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 arts training into the modern world. The podcast is hosted by David Ito Sensei who is the Chief Inst...
Aug 08, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Season 3Ep. 9
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 questions and many more are answered in this episode of the Aiki Dojo Podcast. Enjoy! The Aiki Dojo...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 8
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 Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is hosted by David Ito Se...
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 7
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 goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. Th...
May 23, 2023•59 min•Season 3Ep. 6
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 goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. T...
Apr 20, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Season 3Ep. 5
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - The Role of Break Fall Training in Aikido In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we discuss the role of break fall or tobi ukemi (飛び受け身) in Aikido training. Tobi means “to fly” and ukemi means “to accept with your body.” Over the last 50+ years break fall ukemi has really evolved. In the past, break fall ukemi was reserved for higher level students. Today, with the improvement in pedagogical methods, break fall training is available to students earlier in their trainin...
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 4
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Remembering Your Teacher In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we discuss the importance of remembering one’s teachers. On a certain level, remembering one’s teachers is an act of gratitude. There is a power that comes with remembering our teachers. Furuya Sensei often talked about something “spiritual capital.” Spiritual capital is the resource that we draw upon to give us this power. One way to build up this capital is by actively remembering our teachers. It is onl...
Mar 01, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 3
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - An Interview With David Ito Sensei In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, Santiago Almaraz Garcia turns the tables on David Ito Sensei and interviews him. This interview was conducted in November of 2022 before Ito Sensei was promoted to 6th Dan. Find out more about Ito Sensei and what it was like starting Aikido over 30 years ago in this episode of the Aiki Dojo Podcast. The Aiki Dojo Podcast goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts trainin...
Feb 16, 2023•48 min•Season 3Ep. 2
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Aikido and Spirituality In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we discuss Aikido and the role spirituality plays in its practice. Aikido is not a religion, a dojo is not a church and the teacher is not a guru. However, Aikido does have a heavy spiritual component. People often think that Aikido is more of a spiritual martial art because there is no competition. It is true that Aikido does not have competition but at its core it is still a martial art. If this is the ca...
Jan 17, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 1
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - How to Handle Injuries In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we discuss injuries in Aikido training. At some point or another, every person will experience an injury in their Aikido training. Injuries occur because of one or a combination of three factors: nage error, uke error or teacher error. Injuries are one of the greatest teachers in our training because, often times, an injury is our first real “challenge.” Injuries test our perseverance, dedication and passion...
Dec 02, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 2Ep. 13
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - An Interview with Didier Boyet Shihan Part TWO This is the part two of Ito Sensei's interview with Didier Boyet Shihan. Boyet Shihan is ranked Aikido 7th Dan and Iaido 6th Dan. Boyet Shihan started Aikido in 1971 and studied at Hombu Dojo from 1977-2016 and was a long time student of T.K. Chiba Sensei. In this over 51 years of experiences he brings an interesting perspective having been a westerner training at Hombu Dojo with some of the greatest Aikido masters of our tim...
Nov 07, 2022•37 min•Season 2Ep. 12
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - An Interview with Didier Boyet Shihan Part 1 In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, Ito Sensei interviews Didier Boyet Shihan. Boyet Shihan is ranked Aikido 7th Dan and Iaido 6th Dan. Boyet Shihan started Aikido in 1971 and studied at Hombu Dojo from 1977-2016 and was a long time student of T.K. Chiba Sensei. In this over 51 years of experiences he brings an interesting perspective having been a westerner training at Hombu Dojo with some of the greatest Aikido masters ...
Nov 07, 2022•41 min•Season 2Ep. 11
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - What are the Best Qualities of a Martial Artist? In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we discuss which qualities are the best for martial artists. If you could only give a student one or two traits, which traits would you choose? Some might choose six pack abs while others would choose incredible strength. Ito Sensei would only choose determination. The Aiki Dojo Podcast goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern wor...
Sep 27, 2022•56 min•Season 2Ep. 11
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Is Aikido Real Budo? In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we discusses the concept of Aikido and Budo. Many think people think that for something to be a true Budo art that it has to involve killing and with that definition Aikido does not qualify. Ito Sensei discusses what it means to be “Budo” and how Aikido is in fact Budo. Budo is not the “art of killing” but rather the art of true self-development. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/RL3EJnsbYSI The Aiki Dojo Podcas...
Sep 07, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 10
In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, Ito Sensei and Glenn Yoshida Sensei from Aikido Renshinkan Hawaii discuss authenticity in Aikido. Many think that to be authentic the attacks and the techniques need to be contemporary. Ito Sensei and Yoshida Sensei debate this theory and discuss how authenticity is really in the intention. The Aiki Dojo Podcast goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is hosted by David Ito Sensei w...
Aug 17, 2022•59 min•Season 2Ep. 9
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - An Interview With Glenn Yoshida, Aikido 7th Dan In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, Ito Sensei interviews Glenn Yoshida Sensei from Aikido Renshinkan Hawaii. Yoshida Sensei started Aikido in the 1960s and is 7th Dan. In his youth, he spent over a decade training at Hombu Dojo. Over his 60+ years of Aikido training, Yoshida Sensei has had the privilege of studying with some of the most prolific Aikido teachers in history. Yoshida Sensei shares many great stories abou...
