with Robert Nadeau Sensei. Simultaneously, Sam holds a PhD in cellular and molecular structure and chemistry, having spent two decades working in hard science—cell biology and cancer research, before transitioning to “tech”.

She also maintains a deep and extensive yoga practice, a path found while rehabilitating from old injuries, guided by the principle of ahimsa (do no harm to others… or yourself).

And she sings!

It’s quite amazing how the methodical world of the research lab, the quiet, inward path of yoga, and the dynamic, connective practice of Aikido—sync up masterfully into a cohesive philosophy.

There was so much to talk about, we didn’t even get to talk about music!

Sam eloquently describes how she views all these seemingly disparate fields as mutually reinforcing. For example; the commitment to falling down and getting up over and over again at the dojo almost perfectly correlates to her scientific experiment experience, where failure is literally the key to success.

(sorry I couldn’t resist writing “experiment experience”)

Ideally, the most profound breakthroughs in science require a beginner’s mind, the Socratic willingness to admit “we know nothing” and to keep searching for first principles. This combination of prudence and intellectual rigor is what makes Sam’s perspective so refreshing.

Her pursuit of a more open, fluid, and centered self—one she cultivated under the spiritual, energetic instruction of Robert Nadeau Sensei—leads to the episode’s most mind-bending discussion—a conversation that will change your relationship with physics. (Sorry, I shouldn’t assume I know anything about your relationship with physics, you might have figured all this out already. I know mine’s pretty complicated.)

While she humbly attributes the undertaking of this study (time manipulation) to her teachers, she adroitly describes the dimensional shift in consciousness achieved through the practice of Jiyu Waza. (I know it probably doesn’t need to be capitalized, but I think it’s important enough to warrant it)

It’s the ability to process and handle incoming force and energy, to slow the moment down within yourself, giving you freer space to feel where things are going.

It’s the entering into a mind-state that allows the nervous system to circumvent the instant panic of ‘fight-or-flight’.

Caught up in the oftentimes tumultuous current of “world events”, this ability to slow it all down is, quite frankly, a superpower.

In retrospect (if you listen to the episode you’ll get it) I want to retract what I said I want my superpower to be. I want to change it to the above.

Sam is one of the rare people who can seamlessly apply the geometrical and philosophical analogy of the circle and the line to the particle and the wave—and then bring it back to how we should interact with each other during stressful moments.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the episode, we didn’t get to talk as much as I wanted to about her brilliant writing, but I’m sure you’ll love it. Please do check it out here: Sam’s Blog

Thanks for listening!

Ki to the City is a reader-supported publication. Your generous support makes it possible for me to continue this project and bring these incredible conversations to life. If this work resonates with you, I humbly ask for your help in keeping the podcast on “the air” by signing up to be a paid subscriber.

If you’d care to make a one-time contribution, or maybe have some editing work for me, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com, and as a token of gratitude, you’ll receive a copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s deeply reflective work of meditative poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

Hi, hope you’re all doing well out there in the aether.

My temperamental tablet is delaying the publication of a few wonderful conversations that I’ve already recorded. Sorry for the dearth of new episodes lately.

I hope to get this technical difficulty resolved as soon as humanly possible, or in this case, as soon as computerly possible.

Hardware issues aside, I am beyond thrilled to announce the first project for my ultra-exciting new publishing venture.

A book by Kayla Feder Sensei!

Those of you who listened to my interview with Kayla Sensei already know that her story is nothing short of magical and will serve as inspiration for those of us already practicing Aikido, as well as a guiding light for people who might otherwise find her words and be moved to join a dojo.

If you haven’t heard this one yet, what are you waiting for? Here’s the link: Open your heart

Kayla Sensei reminds us that within every human being is a spark of the divine—a bright light of love, compassion, and beauty. This upcoming work will dive deep into these concepts, sharing her historic lineage, her connection to nature, and her wisdom on opening the heart to transform conflict.

We’re just getting started, can’t wait to see how this is going to turn out!

In this episode, I had the honor of conversing with Marco Rubatto Sensei, from Hara Kai dojo in Torino, Italy.

For nearly twenty years, Marco Sensei’s been creatively documenting a journey that began with the Iwama tradition and which finds him now an esteemed member of the (really really cool) Evolutionary Aikido Community. His brilliant website, Aikime.blogspot.com is a veritable goldmine of thoughtful articles and instructive videos.

His writing transcends descriptors, and his perspective on Aikido is multidimensionally fascinating; drawing inspiration from transpersonal psychology, integrated medicine, and the spiritual lineage of Father Anthony Elenjimitem—Catholic priest / Yogi / Buddhist monk, and direct student of Mahatma Gandhi!

Rather than try to describe how deep this conversation gets, I’ll just quote a line from Marco Sensei himself,

“Through the spiritual practice, the physical, the mental, you can reach the “primal” way to think. The non-dual way to think. Blend with what’s not working”

I put the word “primal” in parentheses because Marco Sensei is not using that word with the meaning that it’s typically associated with.

You’ll have to listen to the episode, (or check out his amazing writing) to get what he’s getting at, but it’s pretty mind-blowing.

I felt invigorated and inspired after this conversation and I hope listening to it can have that effect on you as well.

Thanks for helping me keep this little boat afloat!

I apologize if it’s been a bit quiet on the podcast front.

I’m willing to attribute to destiny the fact that my last few scheduled conversations kind of canceled last minute.

It’s totally understandable from a cosmic viewpoint: life is complicated.

I’ve been so busy working on the “new phase” of this project that I haven’t had the time to follow up with people or try to book new guests as diligently as I should have.

The momentum of weekly interviews has been kind of halted, but I’m embracing it as a necessary pause to bring you some exciting news.

Before I get into that, though, I want to put an open invite out into the ether:

If anyone listening to or reading this has any desire to come on the show and talk about Aikido, please don’t hesitate. Reach out to me!

I’m open to exploring anyone’s perspective.

You don’t need to be a 7th Dan Shihan to have a voice here. Even if you just started training yesterday, or if you’re still thinking about starting but for whatever reason you haven’t yet, I want to hear from you.

This podcast is an exploration of the art from all angles, and the beginner’s mind is just as vital as the seasoned sensei’s.

Let’s have some conversations.

Now, onto the reason I’ve been so deeply preoccupied lately.

The Ki to the City podcast has successfully engaged and connected a wide-ranging global audience of listeners. Thus far, we’ve been exploring how the philosophical principles of Aikido and its sincere practice can actually work to make the world a better place, even through the most troublesome, atomizing times.

As I’ve scoured the internet for research—reading articles, posts, and old forum threads, looking for guests—I’ve had a sobering realization. A vast amount of the profound wisdom generated by our global Aikido community exists merely in ephemeral online formats.

It’s trapped in fleeting social media disagreements, buried in hard-to-find comment threads, or scattered across blogs that might very well forever vanish if, God forbid, the “grid” ever really goes down.

In this cybernetic dystopic spiral, digital discourse can be, and easily is, washed away in the vicious, swirling, scrolling “news cycle.”

Printed books offer a more tactile experience. They possess a tangible quality for which a blog post can posit no substitute. They can also serve as lasting artifacts for current and future generations to hold, study, and cherish.

That’s why I’m thrilled to announce the launch of an independent, Aikido-themed publishing house (more like an apartment) via this Ki to the City platform!

The hope is to expand the reach and longevity of Aikido’s positive societal effects beyond our digital screens. Maybe we could put down our phones for a few minutes.

There are so many brilliant, as-of-yet unheard voices in our sphere who might never otherwise be able to secure opportunities with traditional publishing companies. And furthermore, many people simply don’t realize that they don’t need to spend a ton of money to self-publish.

This is where my (semi) professional background comes in.

I’ve done some work as a freelance creative editor and ghostwriter, successfully guiding numerous authors through the self-publishing process.

Over the past few months, I’ve re-dedicated myself to conducting exhaustive, meticulous research into the print-on-demand (POD) self-publishing ecosystem.

It’s pretty boring, actually. But somehow I’m able to lock in and figure it out.

