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THE INTEGRAL DOJO PRESENTS

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50 AIKIDO EXPERTS
GIVE YOU THEIR #1 PRACTICE TIP
FOR KEEPING YOUR AIKIDO

AT THE LEADING EDGE!

Edited By Miles Kessler 1
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome Letter From Miles Kessler….………………………………………………….….. 3

CHAPTER 1: On Connection ……..………………..……………………………………….. 4


Richard Strozzi-Heckler, Paul Linden, Sonja Sauer ……..………………..……………….. 5

Joe Thambu, Mouliko Halen ………………………………..……..…..……………………. 6

CHAPTER 2: On Curiosity & Exploration ……..………………..…………………………. 7

Linda Holiday, Charles Colten, Blaine Feyen ……………………………………………… 8

Kayla Feder, Roy Dean, Dominique Cassidy ..………………….………………………….. 9

CHAPTER 3: On Honesty ……..………………..…………………………………………. 10

Jack Wada, Jan Nevelius ……………………………..…………..………………………… 11

Judith Elza, Rokas Leonavicius, Bogdan Heretoiu ..……………………………………… 12



Michael Friedl, Anita Paalvast ……………………………………………………………… 13

CHAPTER 4: On Authenticity ……..………………..…………………………………….. 14

Wendy Palmer, Corky Quakenbush, Susan Chandler ……………………………………. 15

Kimberly Richardson, Richard Moon, Robert Kent ………………………………………. 16

CHAPTER 5: On Commitment To Practice ……..………………..………………………. 17

Christian Tissier, David Shaner ..………………………..…………………………………. 18




John Stevens, Paula “Rei Kiku” Femenias, Bill Leicht ……………………………………. 19

Rev. Koichi Barrish, Lenny Sly, Quentin Cook ……………………………………………. 20

Vince Salvatore, Miranda Saarentaus, Bjorn Saw ……………………………………….. 21

Peter Menke, Don Ellingsworth, Thorsten Shoo ………………………………………….. 22

CHAPTER 6: On Inquiry & Self-Reflection ……..……..………………..……………….. 23

Patrick Cassidy, Dave Goldberg, Eran “Junryu” Vardi ……………………………..………24

Robert Frager, Teja “Fudomyo” Bell, Mark Walsh ..……………………………………… 25

CHAPTER 7: On Integration ……..………………..……………………………………… 26

Robert Nadeau, Dirk Mueller, Fred Phillips …………………………………………….… 27

Dan Messisco, Josh Gold, Miles Kessler ………………………………………………..… 28

2
 WELCOME LETTER FROM

MILES KESSLER

Hello All,

For 10-days in May, 2017, I hosted the first of its kind Aikido tele-summit called
“Aikido At The Leading Edge.” In this online, global event, I gathered together with
46 of the worlds top Aikido teachers, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs for live
interviews, workshops, and panel discussions relevant to the art of Aikido.

Over 2,300 people tuned-in as the teachers generously offered their wisdom,
perspectives, and vision of Aikido At The Leading Edge.

At the end of each tele-summit session I asked a single question to all the
teachers, namely; “What is your #1 tip, or practice advice for someone to keep
their Aikido at the leading edge?” The answers were remarkably insightful.

I have gathered these answers here in this eBook, and have organized into the
following 7 sections:

1) On Connection 2) On Curiosity & Exploration 3) On Honesty 4) On

Authenticity 5) On Commitment To Practice 6) On Inquiry & Self-Reflection, and
7) On Integration.

It is my wish that the gems of wisdom collected in this eBook serve you as
guidance, inspiration, and further development along your path of practice. May
we all continue to co-create “Aikido At The Leading Edge!”

With Love,

Miles Kessler
The Integral Dojo
Aikido At The Leading Edge


July, 1st, 2017

www.theintegraldojo.com 3
 ON CONNECTION

“Merging”, “blending”, and “harmony” are

core principles in Aikido – it’s right there in
the name.

In fact, after the individual practice

principles like center and ground, the art
naturally extends out to the relational
principles.

So it’s no surprise that several of the teachers

related to “connection” as their #1 teaching
tip.

“When an opponent comes forward, move

in and greet him; if he wants to pull back,
send him on his way.”

~ O Sensei

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ON CONNECTION

“Make the relationship primary. The connection, the

contact, the “musubi” comes first.”


