The Aiki Dojo Podcast

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - You Want to Start Your Own Dojo? In Episode 58 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, Ito Sensei talks about what he says when someone asks to start their own dojo. He believes that it isn’t so much a matter of a specific rank, but rather that one apply themselves in the process and preparation to become a person who teaches others.     Enjoy! Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/H...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Aikido Conversations II In Episode 57 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss a number of different topics related to Aikido, training, and martial arts. Listen in on the conversation. Enjoy! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/uPbViZHqAFg You can also listen to this podcast on iTunes or Spotify or wherever you download your podcast. The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate tr...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - The Aiki Dojo Podcast - A Discussion on Strengths vs. Weaknesses  In Episode 56 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss whether building upon your strengths or addressing your weaknesses makes you a better Aikidoist or helps you develop faster.   Enjoy! Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/_hLl7HD73Qw The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and tra...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Aikido Conversations I In Episode 55 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss a number of different topics related to Aikido, training, and martial arts. Listen in on the conversation.   Enjoy! Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/8Ab2asTZDJM The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The pod...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Sportsmanship and Aikido In Episode 54 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss sportsmanship and how it applies to Aikido training. Although, Aikido is not a sport, it does share some common traits that go hand in hand with sportsmanship.  Enjoy! Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/Udyl4VmEkuc The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditiona...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Atemi in Aikido  In Episode 53 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss atemi (当て身) or the practice of striking in Aikido. We discuss its history, evolution, and its place in training.  Enjoy! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/QtnyuqvQaVo The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Why is Aikido Misunderstood? In Episode 52 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss how Aikido might be misunderstood by not only practitioners but by the general public. It comes down to how Aikido is classified. Aikido can be exercise, a martial art, a philosophy, a discipline and maybe even a religion. But, what we see might not be what we are looking for and thus we fall in...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - How Does Age Affect Training? In Episode 51 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss the role age and aging and how it affects training. On a certain level, age is a mindset. Those who think they can, will. Those who think they can’t, won’t. Tune into the discussion on how age affects Aikido training.  Enjoy! The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and t...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Is Aikido Lethal? In Episode 50 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss lethality and discus the whether or not Aikido is lethal. Aikido is a mature martial art but it has its roots in traditional Japanese Jujitsu dating as far back as mid 800 AD. Born out of warfare and combat, Aikido strives to be a modern martial art and thus the role of killing has been evolved out of the...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - The Importance of Correct Ukemi In Episode 49 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss ukemi and how its correct execution is imperative to the mastery of Aikido. Ukemi is not just falling down for someone. It is an intricate and detail oriented process of moving with the nage. Ukemi teaches us so much more than physical movement that it becomes a metaphor for how to live one’s...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Failure Teaches Success In Episode 48 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss how failure is the key to success. Success is great and it feels good to celebrated. However, in terms of self-development, failure is a way better tool.  Watch it here:  ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/GsL-CxdYmlo⁠⁠ Watch Kendo’s Most Grueling Challenge here: https://youtu.be/qlXZvtxBjlI Enjoy! The Aiki Dojo Pod...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Is Aikido an Art? In Episode 47 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss the concept of Aikido being a form of art. Find out what constitutes something being classified as an art and if Aikido is an art.  Enjoy! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/MXlwwN6tpBU The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world....

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Aikido in the 21st Century & Beyond In Episode 43 of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss how Aikido is different today in the 21st century and what people have to differently. Enjoy! Watch to it here: https://youtu.be/1pWBgeUOnls The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is host...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Teaching: Yesterday vs. Today In this episode of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss teaching and learning in the past and in the present. Within this topic, Ito Sensei discusses if Aikido is relevant, what it was like studying under Furuya Sensei and how modern traditional training can be applied to martial artists of today.     Enjoy! Watch here: https://youtu.be/IGscHaQ-sU...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - What it Takes to Get to 25 Years In this episode of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, Ito Sensei talks with Santiago Garcia Almaraz Sensei of Kodokai Dojo about their dojo’s 25th anniversary. Find out about the ups and downs and what it takes to get to 25 years.   Enjoy! Watch here: https://youtu.be/GDqD_ztsdmw The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and tradit...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - A Discussion on The Mindset of Mastery In this episode of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss mastery and the psychology surrounding it. Is mastery or excellence an all the time thing? Or is it something we strive for? Find out! Enjoy! The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is ho...

An Interview With Pepe Jesus Garcia, Aikido 7th Dan Ito Sensei interviews 7th Dan Aikido teacher Pepe Jesus Garcia. Garcia Shihan has been doing Aikido since the 1970s and studied in Japan. Garcia Shihan is also the president of Spain Aikikai and follows Endo Sensei. Watch here: https://youtu.be/SMPEeVNeEdc Learn more about Garcia Shihan: https://spainaikikai.org/2019/01/20/pepe-jesus-garcia-6o-da...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - The Unintended Benefits of Aikido Training  In this episode of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss the unintended benefits from Aikido training. Ito Sensei shares his personal story about a benefit he received from his Aikido training that he didn’t realize would happen.  Enjoy! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/6Cp1E01XOWU The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate tradition...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - An Interview With Gayne Sogi, Aikido 7th Dan Ito Sensei interviews 7th Dan Aikido teacher Gayne Sogi from Hawaii Betsuin Aikido Club. Sogi Sensei has been doing Aikido since 1960 and was a long time student of Sadao Yoshioka Sensei. Hawaii Betsuin Aikido Club: https://www.aikidohawaii.org/dojo_hbac.html Watch it here: https://youtu.be/kO-tyr_KSTs The Aiki Dojo Podcast goal...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Using  Cheats, Hacks, and Shortcuts in Training   In this episode of the Aiki Dojo Podcast, we discuss ways to accelerate one’s learning in terms of employing cheats, hacking, or any other shortcut.  Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/tGpzjPx3RR0

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - A Discussion on the Evolution of Aikido Ito Sensei welcomes back Glenn Yoshida Sensei from Aikido Renshinkan Hawaii. In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we answer a listener’s question and discuss how Aikido is evolved over years.  Watch it here: https://youtu.be/kevNoadMDq0 Enjoy! The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - What do you know now that you wished you knew back then? Watch the podcast here: https://youtu.be/0PIB_j2z-bo In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we reflect back on our Aikido training. What do we know now that we wished we knew back then? What do you think students should know before they start? What are some things that you wish you could change? The answer to these...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Obstacles in Training  In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we discuss obstacles in training. Obstacles can be physical, mental, philosophical or even spiritual. The topics vary from injury to discouragement. No matter who we are or how long we have been training, we will always be confronted with obstacles.  The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aik...

In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we interview Salvatore LaCorte Shihan. LaCorte Shihan is a 6th degree black belt Shihan in Aikido. He started Aikido in 1981 under Linda Lee Vecchio Shihan. Vecchio Shihan was one of the first female Shihan in Aikido. LaCorte Shihan brings over 42 years of experience to the mat.  Enjoy! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/eyjUJuBBqMU The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s go...

The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Aikido and Swordsmanship In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we welcome Ken Watanabe Sensei. Watanabe Sensei is a 6th degree black belt in Aikido and a 5th degree black belt in Muso Shinden-ryu Iaido. Together with Watanabe Sensei, we discuss what role swordsmanship plays in Aikido training.  Enjoy! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/gGgk42DH1jw The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s g...