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 Aiki...

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, gett...

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-f...

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...

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 struc...

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, rec...

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...

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...

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 o...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 w...

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...

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...

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 t...

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...

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

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 enco...

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 spir...

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...

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 de...

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 a...

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, Sa...