~ Richard Strozzi-Heckler, 7th dan

Aikido Sensei, Author, Leadership Facilitator

When practicing, be aware of how you could injure

your partner. That will remind you to choose to
protect your partner, which will change how you
move, and Aikido will start to talk to you differently.

~ Paul Linden Ph.D, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei, Trauma & Peace Work

“By studying to be a good “uke", you are studying

basically the same things as studying tori. Give your
center. Look for the connection. Respect the angles,
distance, and timing. You are really studying just two
sides of the same coin.”

~ Sonja Sauer, 3rd dan

Aikido Sensei


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ON CONNECTION

“Be a good “uke”. If you are a good “uke" you can

keep learning. As long as you are taking “ukemi" you
can receive your partners technique, you can be
guided, and you are keeping yourself young.”

~ Joe Thambu, 8th dan

Aikido Sensei

“Have fun and enjoy training with others. They are

your research partners. Keep on researching, stay
aware, be present, share, and connect with a lot of
people. Get their views and try it out.”

~ Mouliko Halen, 7th dan

Aikido Sensei

www.theintegraldojo.com 6
 ON CURIOSITY & EXPLORATION

Several of the teachers in the tele-summit

stressed in their #1 teaching tip the need to
be curious and to continuously explore the
art.

Curiosity & Exploration are the very

foundations from which O Sensei birthed
Aikido. These are the qualities that will
assure that Aikido continues to grow and
evolve into the future.
“Study how water flows in a valley stream,
smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also
learn from holy books and wise people.
Everything - even mountains, rivers, plants
and trees - should be your teacher”

~ O Sensei

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ON CURIOSITY & EXPLORATION

“Open the door. Open the door to O Sensei and see

what happens.”

~ Linda Holiday Sensei, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei, Author

“Remain curious. Always be a student, a seeker, and a

learner. Step into “Terra Incognita” (unknown land)
and get comfortable with a little bit of discomfort.
Live in the not-knowing and learn to be comfortable
there.”

~ Charles Colten, 4th dan

Aikido Sensei, Director Of "Aikido In The Schools"

“To stay on your leading edge keep researching. The

traditions are no doubt important, but we can get too
traditional if we are not careful. So develop your
aikido while keeping it in the philosophical
framework of Aikido.”

~ Blaine Feyen, 4th dan

Aikido Sensei, Aiki-Cast Podcast

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ON CURIOSITY & EXPLORATION

“Never stop looking for ways to grow and change.

Even if you’re training with just one sensei, in one
dojo. Keep your passion, and never stop looking for
ways to grow and change.”

~ Kayla Feder, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei

“Tap early, tap often, and keep yourself safe. Especially

teachers, because we can become complacent. You
really never stop having to pay your dues. It is part of
the exploration. And remember that failure is
insightful.”

~ Roy Dean,  Aikido & BJJ

Brazilian Jujitsu Instructor , RoyDeanTV

“Become joyfully and lovingly curious with the way

you respond in the midst of an interaction. Dive in
and explore. How do you act? What do you think?
How do you feel? That is the beginning of a profound
evolution.”

~ Dominique Cassidy, 4th dan

Aikido Sensei, Meditation Teacher, Psychiatrist

www.theintegraldojo.com 9
 ON HONESTY

If we boil down all the developmental

injunctions throughout time into one
essence, then perhaps that would
be honesty.

To be honest with yourself, and with others.

If we hold this as our inner compass then it
will simultaneously, and constantly
challenge us, and propel us forward in
growth and development.

Shakespeare got it right all those years ago:

“This above all: to thine own self  be true,

and it must follow, as the night the day, thou
canst not then be false to any man.”


~ Polonius in Hamlet

Always was, always is, and always will be.

10
ON HONESTY

“Be personally honest. Who are you? What are you

right this moment? You have to be honest. If you
reach for a concept of who you want to be, you may
be ignoring the things in you that really want to talk
to you at that level. So personal honesty is key.”

~ Jack Wada, 7th dan

Aikido Sensei

“Keep researching and honestly ask yourself “Is this

the best way that I can do this technique? Is this the
best way that I can move?” You have to keep on giving
up what you’ve learned, in order to learn something
new. For that we have to constantly challenge what
we know.”

~ Jan Nevelius, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei

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ON HONESTY

“Try to be as truthful as you can. To yourself, and to

your true being. Respect your needs and find the
surroundings and environment which is best suited for
you.”

