Budo: The Way of the Warrior Podcast

In this episode, recorded off the mat, Valadez Sensei discusses his Blog Entry: "Aikido and Women." Issues of Aikido practicality, unconscious business models, the cultural problem of boyhood, the social aspect of Wu-Wei ,and of being in accordance with the Tao culturally, are all discussed from the perspective of the disportioncate mat. Follow this link to the article: https://www.senshincenter.c...

In this episode, recorded off the mat, Valadez Sensei goes into detail on what he means when he says we modern practitioners need to perform an "archeology" of Aikido in order to practice it more fully. Here, responding to a listener request, Valadez Sensei performs this archeology in relation to an article he wrote, titled "Osensei, Omoto-kyo Theology, and Ichirei-Shikon-Sangen-Hachiriki." Follow...

In this episode, recorded on the mat, Valadez Sensei debriefs with deshi following two days of training on the Te-Sabaki in Irimi Nage. Training moves from Kihon to Live Drilling, and both venues are used to bring insight into the other aspect. Be sure to watch the related YouTube Videos: - https://youtu.be/j4aWAAdTqNI - https://youtu.be/kL14kd2m_XM The following book is mentioned in the podcast a...

In this episode, recorded on the mat, Valadez Sensei debriefs with deshi following a Two-Man Jiyu Waza training session. Several key concepts are discussed which are to the interdependency of the martial and the spiritual in Aikido. Please be sure to watch the associated YouTube Video for more helpful hints on Two-Man Jiyu Waza. Two-Man Jiyu Waza YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/60fZHOUIbhc "Zen Mi...

In this episode, recorded of the mat, Valadez Sensei discusses the psychology of Shu-Ha-Ri from the point of view of its cultural and historical roots and how we can and should fit it into our training today.

In this episode, recorded on the mat, Valadez Sensei debriefs on a live drilling application for Kaiten Nage. Several deshi found it difficult to implement Kokyu and Aiki outside of Kihon Waza parameters and ended up needing to resort to external mechanical engines in order to perform the technique. This gave rise to questions on where and how Aikido's internal aspects are to be manifested outside...

In this episode, recorded on the mat, Valadez Sensei debriefs with deshi following a Jiyu Waza training session having control devices. Several key concepts related to Shu-Ha-Ri, and Takemusu Aiki are discussed. Also, direction is given regarding the early attempts to move beyond form to the reconciliation of form. Please be sure to watch the associated two YouTube Videos on how to use control dev...

In this episode, recorded on the mat, Valadez Sensei debriefs with deshi following a Jiyu Waza training session. Several key concepts are discussed which are related to Shu-Ha-Ri training paradigms, As/If Ritual Pedagogy, and moving from forms training to training in live environments. Please be sure to watch the associated YouTube Video for more helpful hints on bridging the gap from Kihon to Jiy...

In this episode, recorded on the mat, Valadez Sensei addresses questions and comments from the deshi on Shomenuchi Ikkyo, reconciling the strike on it way up, and the practice of No-Self. Aikido at Senshin Center www.senshincenter.com www.facebook.com/senshincenter Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and SoundCloud - "Budo" The Way of the Warrior Podcast." Please support the continuing of...

In this episode, recorded off the mat, Valadez Sensei offers definitions for key terms in Aikido practice. These definitions are derived from nearly forty years of intense Budo practice and his Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate Studies in Japanese Religious Cultural History.

In this episode, recorded off the mat, Valadez Sensei discusses some of the last words Chiba Sensei offered to teachers and students on Aikido. Valadez Sensei discusses these words and what they may mean at an individual level in light of a survey recently conducted by Aikido Journal. Chiba Sensei's Video: https://youtu.be/4fY1orKqCMI Aikido Journal's Special Report: https://aikidojournal.com/2020...

In this episode, recorded off the mat, Valadez Sensei addresses a listener's question on how one should physically condition for Aikido training. To view the referenced podcast on Pavel Tsatsouline, see: https://youtu.be/Rm0GNWSKzYs For questions on this episode or for suggested reflection points for future podcasts, please email us at: senshinone@gmail.com. For further information, please visit w...

