Ki to the City

kitothecity

5.0 (3)
Spirituality

Exploring Aikido, philosophy and practice kitothecity.substack.com

2h ago

Solo episode

For a while I’ve been contemplating doing one solo episode a month in order to alleviate the pressure and grind of finding a new guest every week. It does take some time and energy to reach out and make contact, respectfully dive into their background, and cross my fingers that all the “tech” works when we sit down to record our conversation. Of course, no one’s really asking me for a weekly podcast (mostly) about Aikido. I could just publish it whenever it strikes my fancy. No one’s banging down my door. But I know myself… If I don’t stick to a routine and act as my own taskmaster, I’ll end up quitting. This project is helping me better cultivate my character, so I don’t want to do that just yet. But (two buts in a row) I’ve been hesitant because I feel like my writing (psychographical prose poetry) isn’t conducive to this format and I feel narcissistic talking about myself. Anyway, I had no internet last Wednesday when I was supposed to record this episode with a special undisclosed guest, and though I was feeling indisputably flustered, I took a deep breath and decided that it must be the universe telling me to stop my hedging and follow through with my plan. And I do listen to the universe. I also need to create some space, perhaps, step back from the inter-view-point, and absorb some of the ki insights I’m receiving from all the amazing people I get to talk to. It’s easy to get caught up in production and promotion / move on to the next without letting the impressions sink in. So, henceforth, (I think that’s what that means) going forward, every fourth episode, it’s just going to be me; where I’m at, and what I’m learning. Today, I have some exciting personal news to share. Thanks to a generously awarded grant from ASU—which I’m extremely grateful for—I’ll be attending my very first winter Intensive in January Traveling isn’t easy for me, so receiving this grant makes a huge difference. I’m excited to see Saotome Sensei in person. It’s been too long. I’m sure its going to be a great experience. And I’ll tell you all about it. I’ve been thinking a lot lately, predominantly inspired by the last few episodes, about where my life was headed before I found Aikido. My abandoned fate, if you will. My early life was intense. I was lucky to have Italian grandparents who sheltered me some from the worst of it, but I started off with a pretty negative view of “society”. And saw my role in it as a disruptor. Before Aikido, artistically, I was involved mostly in music and acting, (I mean, besides waiting tables). But I wasn’t doing either with joy. Mine was a self-destructive pursuit. So, when I listened to Nick Walker sensei talk about his background—growing up in violent poverty and how Aikido helped him, it resonated. I know I use that word too much, but it always seems to make the most sense. Aikido gives me a practice that forces me to respect my own earthly vessel. Gives me one more reason to stay healthy and present instead of destroying myself with vengeful aesthetic dystopic intentions. Until I started this podcast, I existed within my own dojo bubble cloud. I’d go to class, practice, and be on my merry way. I didn’t pay much attention to the wider Aikido world or what other people were arguing about incessantly online. Mainly because I felt(feel) like social media was(is) a technocratic plot to further enslave humanity, but uhh…. Anyway, hosting this podcast burst that bubble wide open. I’ve learned many things about Aikido’s past and present, and I do hope to be part of it’s future. I’ll have to ultimately contend with how I relate to hierarchy. I’ve always had a stubborn, anti-authoritarian streak—don’t like the feeling of being “trained” or “programmed”. But talking with Dave Goldberg Sensei brought something important into focus: water needs a channel. Pure freedom with zero form is diluvial, flooding the field it was meant to fertilize. Of course, I need a center. Form to improvise from. There’s always a balance to find. David Brown Sensei said, “this path is one of unfolding, not encapsulating.” Funny how I always feel pressure to encapsulate when I write. Even if it doesn’t show. Next time I promise I’ll concentrate more on unfolding. For now I’m out of time. But stay tuned… 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. Pretty please. And don’t forget to check out the brand new Bookstore!!! Get full access to Ki to the City at kitothecity.substack.com/subscribe
Oct 23