~ Judith Elze
Aikido Sensei

“Allow yourself to fall. By allowing yourself to fail you

accept that there’s always going the be more to learn.
If you don’t allow yourself to fail you are actually
limiting yourself.”

~ Rokas Leonavicius, 3rd dan

Aikido Sensei, Aikido Siauliai YouTube Channel

“Be honest. With your limitations, your learning

process, how fast you progress, or don't progress. Be
honest 110%.”

~ Bogdan Heretoiu
Aikidoka, Film Maker

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ON HONESTY

“Enter the dojo with a willingness to be honest with

yourself and your training partners. Practice with a
joyful and generous spirit and allow yourself to access
the feel of the movement with your partner as uke
and nage. Be present, engaged, and compassionate.”

~ Michael Friedl, 7th dan

Aikido Sensei

“Practice what you preach in your own life. Take it off

the mat yourself. Be reflective and courageous with
yourself and ask “How do I show up in situations and
challenges that I meet?” It’s ok to lose it sometimes,
but to learn from that.”


~ Anita Paalvast, 4th dan

Change Facilitator, Aikido@Work

www.theintegraldojo.com 13
 ON AUTHENTICITY

Aikido is the meeting of classical forms and

universal principles. On one hand, we are
copying forms and following our teacher’s
directions. We meticulously polish the forms
and carry the art forward into the future.

But on the other hand, when we listen to

our own inner needs, our own inner
rhythms, and especially our own inner
“unfolding”, then this changes everything.

When we allow Aikido to move through us,

we find that the art manifests in ways that
we could never have predicted, or
imagined.

This is the meeting place where the art ends

and your Unique Aikido begins. Where you
discover your very own Authenticity.

14
ON AUTHENTICITY

“Study O Sensei and recognize the extraordinary state

that he tapped into in order to download Aikido to us.
As you connect more to O Sensei’s lineage, your body
will start to respond because there is something there
that can touch you. Allow that to come through you.”

~ Wendy Palmer, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei, Leadership Embodiment

“Be authentic in your training. By “authentic”

I mean vigilance in practicing in alignment with your
purpose at the deepest level of your being.”

~ Corky Quakenbush
Aikido Sensei, Animation Artist


“Attitude and stance. Be centered, balanced over your

feet, and find wholeness in yourself. Be curious,
engaged, and explore. I love that. Step on the mat
with awareness of your self in balance.”

~ Susan Chandler Sensei, 5th dan

Aikido Sensei, Corporate Trainer

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ON AUTHENTICITY

“When you walk into the dojo make a conscious

practice of bowing to O Sensei. Leave your ego at the
door, and open yourself to a larger sense of the
possibilities. Consciously extend your energy outward
in goodwill. And practicing to be as authentic as you
can be.”

~ Kimberly Richardson, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei 

“Be honest and authentic. O Sensei told us to

accomplish our bestowed mission. So you be you. Be
as honest and authentic as you can with respect,
harmony, and consideration of other people. But
never break your connection with your bestowed
mission.”

~ Richard Moon, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei

“Give yourself permission to express your own Aikido.

There is no real progress without authenticity.

~ Robert Kent, 4th dan

Aikido Sensei, President Of Aiki-Extensions

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 ON COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE

Many of our guest teachers spoke about the

need for commitment to practice.

This is based on the idea that our greater

potential is waiting for us somewhere down
the path of practice.

All we need to do to realize this potential is

to commit to walking a higher Path of
practice.

“The purpose of training is to tighten up the

slack, toughen the body, and polish the
spirit.”

~ O Sensei

17
ON COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE

“At the beginning in Aikido we must practice with

agreements, to work together. But the more we
practice, the more we need to face difficulties from
our partners that we need to learn how to solve. Of
course, the difficulty must be according to that
persons level. If they are good, then push a little
more. Solving these problems in an Aiki way is the
study of Budo.”

~ Christian Tissier, 8th dan

Aikido Sensei

“Practice all day. Do “Shugyo”, not “Keiko”. Keiko

means “practice” in Japanese, like when you go to the
dojo and practice for a few hours. While shugyo
means “austere training” and you should apply it all
day. Make your Aikido shugyo and train all day!”