In this episode, recorded off the mat, Valadez Sensei begins a series of elaborations on his Annual Reflections. Here, he starts with April 2012. In particular, this discussion focuses on the role of the teacher and how the practical function of a teacher is contested by modern culture and modern pedagogy today. For questions on this episode or for suggested reflection points for future podcasts,...

In this episode, recorded off the mat, Valadez Sensei continues his series of discussions on the Founder's mysticism, and on the semantic problem of understanding that mysticism from the point of view of the Modern episteme. These discussion will provide historical context to the Founder's practice and the centrality that his religiosity held in within his art. They will also culminate in a positi...

In this episode, recorded off the mat, Valadez Sensei continues his series of discussions on the Founder's mysticism, and on the semantic problem of understanding that mysticism from the point of view of the Modern episteme. These discussion will provide historical context to the Founder's practice and the centrality that his religiosity held in within his art. They will also culminate in a positi...

In this episode, recorded off the mat, Valadez Sensei begins a series of discussions on the Founder's mysticism, and on the semantic problem of understanding that mysticism from the point of view of the Modern episteme. These discussion will provide historical context to the Founder's practice and the centrality that his religiosity held in within his art. They will also culminate in a position on...

In this episode, recorded off the mat, Valadez Sensei answers a deshi's request to speak on the role of the deshi within the Sensei/Deshi relationship. Valadez Sensei addresses this question from how best a deshi contributes to the success of their own practice. For suggested reflection points for future podcasts, please email us at: senshinone@gmail.com. For further information, please visit www....

In this episode, recorded off the mat, Valadez Sensei answers a deshi's request to speak on the Sensei/Deshi relationship. Valadez Sensei uses this opportunity to ask and answer the question: "Do you need a sensei?" For suggested reflection points for future podcasts, please email us at: senshinone@gmail.com. For further information, please visit www.senshincenter.com, follow us at Facebook.com/se...

In this episode, recorded in studio, Valadez Sensei answers a listener's request to speak on the how Senshin Center uses Kettle Bells as part of the dojo's overall curriculum. Additionally, Valadez Sensei reflects aloud on the overall role of strength training in Budo. For suggested reflection points for future podcasts, please email us at: senshinone@gmail.com. For further information, please vis...

In this episode, recorded in studio, Valadez Sensei answers a listener's request to speak on the question of, "How do we measure growth in Aikido?" Valadez Sensei begins this discussion by repeating his structural breakdown of the training equation and by outlining key signs for growth (consistency, capacity, depth, and dispersion). Additionally, Valadez Sensei goes on to discuss Osensei's highest...

In this episode, recorded in studio, Valadez Sensei answers a listener's request to speak on "Shoshin" or "The Beginner's Mind." Valadez Sensei begins this discussion by reading the prologue from Shunryu Suzuki's book, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind." This book is available through Amazon at the following link: https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B00I8USOM0&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_k...

In this episode, recorded in studio, Valadez Sensei reflects aloud on Miyamoto's Musashi's "Dokkodo" - "The Path Walked Alone." This text was written in 1645, one week before Musashi's death. It is a reflection on his life, and Valadez Sensei here uses it as a point of reflection in our own lives. Tradition holds that Musashi wrote the Dokkodo's 21 one-line articles the day he handed "The Book of...

In this episode, recorded in studio, Valadez Sensei reflects aloud on commitment and discipline, and he proposes some very practical perspectives and practices on how to development them. He additionally touches base on contrasting historical and modern assumptions regarding commitment and discipline that may be playing a role in our practice. For further information, please visit www.senshincente...

In this episode, recorded in studio, Valadez Sensei reflects aloud on the limitations of controlled training environments and live training environments. In particular, he brings to the surface the error in logic that holds that the Universal can fully address the Individual as well as the accompanying error in logic that holds the Individual can stand for the Universal. This reflection follows th...

In this episode, recorded on the Mat, Valadez Sensei discusses with his deshi the importance of pushing ourselves past our perceived limits and the positive significance of failure in our own improvement. For further information, please visit www.senshincenter.com, follow us on Facebook.com/senshincenter, or view over 400 videos and hours of information on our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/senshino...