The result of this research is the creation of a high-efficiency, economical, ecological, independent publishing system that is specifically tailored to benefit both the author and the community.

This new publishing arm of Ki to the City is poised to produce high-quality pieces, ensuring the spirit of these essential voices is secured in a format worthy of their content.

I’m excited to share that I already have two—possibly three—projects currently in the works! Much more on that soon to come. I’m working hard to get these first editions formatted, edited, and ready for the world.

So, if you have a manuscript sitting in a drawer, a collection of unfinished docs, or even just the seed of an idea for a book about your Aikido journey, please reach out to me. And remember, if you want to be a guest on the podcast to talk about your practice, regardless of your rank or experience level, the door is always open.

Don’t be shy.

“Aikido was forged in the crucible of war. The Aikido we know bloomed in the era of peace.”

Is it possible to speak of “Post-War” Aikido anymore?

How long were we ever actually living, Post-War?

I want to keep this written intro brief. I have an aversion to trying to write eloquently about grave situations. Everything I could potentially say feels pretentious.

In a situation like this, it’s better to let the conversation speak for itself.

Miles Kessler Sensei teaches out of the Integral Dojo in Tel Aviv, Israel, and this conversation finds him literally in the crucible of war himself, as he speaks expecting sirens warning him to head to the nearest bomb shelter.

(To learn more about Miles Sensei’s incredible background, check out his first appearance. Link

It’s in this real-world context that his profound philosophy—Aikido not as a path of peace, but a path of conflict, with peace as the byproduct of good conflict done well—is called to action.

Miles Sensei’s most powerful application of Aikido off the mat is his frank discussion of trauma. He describes how trauma—whether personal, generational, or societal—causes us to retreat and polarize, locking us into patterns that perpetuate the past.

The ultimate work of the spiritual warrior is to purify this inherited and active trauma, allowing us to hold conflict in a way that becomes the catalyst for evolutionary development.

Miles Sensei challenges us to move beyond the easy binaries of “us versus them,” arguing that true spiritual progress requires us to wrestle with the moral dilemmas of the present moment. When nothing is reliable, the path of practice is the only constant.

He also reminds us that we are not doomed, that there may still be some adults in the room willing to meet the present conflict with a broader, deeper perspective, ready to move humanity forward with a practical, uncompromising spiritual framework for modern existence.

“Ki to the City” was originally conceived as a way to address the seemingly shaky future of Aikido (specifically, in my own life). In this episode, I’m honored to speak with someone who is not just thinking about the problem aloud but providing concrete, actionable, and expert solutions.

My guest has built a platform (and an app) that achieves what I’ve only vaguely dreamed of: addressing the critical need for a more effective branding of Aikido.

Sasa Starovojtov (from Dokiai Dojo in Ljubljana, Slovenia) is a compelling voice challenging the status quo with equal parts compassion and commercial acumen. His dojo’s name perfectly encapsulates his mission: to offer “another way to look at Aikido.”

Sasa’s path to the mat is as unique as his current contribution. He discovered the art purely by chance, walking past a sign in Prague.

He instantly connected with Aikido’s non-competitive spirit, finding it a soothing balm to the “scorekeeping” mindset that had ruined games for him since childhood.

Over 25 years later, this commitment to non-conflict is a defining feature of his life; as he shared, since joining the dojo, he’s never had to fight—physically or verbally.

Before founding his dojo, Sasa had already carved out a long and successful professional career in marketing, rising to roles like Sales and Marketing Director for a software company and working for world-famous agencies like Leo Burnett. This eclectic background—martial artist and seasoned branding expert—is what makes his perspective on the art of Aikido so vital.

Sasa’s Substack, Aikicraft.org, and his revolutionary new app, Brandician.ai, in my own humble opinion, are essential tools for anyone struggling with how to keep Aikido relevant in their own communities. I implore you to click those links…

He points to real-world data suggesting Aikido could be on a “path to extinction,” while Aikidoka are mostly “marketing to ourselves,” failing to explain the art’s true value to people who’ve never stepped on a mat.

Aikicraft.org is Sasa’s offered antidote, a valuable resource for Dojo Cho who are, like he was himself, left with little practical guidance on how to run, grow, or market a dojo.

Aikicraft is divided into four critical sections: Why we train, The hard look (a necessary criticism of institutional problems), Teach better (advocating for the use of modern sports science), and Applied Aikido (his “Marketing-Do” series).

This work has culminated in Brandician.ai, a powerful web app created with his partners that he’s currently offering for free to the Aikido community.

As he explains on the podcast, a professional branding package for could cost anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000. His ingenious app guides the user through an in-depth process starting with a founder interview, generates a questionnaire to survey customers, and ultimately creates a Brand Hub—a comprehensive guide covering brand strategy, visual identity, and tone of voice, rooted in the art of storytelling.

Sasa’s work is firmly planted in the Jobs to be Done (JTBD) theory from the branding world: many people are not interested in buying “traditional martial arts”—they are hiring us to do a job for them. That job could be to achieve more mindfulness, to be a better parent, or to be comfortable speaking in front of a group of people. Sasha contends that by framing the practice in this way, we can ensure its survival.

To Sasa, marketing is Aikido—a process of harmonization. You can’t fight the market; you must take ukemi and move with it. This dimensional shift in consciousness could be what’s required for the art to once again flourish.

(Until/unless I can find some sponsors ;) Ki to the City remains a reader-supported publication. If you have benefited from this project, please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber to help keep the podcast on “the airwaves.”

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com.

As a token of my gratitude, and Don Dickie Sensei’s generosity, you will receive a complimentary copy of his deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

Thank you!!!

For those of us who practice Aikido on the regular, we already intimately feel the profound and magical impact it has on everyday life, specifically when it comes to enhancing our ability to harmoniously communicate both verbally and physically with others (occasional social media discourse notwithstanding).

But what happens when you take that intuitive conviction and subject it to the rigorous scrutiny of peer-reviewed academic research?

The result is the groundbreaking work of Dr. Greet Angèle De Baets, a Sensei from Ban Sen Juku Aikido in Belgium, whose doctoral research has provided us with compelling, scientific proof that the principles we exercise on the mat are, indeed, powerful tools for improving real-world communication.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. De Baets (albeit from about 3,600 miles away) to discuss her fascinating personal journey and the findings of her PhD thesis, Embodied Learning With and From Aikido: A Mixed-Methods Investigation Into Teaching Intercultural Communication Skills for the Workplace.

(The PDF is available for all; just reach out to me and I’ll get you in touch!)

It was an absolute delight to talk with a professor of linguistics whose intellectual curiosity and acumen is matched only by her visceral commitment to embodying the principles of Aikido.

Greet Sensei’s introduction to Aikido, was, like many of ours, through seemingly sheer coincidence. Following a life-changing horseback riding accident, she was left with spinal difficulties and chronic migraines. In her search for relief, she was introduced to Tai Chi by one of her students. That same Tai Chi teacher also taught Aikido…

There’s much more depth to this origin story than I can convey here in this little blurb, so, please, listen to the episode.

A synchronistic start led her to the Ban Sen Juku lineage in Belgium with a local Sensei who happened to be a direct student of Seiji Tomita Sensei.

While his name was new to me, discovered while researching for the interview, the impressive depth and breadth of Tomita Shihan’s background is immediately apparent.

Having trained under Tanaka Bansen Sensei, Tohei Sensei, and Saito Sensei, (and, of course, most importantly, directly with O-Sensei himself) Tomita Shihan’s approach is marked by a clear focus on the “one line” and a sincere adherence to ki musubi—connection and unification with your partner.

Dr. De Baets speaks with glowing reverence for individual instruction she’s received from Tomita Sensei, and it’s clear how his teachings form a foundational stone for her communication work.

At the heart of her methodology is the belief that communication is not purely cognitive.

Professional communication training is predominantly passive: slide-based, power-point presentations, focused solely on intellectual understanding.

Dr. De Baets challenges this head-on. She literally removes the chairs and tables from the room, using simple, “white belt” level tai sabaki as the theory itself—a powerful somatic metaphor—to teach interaction.