~ David Shaner, 8th dan

Aikido Sensei, Author, Consultant

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ON COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE

“Misogi.” When ever anyone asked O Sensei “what is

the essence of Aikido?” he would always answer
“Misogi”. Aikido is a practice of self purification”

~ John Stevens, 7th dan

Aikido Sensei, Author

“Like Zen, Aikido can sometimes be quite tough.

Continue to practice even if it becomes difficult.
Continue to practice even if it feels like nothing
is happening. Because it is.”

~ Paula “Rei Kiku” Femenias

Aikidoka, Zen Roshi

“Each day when off the mat, train your tanden: Relax,
then focus attention in your  tanden for 30 seconds,
toning the muscles around it and remembering that
you intend to embody both love and power in your
life.“

~ Bill Licht, 1st dan

Urban Visions, Peace Dojos Int., Aiki-Extensions

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ON COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE

“Passion, that’s perhaps the most important part.

Training is also important. Lots and lots of training.
But training that’s driven by the passion to really hear
the whisper of divine nature.”

~ Rev. Lawrence Koichi Barrish

Aikido Sensei, Shinto Priest

“Don’t ever quit. The further you push yourself, the

greater the value, and the stronger a person you
will become. With each day, you will be better
than you were the day before.”


~ Lenny Sly
Aikido Sensei, “The Rogue Warriors” Youtube Channel

“Know what you are trying to achieve in your training

and measure every-thing against that. Knowing
exactly what you want out of your training will speed
up your learning. It will give you a measuring stick for
everything you see, hear, and do.”

~ Quentin Cooke, 7th dan

Aikido Sensei, VP Aiki-Extensions

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ON COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE

“You can point to the moon, you can point to Mars,

you can point to the universe. But ultimately, when
we are talking about a path, you have to walk it.
Understand why you are training, and work to
develop it.”

~ Vince Salvatore, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei

“This depends on who is asking, but for someone in

Aikido for a few years I would say “Try to enjoy your
practice”.

~ Miranda Saarentaus, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei

“Be consistent in your training. Commitment is

everything. Be committed to your consistency. Don't
make easy excuses for not training. Come rain or
shine, always train.”

~ Bjorn Saw, 5th dan

Aikido Sensei

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ON COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE

"Train in a friendly and concentrated atmosphere.

Follow the teacher and give up what you know. Don’t
block or teach your partner. This will help everyone in
the dojo to progress: ukes, nages and the sensei.”

~ Peter Menke, 4th dan

Aikido Sensei

“Trust that the essence of Aikido is buried in the basic

kihon. There are no shortcuts. Practice, study, and go
deep. I believe by simply training in this way, Aikido
will bring positive change in your life.”

~ Don Ellingsworth, 5th dan

Aikido Sensei

"This path is dangerous. If you allow life to touch

your heart you need to know the taste of good and
bad. Have no fear.”

Thorsten Shoo, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei 

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 ON INQUIRY & SELF REFLECTION

Inquiry and Self-Reflection are as old as

humanity itself. In fact, the capacity to
reflect on ourselves is the very thing that
makes us human.

From time immemorial we have looked

outward to the stars, and inward to our
consciousness asking those eternal
questions; “Who Am I?”, and “How Am I To
Live?”

These are the very questions that evolve us

forward as human beings. It is through the
simple act of Inquiry that we move towards
our greater potential and the trajectory of
that movement is none other than a PATH.

So it is very fitting that the following

teachers see AI-KI-DO, the Path Of
Harmony With Life Energy, as a Path of
Inquiry and Self-Reflection.
23
ON INQUIRY & SELF-REFLECTION


“Approach Your Aikido as constant learning. Try to

keep reminding yourself that you don’t know as much
as you pretend, or think you know.”

~ Robert Frager, 7th dan

Aikido Sensei, Sufi Sheik, Psychologist

“Keep your practice fresh with the quality of “self-

reflection”. Integrating self-reflection with the
movement, and technical aspects of the art is critical.
Remember, self-reflection.”

~ Teja “Fudo Myo” Bell, 5th dan

Aikido Sensei, Qigong, Zen Roshi

“I would say that the periods of reflection and verbal

de-brief. Reflect and create “bridging practices” that
are non-challenging and can be deliberately
incorporated into your life.”

~ Mark Walsh
Embodiment Facilitator

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ON INQUIRY & SELF-REFLECTION


“Reach deep within yourself and explore your

motivation and inspiration for choosing the art. What
compels you to practice, and what do you hope to
embody in your life? Then stay open and watch your
understanding mature and evolve.”

