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 [email protected]. 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.

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

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 [email protected], 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.

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

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 [email protected]. 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.

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

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 [email protected], 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.

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

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 [email protected], 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.

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

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 [email protected], 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.

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

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: [email protected]

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 [email protected], 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.

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

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…

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

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 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 [email protected], 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.

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