She emphasizes that communication “lives in breathing, voice, attitude, timing, presence,” and you cannot learn that by sitting down. What you are learning must be embodied.

Dr. De Baets’ research provides compelling, quantitative (we already have plenty of the qualitative) proof that the “Aikido Interaction Model” and the embodied learning experience have a powerfully positive effect on interpersonal (and beyond) interactions.

Her findings demonstrate that incorporating Aikido activities into communication training significantly supports participant satisfaction, memory retention, and—most importantly for a population riddled with conflict and societal atomization—intercultural competence.

Ultimately, Dr. De Baets’ work offers an elegant and sophisticated answer to a question many of us have sensed instinctively for years: that our practice is more than a martial art.

By aligning her findings with progressive linguistic theories, she reveals another profound conclusion—that Aikido can be understood as a language—a language of social interaction, body movement, sensory experience, and contextual meaning-making.

If you’ve ever needed “evidence-based” validation for your dedication to practice, this is the episode for you.

Tune in to discover how tranquility and anthropocosmic nobility can transform how we interact and influence the world around us.

Here are the relevant links:

Blog

Professional website

Greet Sensei’s local dojo

Main Dojo and lineage

Once again, please reach out to me (or Dr. De Baets) directly for a PDF of her thesis.

Also, (Until/unless I can find some sponsors ;) Ki to the City remains a reader-supported publication. If you have benefited from this project, please consider signing up to be a paid subscriber to help keep the podcast on “the airwaves.”

If you would prefer to make a one-time contribution, you can email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com.

As a token of my gratitude, and Don Dickie Sensei’s generosity, you will receive a complimentary copy of his deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

Thank you!!!

I haven’t done one of these “solo episodes” in a while.

I know I promised I wouldn’t anymore because I felt like I was making it too much about “me,” but a guest rescheduled at the last minute and I don’t want to break the momentum of putting out at least one episode a week.

I’m superstitious like that.

So, here’s a short story I’m working on for one of the many books I’ll probably never publish.

It’s a ‘ruff’ draft.

I’m not gonna lie, sometimes I get pretty down on myself…

Wow! I just got hit with some acute ‘deja vu.’

It probably never really actually happened, but I just got struck with this vivid memory of being told sternly that I should never start off a sentence (in writing) with, “I’m not gonna lie.”

For the record, it’s part of my everyday lingo, and I want to stay true to my vernacular.

Now, I just got hit with another major ‘deja vu’ memory of being told that I should never write about ‘deja vu.’

Anyway… sometimes I get pretty down on myself.

I know I’m not alone in this.

Anyone with a modicum of humility understands what we’re all up against: how difficult it is to maintain a joyful connection to the universe at all times, not to mention unwavering confidence in all the impractical ideas we have for how to ‘make the world a better place,’ etc…

And sometimes I question my obsessive dedication to practicing aikido, trudging along with my podcast, and whatever other aerial designs I have in my head of pursuing/promoting this art I love as a vocation (of sorts).

But last Wednesday, at least, my trip to the dojo paid some karmic dividends.

Practice itself was fine. That’s not what this story is about. I was leading the class; we had a visitor from Japan, so I made sure my etiquette was on point.

It was while walking to the train station after class when I felt like, for a brief moment at least, my life had a greater purpose.

When we all left the dojo, I wanted to properly say thank you and goodbye to our Japanese visitor, so I bowed.

As I was mid-bow, two rambunctious young men swaggered brusquely past with some extra attitude. One of them bumped into me. His reaction indicated placing blame on me for the bump. The other one remarked that I looked like I was trying to kiss somebody or something.

I just laughed and said, “Oh sorry… sorry… my fault.”

As I walked to the train, my inner monologue was peppered with praise about how proud I was of myself for not overreacting to the minor pedestrian slight.

This lulled me into a daydream (even though it wasn’t day) of previous instances where I had to temper my temper when bumped into or otherwise inconvenienced by my fellow serfs in the city who didn’t bother to apologize.

I was snapped out of this reverie when I heard a little dog’s sharp yelp.

Ahead of me, navigating the icy, garbage-laden terrain, were two young women walking a dirty white toy poodle.

I feel bad calling the poodle dirty, but it was. All white with muddy paws and those black tear stains that some dogs get.

It cried out because one of the girls stepped on it.

She blamed him (or her, I didn’t check) because it kept “walking between” her feet.

The leash they had wasn’t a choke chain; it was one of those retractable leashes, but they had it let out all the way, at full length.

I was walking about 10 paces behind, and I offered a barely audible “aww, are you okay?”

No one probably heard me but myself.

As we kept walking, me now shaken fully out of my reverie of past potential scuffles, reflecting on how Aikido really maybe has made me a better person, I started thinking like, “Yeah, but what am I actually doing with my life? You know?”

The euphoria of teaching a well-received class was already starting to dissolve, and I started musing about ‘my troubles’.

As I approached the crosswalk; my attention shifted back to the young women with the poor, unkempt little poodle.

The light was about to turn red, and one of the young women (I’ll call her “girl-number-one”) decided to run across the street to catch up to somebody.

She yelled out a name. “Maya.”

At first, I thought that was the dog’s name, but she was yelling it out up ahead while she ran, and it wouldn’t have made sense to yell out the dog’s name like that.

Meanwhile, girl-number-two, the one holding the dog (not named Maya) on the unretracted leash, decided not to cross the street.

She stopped short as the light flashed red.

The poodle, however, wanted to follow girl-number-one, so he (or she) darted up ahead after her. And, because the leash was at full length, the little muddy-pawed dog was able to scamper across the street without any hindrance to its mobility.

I saw this scene unfurl in slow motion, without all the verbiage.

A voice in my head said, “Oh S**t! That dog’s about to get hit.”

And sure enough, I saw a car, trying to make the light, speed through the intersection.

Now, I don’t know if my voice can actually arrest canine movement through sound waves, but in that moment, I tried it anyway. I yelled out, “Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!”

In essence, I barked.

The little dog stopped (not, thank God) dead in its tracks. A split second before it would’ve been crushed beneath the left front tire, it jumped back, turned around, looked at me like I said something it understood, and ran towards me.

I paid no attention to girl-number-two. Girl-number-one was long gone.

I’m too self-conscious about sounding like a fussy, old, concerned citizen to have offered any admonishment. Instead, I talked to the dog directly. I said, “You need to be careful when you cross the street; you’re going to get hit by a car. It’s very dangerous.”

The dog looked up at me like it got my point. I know it probably didn’t, but it looked at me like it did and sat at my feet.

Girl-number-two said “thank you” kind of nonchalantly. Like I said, I don’t want to get into it with people. I don’t want to judge them for their attitudes or their ability to take responsibility. I don’t want to come across like an old man who tells people what to do.

Not for nothing, but this is the third dog-life I’ve saved.

The previous two were little dogs that were about to get killed by big dogs. In both scenarios, the big dog had the little dog in its mouth, and I ran over and picked the big dog up by the collar and just yelled loudly in its face, “No!” The big dog dropped the little dog and then kind of apologized to me.

I know it sounds a little bit far-fetched (get it?), but it really happened. Twice.

Anyway, as far as last Wednesday night goes, I’m not saying that I’ve gained any special powers through my obsessive Aikido practice enabling me to stop potentially destructive actions through sound waves.

My point is: if I didn’t go to class, I wouldn’t have been in the position to save that dog’s life.

So at least for a fleeting moment, I felt like I was on the right track.

Maybe that little dirty poodle’s destiny is to do something great.

Here’s Part II of my recent interview with Chris Thorsen Sensei, distinguished senior student of Richard Moon Sensei and board member at Aiki Extensions.

If you heard Part I, you’ll surely already be in awe of his remarkable life—an inspiring journey he describes as a series of “intuitive jumps off cliffs.”