Jul 26, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 8
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - The Two Most Challenging Ranks: 3rd Kyu & 3rd Dan In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, discuss the phenomenon where students quit training at either 3rd Kyu or 3rd Dan. Typically, people tend to quit training around 3rd Kyu or 3rd Dan. This is because of doubt. 3rd Kyu students have been training for a few years and the movement hasn’t become second nature which makes them doubt their own proficiency. 3rd Dan students have been training for a long time and have a...
Jul 12, 2022•42 min•Season 2Ep. 7
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Convincing People About Aikido In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we answer a listener question about how to convince other people about Aikido. For one reason or another, Aikido’s effectiveness and validity as a martial art comes into question. For beginners, defending Aikido is a difficult argument to debate. In this episode, Ito Sensei discusses how he deals with naysayers and those that would disparage Aikido. The Aiki Dojo Podcast goal is to translate traditio...
Jun 26, 2022•59 min•Season 2Ep. 6
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - An interview with Andrew Blevins Sensei from Kiryu Aikido In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we interview Andrew Blevins Sensei of Kiryu Aikido. Blevins Sensei has been doing Aikido since 1985 and has studied many different styles of Aikido including Iwama style and Tomiki style and was the Chief Instructor at Nippon-kan for many years. Blevins Sensei brings over 37 years of experience to the podcast and we hope you find his interview interesting. The Aiki Dojo Pod...
May 03, 2022•58 min•Season 2Ep. 5
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - The Difference Between Customers and Students In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we discuss the difference between being a student and being a customer. Having a student’s mindset is about educating oneself while the customer’s mindset is transactional. The student thinks about learning and improving themselves. The customer wants to get something for their money. However, the martial arts can’t be quantified or qualified by external measures because it will never ...
Mar 23, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 4
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - What does it mean to be a good teacher? In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we discuss the teacher and what it means to be considered “good.” Does good mean having lots of students? Does good mean being solely technically proficient? In the past, a teachers only qualification used to be in how strict they were. Does that hold true today? If not, then what makes someone “good” and has the criteria for “good” changed? Watch this podcast on Youtube: https://youtu.be/nf...
Mar 01, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 3
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Should Teachers Hit Their Students? In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we answer another listener question. This question deals with teachers and whether or not they should hit their students as a tool to improve their learning ability or for any other reason. Ito Sensei weighs in on this controversial topic. The Aiki Dojo Podcast goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is hosted by David Ito ...
Feb 15, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 2
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Teaching Philosophies In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we answer a listener question about teaching philosophies and teaching at other dojos. The Aiki Dojo Podcast goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is hosted by David Ito Sensei who is the Chief Instructor of the Aikido Center of Los Angeles and he brings brings over 30 years of Aikido training to the podcast. The podcast is co-hosted b...
Jan 25, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 1
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Looking Back on 2021 In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we look back on not only 2021 but the entire pandemic and discuss how things have changed. This is our 14th episode and season 1 finale. We look forward to 2022 and many more episodes. The Aiki Dojo Podcast goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is hosted by David Ito Sensei who is the Chief Instructor of the Aikido Center of Los Angeles...
Dec 26, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 14
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - The Art of Peace vs. The Art of War In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we again discuss a topic presented by a listener. This listener wants to understand how one should reconcile O’Sensei’s philosophy of peace and non-violence with certain Aikido techniques and movements which seem aggressive and contrary to his philosophies. Ito Sensei gives his take on what “peace” means and how it is more of an internal state of being rather than a physical action. The Aiki Doj...
Dec 07, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 13
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - The Art of Being a Student In this week’s episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, we discuss another topic presented from a listener. Listener Chris asks, “What does it mean to be a student in a traditional art.” Ito Sensei explains that being a student is an art in and of itself. He discusses that to be thought of as a “good” student requires that the student not only be committed but also that they do the right thing at the right time. Just those two things alone require so m...
Nov 19, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Season 1Ep. 12
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Aikido in Your Daily Life This episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast answers a listener question. Listener Miriam references a passage from Furuya Sensei’s book Kodo: "Today, in our fast-paced world, I think students of martial arts need to plunge deeper into their training. It is not that training needs to be more intense, but that training should pervade our whole lives.” Miriam asks, "How have you applied this in daily life throughout your years in Aikido?” Ito Sensei relat...
Nov 02, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 11
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Learning Traditionally in Modern Times This episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast deals with the conundrum of training in a traditional martial art in the modern day. Ito Sensei’s view is that there is no distinction between the student of the past and the student of the present. The teachers of old gave the student little information while the student of today has a lot of information. Both create a sense of blindness that the student has to overcome in order to get good and ...
Oct 12, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast we discusses a question from one of our viewers. She asks, “Could you talk about body (physical) mind and spirit in Aikido? Focused more on back in the old days about how samurai took care of themselves and stayed prepared for war and chaos.” Thus, the basic answer is really more about the mindset that a warrior has which keeps them prepared and sharp at all times. The Aiki Dojo Podcast goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts ...
Sep 20, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 9
The Aiki Dojo Podcast - Weapons Training in Aikido In this episode of the Aiki Dojo podcast, Ito Sensei discusses weapons training in Aikido. Aikido movement, timing and spacing are based upon weapon’s movement, timing and spacing. Logically it would seem that weapons proficiency is required in Aikido. But, is that true? Watch or listen and make a decision for yourself. The Aiki Dojo Podcast goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The ...
Sep 07, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 8
