On this episode of Ki to the City, I had the distinct honor of being joined by Robert Kent, President of Aiki Extensions.

Robert Sensei received Ben & Jerry’s 2008 “Peace Pioneer” prize and the Small Business Council of America’s “Humanitarian of the Year” award in 2016.

I’m incredibly proud to share this conversation with you.

The work being spearheaded by Aiki Extensions is profoundly important, shining as a beacon for global peace, conflict resolution, and betterment in this increasingly (to put it mildly) challenging human society.

Established in 1998 by the late Professor Don Levine Sensei, Aiki Extensions Inc. is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational hub rooted in O Sensei’s core philosophy, particularly the application of “Aikido as medicine for a sick world.”

Kent Sensei, serving as its President since 2009, embodies the very mission of applying Aiki principles far beyond the cozy confines of the dojo. His deep commitment to Aikido is complemented by rigorous intellectual training: he holds a BA in Religion & Philosophy from Williams College and an MA in Ethics from Claremont Graduate School.

This intersection of expertise—martial arts, ethics, and philosophy—provides him with profound three-pronged credibility. It allows him to discuss the application of Aiki principles in complex, abstract domains like ethics, leadership, and international conflict with practical insight and embodied wisdom.

One of the most fascinating themes we explored was the physiological transformation that Aikido facilitates.

Kent Sensei is preparing to teach a course at Williams College, “Forging Character, Aikido and Cultivating Your Best Possible Self,” which posits that character is the result of better decisions and actions taken over time.

He explains how Aikido training can effectively retrain the amygdala. (The amygdala is the trigger for the high-stress, shortcut decision-making system we’re born with, which typically defaults to fight, flight, freeze, fawn, or “freak out” responses.)

By training physically in Aikido, the nervous system is retrained to offer compassionate, calm, centered, and blending responses. This new response eventually becomes the default under stress, leading to better decisions, actions, habits, and ultimately, better character. This concept is crucial, demonstrating how Aikido training helps us cultivate our best possible selves.

The importance of Aiki Extensions, particularly concerning their dedication to global peace-building programs, cannot be overstated.

One of the jewels in their portfolio is the Peace Camp Initiative (PCI), which Kent Sensei founded as a direct outgrowth of his background in teen counseling and conflict resolution. PCI functions as a scholarship fund, bringing Palestinian and Jewish youth leaders to a sports camp in upstate Pennsylvania each summer. The explicit goal is to forge bonds of friendship and trust for the next generation of leaders in the Middle East to achieve peace.

By requiring participants to engage in shared physical practice, the program facilitates the embodied connection necessary for genuine rapport, bypassing cultural and linguistic barriers more effectively than traditional political exchanges. This initiative, co-directed by Robert Kent and longtime AE board member (previous guest) Jamie Leno Zimron, has provided this valuable experience for many campers over the years. (AE looks forward to when they can resume sending campers.)

We also discussed Aiki Extensions’ innovative approach to societal contribution through direct therapeutic support. AE is actively developing a trauma handbook, expected to be rolled out next spring. This handbook of exercises and explanations is designed as a therapeutic tool for trauma work, enabling dojo leaders to partner with local licensed community therapists.

This collaboration utilizes the dojo leader’s physical expertise and Aikido tools (focused on reconnecting with the body, improving movement pathways, and re-framing events) alongside professional therapeutic guidance, addressing various forms of trauma such as combat-related PTSD or unhealthy family dynamics. The vision here is to equip dojo-cho with additional tools, providing them with more ways to make a living while sharing the healing benefits of Aikido.

I’m really looking forward to that.

Aiki Extensions also serves as a crucial connective hub, supporting a wider network of like-minded initiatives globally. This support is largely channeled through the Seed & Support Grant Program, which offers modest funding typically ranging from $500 to $1000. This decentralized, grassroots funding model is deliberate, allowing AE to maximize its global reach and catalyze diverse projects from local practitioners.

Examples of the projects that AE supports demonstrate the breadth of its impact outside the traditional dojo:

* Aikido With Veterans: Projects aimed at reducing PTSD symptoms and building healthy lifestyles.

* Anti-bullying and ‘Aiki Kindness’ projects piloted in schools.

* Community-focused initiatives, such as low-cost Aikido programs for kids and parents.

* International efforts like Training Across Borders, which brings together people from conflicting nations, and projects supporting Aikido Ethiopia.

* Support for related endeavors, including the International Aiki Peace Week and organizations dedicated to preserving Aikido history, such as Josh Gold’s work at Aikido Journal and Budo Accelerator.

* This podcast :)

It is my sincere hope that this episode sheds light on how organizations like Aiki Extensions, under the thoughtful guidance of Robert Kent Sensei, are actively transforming the philosophical ideals of Aikido into tangible global action. The philosophical commitment of Aiki Extensions aligns perfectly with my own goal of bringing more Ki to the City

Tune in to hear how Aiki Extensions is supporting the movement for global peace and providing essential resources for trauma recovery, demonstrating that Aikido truly offers “vital ‘medicine’ of humane values” for an increasingly stressful world.

I encourage listeners to explore the work of Aiki Extensions and consider how their personal Aikido journey can contribute to these crucial ripples of peace.

For more information about Robert Kent Sensei and incredible peace-building programs and grant opportunities, please check out the following links:

* www.politicalaikido.org (Robert Sensei’s article)

* www.abilityproduction.org (Molly & Jeremy Hale’s website. Listen to the episode for Molly’s inspiring story)

* aikiextensions.org - the AE website

* peacecampinitiative.org - the PCI website

* Seed Grants: https://www.aikiextensions.org/seed-grants

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AikiExtensions

* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aikiextensions

* Budo Accelerator (Josh Gold’s program) - https://www.budoaccelerator.org/about-us

Enjoy!

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