If you haven’t heard it yet, don’t delay! Here it is: Part I

In this newest episode, Thorsen Sensei continues to share powerful examples from his consulting career, including turnaround work at Kaiser Permanente’s IT team and a critical intervention at Intel, demonstrating the systemic and strategic application of Aikido principles in the pressure-packed world of high-stakes corporate operations.

Most impressive/inspiring to me is the conflict-resolution project that he and Richard Moon Sensei undertook with Cypriot leaders. Their work in Cyprus stands (to me, at least) as one of the most profound examples of the application of Aikido principles to real-world conflict resolution.

As many of you may already know, Cyprus has been deeply divided since the 1960s, after a crisis still resonating palpable resentment, marked by the presence of the “Green Line,” a United Nations-controlled neutral zone that literally separates the Turkish Cypriot north and the Greek Cypriot south.

The strategy employed by the two trailblazing Sensei was to focus on multi-track diplomacy, engaging with community leaders, heads of companies, media organizations, and nonprofits—the high leaders of culture below the political level. The methodology used was the core combination of Aikido and dialogue.

Workshops brought together mixed groups of Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders, teaching them the non-competitive, cooperative aspects of Aikido.

The physical practice of centering, blending, and getting off the line was successfully integrated as a method for navigating conflict in the verbal realm.

This groundbreaking project showed how an Aiki-dialogue methodology could enable players entrenched in deep, systemic conflict to cohere, generating new possibilities for resolution and transformation (even post-war), by providing a method to physically and verbally step into a field of cooperation rather than competition.

In this episode, you’ll also hear about the related program Chris Sensei, in conjunction with Aiki Extensions, has recently established. This exciting initiative focuses on assisting Aikido dojo leaders in taking their practice off the mat and into their local communities.

Anyone interested in applying Aikido principles to community betterment should follow up with Aiki Extensions (here) for more information.

And, in case you haven’t heard, Aiki Extensions also generously offers seed grants (up to $1,000) for projects that are focused on moving Aikido off the mat and into engagement in the world in non-martial ways.

I’m sure there are some great ideas out there that could use some funding to get off the ground.

To further explore the rich history of Thorsen Sensei’s work from 1985 to 2005, you can visit quantumedge.org.

And for a deeper understanding of the current iteration of his crucial work in embodiment and systemic change, please visit inquiryintoconsciousness.com.

Now, let’s pick up where we left off….

Long-time student of Richard Moon Sensei and integral board member of Aiki Extensions, Chris Thorsen Sensei’s life is a remarkable testament to the power of intuition, embodied practice, and a deep commitment to true systemic change.

Spanning over 50 years, his incredible career path has been characterized by bringing the principles of Aikido off the mat and into the world, transforming organizational culture and leadership. For the better.

This will be a two-part episode. Considering the breadth and depth of Chris Sensei’s experience and the important work he’s doing. It was impossible to reduce mora than half a century of spiritual wisdom in action to a 72 minute conversation.

Chris Sensei’s journey is marked by a series of what he calls “intuitive jumps off cliffs”—unreasonable, yet profoundly guiding, decisions.

At age 12, his first break with inherited culture happened during a trip with the Episcopal Church acolytes to a park in southern Illinois. He discovered a brass plaque on a promontory that detailed how a village of Native Americans had been surrounded and starved to death by the “bluecoats” (Christians). This shocking realization led him to question his involvement in the church and marked the beginning of his distrust and questioning of societal structures.

This intuitive questioning reached a crescendo during his time enlisted in the military. A desire for education had led him to the Army’s language school in Monterey, but a moral conflict soon erupted following the Gulf of Tonkin incident. An intuitive flash that the (now proven to be a false flag) incident was not what it appeared to be on the surface, spurred his declaration for conscientious objector status, a period that included a profound three-week vow of silence.

This early act of non-cooperation and adherence to an inner truth became a foundational example of listening to the whispers of intuitive guidance, a theme that would later define his life’s work.

After his discharge, a solitary two-year period in the wilderness led to writing haiku and an introduction to Rinzai Zen, establishing a diligent practice of Zazen that served as a crucial precursor to his path in Aikido. This spiritual rooting, combined with his work as a creativity consultant and later a crisis counselor, brought him face-to-face with the human cost of dysfunctional corporate culture.

Seeking a grounded calm amidst the tumultuous melee of crisis work, he fortuitously found Aikido.

His Aikido lineage is central to his mission. He began training with Richard Moon Sensei, who was running a small dojo (in a former chicken shack) focused on a shared inquiry into the art, and crucially emphasized jiyū-waza (freestyle practice). This liberating practice heightened Chris Sensei’s ability to function intuitively, and viscerally.

His training deepened under Robert Nadeau Sensei, whose teaching focused on energy as the primary study of Aikido—the Aikido that cannot be seen with the human eye. These two teachers empowered Thorsen Sensei’s realization that he needed to get “upstream of the problems” by working directly with leaders, thereby discovering his bestowed mission to transform organizational culture.

This mission was realized when a former client, and Vietnam veteran, Jim Dixon. (You really gotta listen to the episode to hear how amazing Jim’s story is!) hired him as the cultural development consultant for the startup Cellular One, San Francisco.

This opportunity led to a whirlwind run with Moon Sensei at his side, building Cellular One and later Nextel across the country. Their core methodology was teaching “non-falling Aikido” partnered with David Bohm’s Dialogue.

Through the realization that “Dialogue is a verbal Aikido and Aikido is a physical form of dialogue”, they taught teams how to handle pressure and conflict and, critically, how to make intuitive declarations for breakthroughs by embodying the principles of centered, grounded, and flowing presence. This unique approach led to the construction of a national cellular system in record time, all while maintaining their cultural declaration to “not lose one family”, an unprecedented success in the industry.

Since 2000, Thorsen Sensei’s work has evolved beyond direct corporate consulting to handing off the kit of his methodologies to what he calls “free radicals”—consultants and internal change agents working in large organizations and nonprofits to make systemic level change.

This work is ongoing and deeply informed by his spiritual and martial arts background, and will covered at length in the next episode which will follow this one in a few days.

So stay tuned!!

To learn more about his amazing journey and the application of these principles check out his two websites.

For stories of the corporate work from 1985 to 2005, mostly covered in this first episode: quantumedge.org

For the current iteration of his ever-important work which will be covered in part II: inquiryintoconsciousness.com

Enjoy!

Happy Setsubun!

According to Shinto, it’s today, Feb. 3rd..

Setsubun literally translates to “seasonal division.” While, historically, it referred to the eve of any of the four seasons, it now specifically marks the day before the beginning of Spring (according to the old calendar of Japan.)

It’s essentially a spiritual “spring cleaning” to drive out the bad energy of the previous year and welcome a fresh start.

Feels like we sure could use some energetic refreshment right about now.

And, I couldn’t think of a better way to commemorate/celebrate this auspicious occasion than inviting Koichi Barrish Sensei back on the show to share his impressions on what this time of year signifies and how we can attune ourselves more harmoniously to the greater cosmic cycle.

(Apologies for the brief technical issue in the beginning of our talk. I want to get this episode out today, for obvious reasons, so I didn’t have time to edit it much. There’s a few seconds of a glitchiness, hope you can look past the imperfections…)

In this timely episode, Barrish Sensei explains how Setsubun is the Kyo, or “still point,” between the Earth’s yin phase of accumulating energy and the coming yang phase of releasing it. This energetic hinge marks the solar New Year and is analogous to the European Imbolc.

This particular Setsubun (2026), is astrologically and energetically profound in many ways.

The year’s specific currents are described in detail through the three aspects of Japanese astrology: Ten, Chi, and Jin (Heaven, Earth, and Humanity).

The heavenly and earthly responses (Ten and Chi) align to make this the year of Hinoe Uma, or the “cardinal fire horse.” This energy is intensely expansive and explosive—fire on top of fire—and its core teaching is that nothing remains obscured. All things that have been hidden are revealed because, metaphorically, the sun is directly overhead and casts “no shadow.”