~ Patrick Cassidy, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei

“Remain in the inquiry of "why Aikido?” Then do your

best to practice with what ever comes up.”

~ Dave Goldberg, 5th dan

Aikido Sensei

“Keep examining what it means to practice Aikido.

How can I practice Aikido - merging, uniting, and
unifying in everyday life. Moment by moment. Then
go beyond that as much as you can. So you actually
never feel that you are done.”

~ Eran “Junryu” Vardi, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei, Zen Roshi

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 ON INTEGRATION

If the true nature of the universe is Oneness,

then how can you reconcile the infinite
number of things you see around you?

But like the integral saying goes, “if you can

see it out there, then you can find it in
here.”

Mastery in Aikido absolutely requires that

you develop the ability to take multiple
perspectives. Because it is a simple fact that
if you cannot relate to a perspective in
yourself, you will never be able to relate to
it in another. You will never be able to do
Aikido with someone who holds that
perspective.

Aikido is a continuous, and constant

practice of integrating more and more
perspectives. Forever towards wholeness!

26
ON INTEGRATION


“Be present. Settle, open, and allow. Move in balance

between active and receptive, masculine and
feminine. Be present and include the physical. Allow
the energies that come into you, and let them move.
Open to the idea that these energies want to mix into
a fuller You.”


~ Robert Nadeau, 8th dan
Aikido Sensei

“Think properly about inside and outside. Use Aikido

as a tool to better understand the relationship
between interior and exterior.”

~ Dirk Mueller, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei

“Some students practice hard but never think about

Aikido. Other students think a lot about Aikido, but
stop as soon as they think they got it. I want my
students to stay on the leading edge by finding that
balance between being analytical, and practicing
physically.”

~ Dr. Fred Phillips, PhD, 5th dan

Aikido Sensei, Author

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ON INTEGRATION


“As ‘nage’, receive the attack with an uke frame of

mind. Yielding to the energy and allow the natural
manifestation of kaeshi waza to determine the path of
resolution.”

~ Dan Messisco, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei

“I think of Aikido as Agatsu, which is “self victory” or

self transformation. This journey should be organized
around the 3 pillars of Practice, Study, and Mentorship.
This is the path of personal transformation and
learning how to take ownership of your own Aikido.”

~ Josh Gold, 4th dan

Aikido Sensei, Aikido Journal

“Embrace the tension where 2 perspectives cannot

exist in the same space at the same time. Embrace
that space; with inner awareness, enduring patience,
and applied skill. Create the inner container and the
external skillful means to hold that tension… and
evolution will just happen.”

~ Miles Kessler, 6th dan

Aikido Sensei, Meditation Teacher, The Integral Dojo

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iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
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If you enjoyed these #1 Teaching Tips then check out the complete
“Aikido At The Leading Edge” Tele-Summit Archives. 46 of the
world’s top Aikido teachers share decades of
Aikido Wisdom just for you!

TAKE A LOOK WHAT’S INSIDE:

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www.theintegraldojo.com 29
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hhhhhhhhhhh
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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ALE TELE-SUMMIT:

“Wowwowwowwowwowwow!!! This is our generation's equivalent of Stan

Pranin's First Aiki Friendship Demonstrations.” ~ David Rubens - Aikido Sensei

“Thanks a lot Miles for such a unique event. So much Quality, so much
Quantity.” ~ Christoph Stangier

“I'm grateful to you and what you have given not just the Aikido community, but
the collective consciousness as well.” ~ Matt Rogers Fluty - Aikido Sensei

“What a great success! Many thanks for making such a rich resource available to
the aikido community!” ~ Kai Morgan - Blogger

“What a gift! Simply..... magic. This tele summit is super-food; giving a shot of
deep-nutrition to our emerging, global, Aikido community.” ~ Dawn Higgins

“Oh my goodness, this continues to be so good! You have proven that when you
get a bunch of aikidoka together good stuff is bound to happen!” - Jeff Dowdy

“Miles deserves a Gold Star for his creation!” ~ Steve Rockett

“It is fantastic! I think you are making Aikido history. Thank you very much
Miles!” ~ Andrea Ebert

GO HERE TO CHECK OUT "AIKIDO AT THE LEADING EDGE”

COMPLETE TELE-SUMMIT ARCHIVES

www.theintegraldojo.co 31
NOTES

www.theintegraldojo.com 32