Primal Aikido

In this episode, I had the honor of conversing with Marco Rubatto Sensei, from Hara Kai dojo in Torino, Italy.For nearly twenty years, Marco Sensei’s been creatively documenting a journey that began with the Iwama tradition and which finds him now an esteemed member of the (really really cool) Evolutionary Aikido Community. His brilliant website, Aikime.blogspot.com is a veritable goldmine of thoughtful articles and instructive videos.His writing transcends descriptors, and his perspective on Aikido is multidimensionally fascinating; drawing inspiration from transpersonal psychology, integrated medicine, and the spiritual lineage of Father Anthony Elenjimitem—Catholic priest / Yogi / Buddhist monk, and direct student of Mahatma Gandhi!Rather than try to describe how deep this conversation gets, I’ll just quote a line from Marco Sensei himself,“Through the spiritual practice, the physical, the mental, you can reach the “primal” way to think. The non-dual way to think. Blend with what’s not working”I put the word “primal” in parentheses because Marco Sensei is not using that word with the meaning that it’s typically associated with.You’ll have to listen to the episode, (or check out his amazing writing) to get what he’s getting at, but it’s pretty mind-blowing.I felt invigorated and inspired after this conversation and I hope listening to it can have that effect on you as well.Thanks for helping me keep this little boat afloat! Get full access to Ki to the City at kitothecity.substack.com/subscribe