However, the third, or human, element (Jin) provides the necessary counter-strategy. Represented this year by Ippaku Suisei (One White Water Ki), the human response calls for a period of deep, yin-like gathering and observation. The ultimate lesson, or strategy, is to utilize the expansive, powerful energy imbued cosmically, while acting from a place of perspective and distance.

According to Barrish Sensei, this is the perfect moment for Aiki: a response that stems from intensely and carefully held verticality between heaven and earth.

This Aiki response allows one to remove obstructions, clarify our personal mission, and tap into the powerful flow of the life stream to influence the arc of the system in a more positive way.

This is the great challenge and opportunity for all who seek harmony in a world undergoing profound and unprecedented change.

But don’t take my word for it. Listen to the episode and hear Barrish Sensei describe the whole current cosmic situation in his unique, wise, and spirited way.

And please check out what he’s doing over at Kannagara Inari Salon

I’ve been (virtually) attending his Chouhai ceremony every weekend and it’s had a very positive influence on my state of mind ever since I started.

And if you’re new to the podcast, and haven’t heard my two previous talks with Barrish Sensei, I’ll make it easy for you to find them:

Aikido and the way of the Gods I

Aikido and the way of the Gods II

Please consider supporting Ki to the City!

If you find value in these deep explorations of Aikido and philosophy, please consider supporting the podcast. Upgrade to a paid subscriber, or if you’d like to make a one-time contribution reach out to me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com.

As a thank you, donors, and new paid subscribers will receive a copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s beautiful book of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido—the perfect companion piece for spiritual, and martial inquiry.

And Sunday was my birthday, if that tips the scales :)

I got the keys to the dojo’s Instagram account now, so I’m working on my video editing skills.

I interviewed Nico back in October. If you’re new here, or you somehow missed that one, check it out here: Nico Puertollano interview

And… If you got any tips on using Instagram effectively (whatever that means) please let me know. I appreciate all advice

By the way, I don’t know if you are seeing the automatic subtitles. A lot of them are obviously wrong, but they’re kind of funny. And I don’t really now how to turn them off yet…

I’m excited to share this incredibly expansive discussion with Steve Macramalla, long-time student of Linda Holiday Sensei at Aikido of Santa Cruz.

(Regular listeners know what a positive influence Linda Holiday Sensei has had on myself and this project. Her ongoing commitment to transmitting heart-centered wisdom has been a major catalyst for the perseverance of this podcast.)

In addition to his Aikido pursuit, Steve is also a professor of Cognitive Psychology and teaches Chi’en-Lung Kung Fu at Six animals Kung Fu. This combination makes him the perfect conversational partner for attempting to tackle the whole “mind-body” question that I can never seem to satisfactorily answer for myself.

His book, Unleash the Dragon Within: Transform Your Life with the Kung-Fu Animals of Ch’ien-Lung, is ostensibly a guide to personal transformation through martial arts.

Drawing on over thirty years of training under his enigmatic Sifu, Constantine Darling, Steve outlines how we can practice the embodiment of six specific animal archetypes (discussed in detail during our chat) to deliberately shift our mental, emotional, and physical states to better navigate conflict and achieve psychological well-being.

The core of this episode, however, lies in unpacking Steve’s vast experience in the exploration of the aforementioned “mind-body” problem. This is the crossroad where the cognitive psychologist and the martial artist meet.

Whether you’re interested in the science of how we learn, preserving the lineage of Kumano Aikido, or finding out how to “unleash the dragon” in your own practice, this episode is, if I may be be so bold, mandatory listening.

Steve brings a sharp, academic precision to the proverbial table, but he delivers it with the warmth and humility of a dedicated Aikidoka. I really enjoyed this one, and I hope you will too!

Please consider supporting Ki to the City!

If you find value in these deep explorations of Aikido and philosophy, please consider supporting the podcast. Upgrade to a paid subscriber, or if you’d like to make a one-time contribution reach out to me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com.

As a thank you, donors, and new paid subscribers will receive a copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s beautiful book of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido—the perfect companion piece for spiritual, and martial inquiry.

One of the genuine benefits of (stubbornly) persisting with this project (despite the typical difficulties associated with the pursuit of wisdom vs monetary gain) is that when I hear a testimony so inspiring, so indicative of Aikido’s positive impact, it instantly assuages all doubt that I’m on the right path.

Scott Berg Sensei’s early life was beset with some pretty significant challenges, beginning with being born deaf. His hearing was eventually gained around his third birthday, following a successful (second) attempt at tympanostomy tube insertion.

This procedure, of which Scott Sensei was one of the earliest recipients, occurred after the natural developmental window for learning speech. As a result, he faced a severely delayed path in acquiring language.

He struggled substantially to communicate verbally, noting that he could not pronounce his own name in the seventh grade.

The severity of his difficulties led to a frightening (thankfully ignored) misdiagnosis when a psychiatrist at a children’s hospital suggested to his parents that he be institutionalized, because the doctor could not teach him to speak.

Compounding his struggles, he experienced relentless bullying in school, which fostered a deep sense of social isolation and otherness. This adversity forged a unique psychological coping mechanism: he became a master of seeing the world in the third person, observing his own life with a narrative distance.

This perspective cast him as an undeveloped character in his own story.

Scott Sensei credits finding Aikido as the pivotal moment which helped him bridge this gulf, as he finally found a setting where he felt secure enough to connect, and began to write himself into the “first person” narrative. (He notes the full-circle irony of how his current focus is on how it’s not all about “you”.)

Another aspect of his journey I find incredible is the breadth of his experience. Having trained in over 600 dojos (!), Scott Sensei has opened himself up to an almost incomprehensively vast array of lineage and culture, developing a perspective on Aikido that is both profoundly broad and remarkably deep.

Thanks to this incredible talk with Scott Sensei, I‘m thrilled to learn of another great teacher and transmitter of O Sensei’s Aikido I’d previously never heard of, Hiroshi Kato Sensei.

(I haven’t dug deep enough myself yet into Kato Sensei’s story to write anything of substance about him, but I do suggest you listen to this episode to hear Scott Sensei’s glowing affirmation of his Sensei’s relatively unheralded importance to the Aikido world.)

Scott Sensei is also a thoughtful writer. I’ve been deeply inspired by my recent discovery of his Substack. That’s how I found him. (See, sticking with Substack is paying off, after all!)

His ability to articulate the essential aiki-quest many of us find ourselves on with such eloquent brevity is amazing. His hard-earned voice is that rare combination of technical legitimacy and poetic vulnerability.

I should take note…

Recording this episode flew by. Which is how I know it was a good one. One of my personal favorites so far.

Don’t miss it!

And don’t forget to check out his dojo! Aikido of Alamo

This is an especially reflective time for Ki to the City, as we’re just days away from the first anniversary. (January 15th, if you’re curious)

I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude for all the encouraging and insightful interactions so far. I feel like I’ve grown as a person through this endeavor and I hope it shows…

I sincerely hope to be able to continue and develop this project for a long time to come. Seriously. Thank you!

In the spirit of growth and reflection, please enjoy this illuminating conversation I had with Patrick Cassidy Sensei, an integral bridge-builder between the worlds of martial arts and self development.

Patrick sensei is dedicated to ensuring the modern relevance of Aikido as a profound tool for mastering fear, navigating real-world conflict, and achieving heightened awareness through the body.

He possesses impeccable traditional and somewhat eclectic experience; from his time as an uchi-deshi with the legendary Morihiro Saito Sensei in Iwama, to the self-exploratory, human-potential-movement-tinged, training methods of Robert Nadeau Sensei in California.

(There’s much more nuance to his incredible history, but I want you to listen to the episode, so I won’t give too much away here.)

As the director of the Evolutionary Aikido Community, Patrick Sensei highlights how Aikido practice can serve as a technology for awakening to, and reorganizing of, the entire field of interaction. In this more holistic context, conflict is viewed, not a threat to be avoided, but an evolutionary driver to be transformed.

Seen in this light, the Aikidoka can be described as an “alchemist,” entering directly into conflict itself and transmuting aggression into a higher order of connection and resolution.

