ABOUT
Aikido
Aikido is a martial art grounded in a principle of unity. It’s a fully embodied practice to empower your capacities for working with change, challenge, and conflict. There’s no better way to stay fit in body and mind, and become a more centered person in harmony with Life.
Aikido is not competitive. In fact, it teaches us the wisdom of collaborating with life energy, which includes attack. In a typical practice, you’ll learn to align your body and mind into conflict circumstances, flow with attack, and apply yourself with power, sense, and grace.
Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), known to students of Aikido as “O-Sensei.” O-Sensei developed Aikido as an expression of his inspiration — that martial arts can be a path that affirms life and cultivates connection.
Aikido of San Diego
Aikido of San Diego was founded in the year 2000 by Dave Goldberg Sensei. It consists of a very supportive community of individuals, many of whom have been part of it for decades. Our goal is that through the evolution of each individual, we evolve as a community. And Aikido is our primary tool to do so!
Evolutionary Aikido Community
Aikido of San Diego is a founding member of the Evolutionary Aikido Community, an international association of dojos. It is supervised by Patrick Cassidy Sensei of Aikido Montreux. The EAC ranks its members through the Aikikai headquartered in Tokyo.
Meet the instructors
Dave Goldberg Sensei, 6 Dan
Founder and chief instructor of Aikido of San Diego
He began Aikido in 1986. In the early 90’s he lived in Japan for 3½ years to train under some of Morihei Ueshiba’s most prolific disciples. He has a BA in philosophy, an MA in teaching, and worked on academic faculties in the US and Japan for nine years. He also spent several years studying and practicing somatic psychology and bodywork, which is what originally inspired his developmental, embodied approach to the art. He is a co-founder of the Evolutionary Aikido Community, and continues to teach Aikido as the martial, Life art.
Maru Melcon, 2 Dan
Dojo cho, director of the youth program and instructor
Maru practiced Aikido in Argentina from 1996-2001. She joined Aikido of San Diego in 2019. Maru is interested in embodying Aikido in her daily life by engaging with conflict more gracefully, and finding opportunities in challenges. She has done complementary inner work through the Meditation Apprenticeship program (by Miles Kessler) and the Inner Engineering program (by Sadhguru). Being able to share the art that helped her grow and flourish in multiple ways is a passion of hers. She holds a PhD in Natural Sciences, an MBA, and she leads a team of data scientists at a tech company. When not at work or at the dojo, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, grounding herself in nature, and dancing the Argentine tango.
Megan Palm, 4 Dan
Instructor
Megan began training in 2000 on a whim after reading a description of aikido in a college rec class catalogue. She never dreamed aikido would become such an integral part of her life. She’s interested in the principles of balance and rhythm found in Aikido. Megan is a scientist at a biotech company. Her hobbies include music, photography, and attempting to keep her cats from tripping up her husband, Jay. “Aikido has seen me through several transitions in my life. I am truly grateful for the joy and inspiration I get out of my training.”
Karen Kustedjo, 3 Dan
Instructor
Karen started training in 1999 and is committed to creating a dojo community of support and challenge. “I have always known I needed a physical counterbalance to my intense technical training.” She had found meditation as a balm for the spirit, and yoga to nurture the body, but realized there was still something missing — a way that would help her reconcile the relationship of the self with the other. That is Aikido.
Linda Eskin, 3 Dan
Instructor
Linda began practicing Aikido in 2009, at age 46, to improve her horsemanship. From the beginning she was inspired to explore how Aikido is taught and learned. In addition to mentoring adults, she assisted in the children’s programs for over eight years. Linda loves Aikido both from the technical perspective, and as a practice of awareness and embodiment. She shares her experiences on her site GrabMyWrist.com, and is completing her forthcoming book, Aikido to Zanshin – 26 Essays on the Martial Art of Peace. Her passion is encouraging people to begin, and supporting new learners of all ages.
Marco Martinez, 3 Dan
Instructor
Marco started practicing Aikido in 2005 at UC San Diego as an undergraduate student. He always knew he wanted to practice martial arts growing up and seized the opportunity when his college roommate invited him to train in a class. In his own words, “Aikido has helped me get out of my comfort zone and learn to be more present in everyday challenges”. Professionally, Marco is a software developer. Off the mat, he is also a drummer in a local indie rock band, and enjoys running marathons.
Scott Bjerke, 3 Dan
Instructor
Bio coming soon.