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 life.  Enjoy! Watch here: https://youtu.be/nCBL5aDtxVk The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to...

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 Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into...

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 podcast is hosted by David Ito Sensei who is the Chief Instructor of the Aikido Center...

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 hosted by David Ito Sensei who is the Chief Instructor of the Aikido Center of Los Angeles and...

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-sUI The Aiki Dojo Podcast’s goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial...

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 traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is hosted by David Ito Sensei...

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 hosted by David Ito Sensei who is the Chief Instructor of the Aikido Center of Los Angeles and...

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-dan-shihan/ The Aiki Dojo Podcast goal is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional...

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 traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern world. The podcast is hosted...

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 is to translate traditional Aikido and traditional martial arts training into the modern...

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 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/aikidojo/support

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...