At his dojo, Aikido Montreux (in Montreux, Switzerland) Patrick Sensei maintains a dedicated Uchi Deshi program. Carrying the traditional torch he picked up during his formative time in Iwama, this program offers total immersion that also includes yoga, breath work, meditation, cold water misogi in a nearby river, and (the best part) a sauna.

Reach out to him directly here, if that’s something you might be interested in learning more about.

A short little teaser/blurb cannot do this episode justice. I implore you to tune in to hear Patrick Sensei describe how it all comes together…

As we commemorate our first year, I need to humbly ask for your support to help keep this project on the “airwaves”. This podcast is a reader/listener-supported publication, and your contributions allow me to continue.

There are two ways you can help: you can sign up to be a paid subscriber on Substack, or, if you would like to make a one-time contribution, please email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com.

As a token of my gratitude, anyone who makes a contribution will receive a copy of Don Dickie Sensei’s deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

Don Sensei has graciously donated 125 copies of this book to support this project, and it serves as a magnificent vehicle for active spiritual inquiry and attaining greater awareness. Get ‘em while you can!

Sharing these conversations is my way of contributing to something meaningful, worthwhile, and good in the world and doing my best to honor the world family O-Sensei envisioned. Your support ensures that we can continue to strive to learn from amazing people like Patrick Cassidy and keep our communities thriving.

I’m beyond thrilled to share this episode with you, as it marks the return of a truly exceptional teacher, artist, and now, published author under a major press.

Richard Moon Sensei is here to discuss his brand-new book, Quantum Aikido: The Power of Harmony, being released today, January 6th!

As many of you know from our first conversation, Moon Sensei possesses a background that is nothing short of cinematic.

Training for over 55 years (mostly under Robert Nadeau Shihan, one of the few ‘westerners’ to study directly with O Sensei), his story stretches far beyond the mat; from the early psychedelic days hanging with Ram Dass and Timothy Leary, all the way to international peace work, participating in a major mediation project between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders.

If you missed it, I highly suggest you check out this prior episode to hear more about his fascinating ‘origin story.’ [prior episode]

When I first heard the title, Quantum Aikido, I have to be honest—I was hesitant. I usually shy away from anything labeled “Quantum,” fearing it might be too scientistic for my taste. However, the way Moon Sensei relates these high-level physics concepts to the visceral experience of Aikido has completely shifted my perspective. At least in this particular case.

I finished reading the book the night before we spoke, and I can tell you personally, this is not a book you read once and put on the shelf. It’s dense with wisdom and written in a lurid, musical, prose that you need to sit with, digest, and revisit many many (many) times.

Moon Sensei applies insights of quantum mechanics—concepts like wave-particle duality and the unified field theory—to the heart-centered depths of Aikido principles including, but not limited to: musubi and takemusu aiki.

The book explores how the dualism of conflicting opposites is an illusion; instead, reality emanates from a unified field. The techniques we practice in the dojo are the “dust after the action.” The true study is what O-Sensei called the “realization of love” and the “Aikido that cannot be seen by the human eye.”

Moon Sensei’s gift is unlocking our potential as human beings. He suggests that by harmonizing the discord in our own ‘selves’, we can tap into energetic sources that guide us to resolving problems with spontaneous creativity.

I’m learning more and more how Aikido is not just about throwing people across the mat (although, that is so much fun); it’s the facilitation of an inter-dimensional shift in consciousness that transforms life from a struggle into a dance.

Moon Sensei teaches us to surf the universal waves of change rather than fighting against them, using a spirit of reconciliation to allow every being the completion of their “bestowed mission.”

Of course, we spent some time ruminating on the ‘Floating Bridge of Heaven,’ that mysterious immaterial zone of creation where complementary opposites seem to unite in a state of creative harmony, connecting to the single source from which everything emanates.

We also discuss how we can learn to “feel better”—not just in the sense of seeking pleasant sensations,, but also in the sense of increasing sensitivity to the energy of life, allowing us to act with greater intelligence and compassion.

I’m incredibly grateful to have connected with Richard Moon Sensei. His influence on my own life and practice over the past year has been nothing but positive. His way of “learning out loud” makes you feel like a fellow explorer on the edge of the known universe rather than just a thirsty student.

Whether discussing the “thalamic pause” (a conscious gap before reacting) or how a perfect musical interval can mirror a perfect Aikido blend, his insights have provided me with tools to stay centered amidst the abstract terrors of modern society.

Quantum Aikido, bridges ancient wisdom and the cutting-edge science of today. It’s a guide for anyone looking to cultivate a beautiful world through the art of peace and harmony.

Check it out here!

Quantum Aikido

As we roll through the holiday season, I’d like to take a quick moment to wish you all joy and felicity (I love that word).

2025 has been quite interesting, to say the least. Am I right?

This is an especially reflective time for me, specifically in regards to this podcast, as its one-year anniversary is coming up on January 15th.

I’m deeply grateful for the subscriber support, the vast insight gleaned from my guests, and the quality interactions I’ve been fortunate enough to engage in over the past year.

Aikido is (obviously) tremendously important to me, and I hope to be able to continue this project for as long as humanly possible, digging ever deeper and seeking new avenues to extend some more ki to the city.

On this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tom Gardner Sensei, an integral long-time member and teacher at Bond Street Dojo.

Tom Sensei has been a profoundly positive influence for me personally during the decade since I first joined Bond Street. He’s essential to the dedicated lineage of instructors ensuring that Aikido remembers its mission and maintains its relevance.

Through four decades of diligent training at various world-renowned dojos, both in the U.S. and Japan, he’s refined a practice that balances astute technical savvy with an extraordinary exhibition of Aikido principles in action.

In every class Tom Sensei leads, without fail, I find myself learning something new, whether it’s a subtle nuance in a weapons kata or a timely tip on how to further strengthen the “mind-body connection”.

His approach to teaching is indicative of what makes Bond Street so special. Classes often feel like a collaborative workshop, where we test our ability to stay centered and calm under the intense pressures of conflict.

In this conversation, we delve into Tom’s tremendous wealth of experience training with a myriad of well-respected (and sometimes polarizing) teachers.

We also spend some time reflecting on the future viability of our beloved art.

I don’t want to give too much of his profound secret wisdom away, so, please, check out the episode…

By the way, there are still some limited copies of Don Dickie Sensei’s book, Silent Winds of Aikido, available.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you are interested in receiving a copy, and I’ll fill you in on all the details.

Happy New Year!

Kenneth Kron Sensei’s perspective on Aikido has been shaped by a truly remarkable lineage; he’s a long-time student of Robert Nadeau Shihan and Richard Moon Sensei.

To understand the depth Kenneth Sensei brings to his practice, one must first consider the well he’s drawn from.

Robert Nadeau Shihan is one of the few, fortunate, “westerners” to study directly with O-Sensei, bringing home a vision of Aikido which prioritizes the transformation of self and the shifting of dimensional awareness over physical combat. His influence on Aikido in America is enormous in importance.

Richard Moon has trained with Nadeau Sensei for over 55 years, yet maintains a humble approach to instruction, frequently stating that he doesn’t teach, but is instead learning out loud. He focuses heavily on the “Aikido that cannot be seen,” prioritizing the energetic pulse and the transformation of awareness over physical mechanics.

(If you’re new to this podcast and have not yet heard my previous interview with Richard Moon Sensei, I highly recommend it. Or, just wait a few weeks for when I speak to him about his upcoming book: Quantum Aikido.)

Kenneth Sensei has been instrumental in preserving and transmitting this lineal wisdom via the popular YouTube channel: Moon Sensei.

This channel acts as a vital digital dojo, archiving the “Centered Wisdom” that characterizes their unique exploration of the art.

It’s a repository for those who seek to understand how aiki operates as a socio-organizational technology—something that can be used to reconcile the discords of daily life.

Oh, and they got a Substack too! Quantum Aikido

Fair warning: our conversation gets pretty deep and personal.

Could be a consequence of recording on the winter solstice.

Speaking of, I want to take this moment to wish everyone reading/listening a very Happy Holiday.