W/Dave Goldberg Sensei

Conversing with an open-minded teacher who’s spent innumerous hours immersed in the deepest currents of Aikido—from classical uchi-deshi apprenticeships to cutting-edge somatic and psychological frameworks—I knew I was in for something special. Dave Goldberg Sensei, Chief Instructor of Aikido of San Diego, embodies an extraordinary synthesis of traditional pedigree and cutting-edge wisdom. This conversation felt like a natural continuation of a larger thread. In previous episodes, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with Patrick Cassidy Sensei and Marco Rubatto Sensei, exploring how Aikido can maintain its position as living, responsive (martial) art for the ever-changing present. Dave Sensei stands right at the heart of that movement, bridging the classical past with a dynamic, open-ended future. What makes his perspective so rich is the vast tapestry of legendary influences woven together in his practice. His path began at Sunset Cliffs Aikido in San Diego, training under Bernice Tom Sensei and Satoshi Takamori Sensei. That early foundation instilled in him unvarnished discipline, physical conditioning, and classical mat etiquette. In 1990, he moved to Japan. In Tokyo, he trained at Aikikai Hombu Dojo and Asia University under Kobayashi Sensei and the current Doshu. Concurrently, he immersed himself in the rigorous curriculum of Iwama under Saito Sensei—including an intensive summer residency at Iwama dojo where he first met and trained alongside long-time collaborator Patrick Cassidy sensei. He then spent two and a half years in Kanazawa on the Sea of Japan, training under Kitamoto Sensei, a senior student of the legendary Nishio Sensei. Practicing in a compact tatami room situated directly in the rear of Kitamoto’s working rice shop—as the very first non-Japanese student admitted to the dojo—he absorbed an intimate, stripped-down vision of Budo that sincerely integrated atemi and sword work. Upon returning to the United States, he continued refining his art alongside Frank Doran Sensei, who emphasized practical accessibility and common-sense mat dynamics, and Robert Nadeau sensei, whose transpersonal, energetic, and consciousness-based approach helped him view martial movement as a direct tool for self-discovery. Rather than allowing these distinct streams—Iwama precision, Nishio martial mechanics, and Nadeau energetic awareness—to dwell in disparate silos, Dave Sensei helped forge a unified, developmental paradigm. Alongside Patrick Cassidy Sensei, he was instrumental in the foundation of the Evolutionary Aikido Community (EAC).The EAC offers a fresh, trauma-informed, and inquiry-based container for practice while maintaining full technical accreditation through the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Learn more at: EAC website One of the most fascinating topics we explored in this episode is a new groundbreaking methodology known as Combat Improv. Pioneered originally by Patrick Cassidy Sensei and refined collaboratively within the EAC, Combat Improv asks sincerely: What does Aikido look like without predetermined techniques or scripts? Pre-arranged sequences can lead to rigid habits or compliant falling. Combat Improv strips away predetermined patterns, nage vs. uke roles, and the desire to win or lose. Partners engage in unchoreographed, fluid encounters with variable tempos, requiring each person to remain grounded, receptive, and somatically present under real physical pressure. It isn’t a replacement for traditional technique, but a profound complementary exercise—a way to test whether your body can truly embody non-resistance when there is no planned outcome. But don’t take my word for it, hear the founders describe it: Combat Improv Link Beyond technical innovation, Goldberg Sensei is deeply passionate about cultivating a supportive dojo environment at his dojo in San Diego. We also discuss something extremely important to me, how Aikido practice should leave our bodies feeling healthier, more energized as we age—rather than boasting of accumulated joint injuries—and how creating space for students to honor their personal boundaries builds genuine longevity in the art. Whether you are curious about the historical roots of Iwama and Nishio Aikido, interested in how improv comedy intersects with Budo, or looking for practical ways to take your practice off the mat, this episode offers a rich, thought-provoking journey. Check it out!!! 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!!! Get full access to Ki to the City at kitothecity.substack.com/subscribe
Oct 15

W/David Brown

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!!! Get full access to Ki to the City at kitothecity.substack.com/subscribe
Oct 8

W/Nick Walker sensei

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!!! Get full access to Ki to the City at kitothecity.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 29

w/Josh Gold Sensei

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!!! Get full access to Ki to the City at kitothecity.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 22

W/Marco Rubatto sensei 2

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!!! Get full access to Ki to the City at kitothecity.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 14

W/Elise Youssoufian

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!!! Get full access to Ki to the City at kitothecity.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 7

w/Luke Archer

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 Get full access to Ki to the City at kitothecity.substack.com/subscribe

5

out of 5

3 Ratings

Transformative content

Feb 7

Gregory897q

I’m thankful for this project. The topics covered are deep, beautiful and transformative. Such wisdom and insight. I

Exploring Aikido, philosophy and practice kitothecity.substack.com

Creator

kitothecity
Years Active

2023 - 2026
Episodes

94
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Jon Di Luca
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Ki to the City

Fitness

Fitness

Updated Aug 26