I’m hoping to get one more episode out before the New Year, but I don’t have anyone booked as of yet. If you have any suggestions/volunteers, let me know…

Fret not, I got a full slate planned for January.

I’d like to take a brief moment to remind you of Don Dickie Sensei’s generous offer from a few weeks ago.

In support of the mission of this podcast, he’s graciously donated a limited number of copies of his deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

This book is a magnificent vehicle for spiritual inquiry utilizing freeform verse.

If you are able to make a donation to help keep Ki to the City on “the airwaves,” we can arrange to get a copy (or a few) to you.

Please email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com to set something up.

Enjoy!

On this episode, I had the pleasure of being joined by a true inspiration and a good friend of mine (from real life), Phil Cappello.

We met when I was an uchi-deshi back in ‘08—and here we are, seventeen years later, as he put it, “Still training, still trying to figure some of this stuff out.”

Phil’s journey is remarkable, an extraordinary story in which the discovery of Aikido provided holistic relief from severe injury trauma and catalyzed his mission to transform how we approach the simple, yet potentially terrifying, act of falling.

At twenty years old, Phil survived an astounding fifty-foot fall off the roof of an apartment building. This life-changing event put him way past the statistical margin of survival; as I learned in this episode, falls over thirty feet are about 50% fatal.

This incident (obviously) instantly transformed his life.

The physical damage was immense: Phil emerged with seventeen broken bones, broken ribs (as in, all of them), a perforated lung, a damaged spleen, and catastrophic injury to his arm, resulting in his humerus, elbow, and shoulder being blown out, leading to paralysis in his elbow and wrist for years.

The medical advice he received was counterintuitive to his nature as a highly active Division 1 lacrosse player: he was told to protect the injury, and cautioned against exercise.

Yet, even the doctors admitted that his athleticism was likely what saved him from contracting pneumonia, highlighting the irony that the active life they were telling him to abandon was the source of his initial survival.

Despite the severity of his injuries, Phil possessed an inherent, deep-seated athletic drive, didn’t want to get pneumonia, and sought a way to maintain his conditioning. Driven by this necessity, he threw himself into rehabilitation, using a background in wrestling to inform his recovery.

In 2003, Phil discovered Aikido. He was quickly disabused of the notion that it was a “soft art” when he saw that much of the practice was acutely devoted to the very physical challenge that now terrified him most: falling.

He was faced with the immediate psychological pressure of grappling with an experience that had nearly killed him, yet he quickly realized that Aikido offered something revolutionary, providing more than a physical redemption arc. Aikido offered a healing modality unmatched by anything else.

Through practicing throws and falls in the dojo, he was able to confront and overcome the (totally) understandable fear of falling that threatened to stifle his natural proclivity for action.

This realization was revelatory: he was able to do what he’d always loved—wrestling and grappling—but in a “totally different” context where violence was not the objective.

Phil’s experience has led him to dedicate his current work to sharing the unique value of Aikido’s distinct ukemi practice with the wider world.

He is now the driving force behind the innovative program he calls “Ukemi: The art of falling.” Check out the website here: https://thefallingexpert.com/

His goal is to translate a core skill of Aikido—the ability to fall safely and rise again—into a system accessible to the general public.

This mission is directly inspired by his own family, noting that for elderly people, falling is a real concern and a worry. Phil realized that most people might not need to know how to perform Ikkyo, but everyone could stand to learn how to more safely engage with the dynamics of a fall.

Phil has adapted the methodology of traditional martial arts masters, such as Jigoro Kano, structuring his curriculum around training a practitioner in forty foundational falls over a period of five years, consciously emulating the highly successful educational model of Judo.

This program serves a wide range of individuals, from senior citizens in need of basic fall prevention to competitive martial artists who want to get more comfortable with the standing phase of grappling.

Ultimately, Phil’s work epitomizes the principle of giving back, stemming from the self-mastery he achieved through dedicated training. He took the profound, life-saving lessons learned on the tatami and formalized them into a vital service, ensuring that the peaceful and protective dimension of the art is accessible to a much larger segment of the population.

This, to me, is the ultimate expression of the spirit of Aikido, turning personal trauma into a universal therapeutic offering—a true art of peace and harmony in action.

I first had Don Dickie Sensei as a guest back in April, and he blew my mind with his vivid, coherent, and powerful description of meditation, inspiring me to finally pursue my own inner practice in earnest.

(Brief update on how that practice is going: I’ve so far cobbled together aspects of what I’m learning from Don Sensei, Linda Holiday Sensei, and Koichi Barrish Sensei, with some leftover vestiges of previous “astral travel” experiments. Overall, I’m feeling pretty connected to the universe.)

Don Sensei’s impressive background includes intensive studies in kinesiology, cognitive psychology, and Tibetan Buddhism. This unique perspectival expertise provides him a multifocal lens through which to examine the connections between movements, mental states, and spiritual aspirations.

His understanding of the mind-body connection is phenomenal.

He’s also the author of several illuminating books you can find at this link: dondickie.com

As someone who has attempted to juggle a fusion of creative writing and Aikido practice—while seeking to explore the dynamic flow of both—I’m thrilled to delve into an author’s work that consciously harnesses this synergy.

On this special episode, Don Sensei reads selected pieces from his deeply reflective volume of poetry, Silent Winds of Aikido.

This inspirational collection of poems is a vehicle for active spiritual inquiry, an eloquent path towards attaining greater awareness.

I’m in awe of how viscerally he’s able to describe both the inner and outer worlds we inhabit in our practice—the action and the stillness, simultaneously.

For instance, in the poem titled “Awareness,” this elusive concept is defined beautifully through metaphor, highlighting its subtle, pervasive quality:

It’s a soft thing, not hard or sharp. More a blanket enveloping without constraint. No matter how comfortable, other things demand our attention… An attack comes silently, unaware, unprepared. You are hit.

The lack of a soft, all-encompassing awareness ultimately leads to getting caught up in trifling conflict, describing the literal and figurative “Story of Randori.”

Don Sensei emphasizes that the practice of overall awareness is not an end unto itself; it’s the catalyst for refining our intuition, an inner guidance granted divine provenance by O Sensei. This development is a crucial step on the way to fulfilling Aikido’s true stated goal: making the world a better place.

But beyond the literary and metaphysical, we also, importantly, discussed Don Sensei’s extremely generous offer to help support this podcast.

He’s graciously donated a limited number (125 copies) of Silent Winds of Aikido.

They’re available to listeners who’d like to make a (badly needed) donation to help keep this project going.

If you’d like to receive a copy (or multiple copies—think New Year’s gift for your dojo), please email me directly at jondiluca@yahoo.com for more details.

I’m extremely grateful for this gesture. Don Sensei has been a great friend and supporter of this project since the very beginning.

His faith in my mission means the world to me, and I’d love to introduce his writing to those who are otherwise unaware of his profound wisdom.

So please, reach out to me if you’re interested in receiving a copy. Even if you’re unable to make a monetary contribution at this time, sharing this episode on social media (or something like that) would go a long way.

The goal is to share the message.

Peace

I had the immense pleasure of speaking with yet another board member of Aiki Extensions, Susan Dutton Sensei, Chief Instructor at Aiseishinkan dojo in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

If there’s one theme that’s continually revealed itself throughout this podcast’s first year of taking shape, it’s the phenomenal potential of Aikido to transcend boundaries beyond physical training.

Susan Dutton Sensei’s fascinating background, expertise, and dedication to applying Aikido principles make her work wonderfully unique and highly impactful, particularly in the realm of emotional and psychological well-being.

Eq-do (her own brilliant portmanteau) is the term she’s coined for her coaching practice, bridging the philosophical depth of Aikido with contemporary somatic/psychological science and applying these integrated principles to facilitate healing.

According to Susan Sensei, a fundamental insight of EQ-do is that by using the physical body to teach emotional concepts, they stick at a much deeper level than purely cognitive information.

A great example she uses is teaching emotional distancing by demonstrating that once students learn to take hanmi and feel their power to not be affected by a gentle push, they realize they are responsible for their own balance, not the actions of another.

Susan Sensei’s practice is many-layered, drawing on principles that go beyond simple technique, incorporating mental and spiritual intention:

One particularly fascinating facet of her work involves the practice and teaching of TRE (Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises), a sequence of exercises designed to facilitate the release of deep tension through body tremors. These neurogenic tremors are a natural way to reset the body when the nervous system is locked in fight or flight mode, thereby freeing the mind to access higher wisdom.

It’s really incredible stuff.

Pretty much blew my mind.

But I don’t want to give too much away…

Because I want you to listen to the episode!

Don’t forget to check out all the amazing things going on at Aiki Extensions.

They’re genuinely trying to make the world a better place. I cherish every conversation I’ve had with them so far and hope to do my part to spread the word far and wide.

Exploring the transformative potential of Aikido through this project has led me down some unexpected, yet highly rewarding, paths.

Connecting with (and receiving wisdom from) truly visionary people like Richard Sims has positively influenced my own practice substantially.

Our conversation sits right at the heart of everything this podcast aims to explore: the intersection of philosophy and tangible, interpersonal impact.

Richard serves as a dedicated board member of Aiki Extensions, which shows right off the bat how devoted he is to extending the principles and practices of Aikido beyond the physical dojo space, pursuing a broad societal benefit.

As you may have noticed by my recent guest list, Somatics has become a keen interest of mine as of late.

Richard is instrumental in the field, serving as the president of the board of ISMETA (the International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association).

He defines somatics as the “in-depth study of the self from your lived experience, emphasizing the intentional, coordinated awareness and use of the body, mind, and spirit for the betterment of the individual and their community.”

We explore in depth the role that this heightened awareness could play in enhancing Aikido practice.

We also discuss how the integration of Aiki principles and somatic awareness is culminating in an exciting project being currently undertaken by Aiki Extensions:

A trauma handbook that Richard is co-authoring alongside fellow board members, Jamie Zimron and Susan Dutton, all of whom possess expertise in both Aikido and trauma work.

This handbook is expected to roll out early next year. I will cover it extensively here, so stay tuned for that.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be connected to this AE community. I’ve interviewed several AE board members so far, and every talk has led me to want to get involved deeper into the ultra-important work they are doing.

Their sincere dedication to global peace and human betterment through the principles of Aikido constantly renews my own faith.

I look forward to continuous learning about how we can all use the principles of Aikido to make the world a better place.

To learn more about Richard Sims, please check out his website here: Richardesims.com

On this episode,

My talk with Liam Robertson, musician and aikidoka (Aikido of Petaluma), moved pretty deftly (if I do say so myself) into an exploration of the profound philosophical and physical resonances between these two harmonic arts.

We got into a sound discussion (get it?) on the many parallels between Aikido and music, ultimately recognizing them both as empowering disciplines that refine our natural emotional expressions, offering the opportunity, through harmonic shifts, to move beyond “ego.”

A further focus on authentic, present expression led us into the realm of somatics, specifically Liam’s understanding that the body is your first instrument.

Strozzi-Heckler Sensei, defines somatics as the art and study of the soma, viewing the body as a “living wholeness” where mind, body, and spirit are integrated.

Liam applies this principle directly in his music teaching, asserting that the body is the primary instrument for self-expression, preceding the voice. This approach requires the practitioner to witness what is occurring in the body, paying attention to posture and presence, etc.

Sounds like Aikido...

We also contemplated the critical role of competition in shaping both arts, particularly the revolutionary non-competitive stance of Aikido.

In our modern, atomized, and hyper-competitive world, the Aikido dojo offers a necessary sanctuary for people seeking more harmony in their lives.

As in playing music with a joyful devotion, when practice is collaborative, it allows us to transcend the illusory quality of separation and division.

Don’t miss this one!

On this episode of “Ki to the City,” we dive into one of our most candid and courageous conversations yet, featuring Matt Gano, a long-time student of Koichi Barrish Sensei.

Despite engaging in some profoundly insightful conversations with Barrish Sensei, and having the honor of attending (online) his Chouhai morning prayer sessions on the weekends, I’ve yet to have the fortune of ever directly training with him.

Matt gives us a panoramic view of what it was like to discover Aikido by chancing upon the dojo of this amazing Sensei and wonderful human being.

Matt’s journey into Aikido began, as many do, with a search for self-defense, but has evolved into something much deeper: a search for awareness. He’s come to the understanding that we are all expressions of nature, and our practice is the dedicated process of refining that awareness and expression.

We ruminate on the numerous allusions O Sensei made to Aikido being expressed most clearly in nature, which led to a long, but highly infotaining (I promise) digression into the behavioral intelligence of crows and ravens and our own personal experiences trying to befriend members of the corvid family.

Matt views his struggles with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and social anxiety through the lens of training, considering difficult experiences like appearing on this podcast as a form of practice – shugyo in daily life.

His unique insights provide another timely reminder that Aikido is far more than just a set of physical techniques; it’s a therapeutic exercise and a vital source of strength for navigating the complexities of modern life.

I could write much more about the deep, frank, open, lively, joyful conversation we had, but I want you to listen to the episode!

If you’d like to read some of Matt’s impressions on Aikido and life, please visit Aikiweb.com, where you can find his writing.

(I tried to post the link, but as we talk about in the episode, I always have trouble accessing Aikiweb. My computer told me to “delete my cookies”. I don’t even know what that means. Sorry.)

How does embracing our body’s non-cognitive intelligence offer us infinite pathways to creativity and conflict resolution that our overthinking minds cannot?

This week, I had a vivifying conversation in which we traverse that very question.

I had the immense pleasure of speaking with Dr. Elisabet Lahti, a brilliant researcher and educator from Helsinki, Finland.

Dr Lahti is world-renowned for studying and celebrating the ancient Finnish concept of Sisu, which she describes as Somatic Resilience: the universal human capacity to endure under pressure and take action against slim odds, unearthing courage from deep within.

Sisulab is her fantastic website and podcast, which I sincerely suggest you check out to learn more about the profound work she’s doing.

Dr Lahti’s journey into understanding this deep inner strength is powerfully, deeply personal. Her own experience drove her probing research: How do humans find a way to overcome extreme difficulty? What is Sisu beyond concept?

She pushed her limits, running 1,500 miles across the entire length of New Zealand to research Sisu viscerally while simultaneously supporting a campaign to end domestic violence.

Intense effort led to a massive realization: the old idea of “mind over matter” wasn’t the path to true strength. This discovery led to the foundation of her groundbreaking concept: Gentle Power.

Dr Lahti describes Gentle Power as the high octave version of Sisu. It’s the way to use the primordial human life force in a conscious manner. She emphasizes that being relaxed is vital; being relaxed doesn’t mean that you’re powerless.

Gentle Power is the yin and the yang, the hard and soft qualities in harmony.

Gentle Power is strength that is unforced, tender, and tempered, combining fierce resolve with softness and discernment. When describing its effect, she states that Gentle Power doesn’t grasp, doesn’t impose, doesn’t demand, doesn’t pretend, and yet, it expresses, states, and excels, allowing you to use your vital life force (Ki) without burning out.

One huge takeaway from our talk, for me, was the reminder that cognitive reality is not the only reality. I notice that in most of these talks, this resolution of the schism between “mind” and “body” is often discussed.

I’m learning so much.

Dr Lahti shares how her background in social psychology had conditioned her to view human behavior and strength as something primarily mental. But her own research helped her realize that Sisu is more somatic than cognitive.

She notes that as we grow up and enter society, we are often robbed of our natural way of moving through the world, forcing most things to seem to happen only in the cognitive realm, almost like we are constrained by a “cognitive broadband.”

This is limiting, to say the least.

She views Aikido as the necessary “yin side” to balance sheer determination, constantly giving the impetus to relax more. This helps develop the intelligence of the body and teaches us how to harmonize and blend to dissolve conflict of energy.

Borrowing a phrase from past guest, Richard Moon, we were really just “learning out loud” together.

Hope you enjoy the episode!