Meet Aviv Goldsmith

 

We recently connected with Aviv Goldsmith and have shared our conversation below.

Aviv, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

In college, years ago, I promoted a few concerts. Some of it was experimental music and the artists encouraged some audience participation. Over a meal I told the musician that I had no musical talent and that obviously was not my calling. He asked me, “what is then”? I said “I dunno, I am good at organizing things”.

So in my first career, I organized renewable energy projects and did well. After some decades it was time to move on and do something new. My love of Aikido fostered my purpose of developing a state-of-the-art training facility and organizing Aikido programs for persons of all ages and walks of life. Each success gives me new motivation for my purpose.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I have fostered the development of a non-profit martial arts school called Aikido in Fredericksburg. We planned, permitted, and built a “green” headquarters dojo (training place) on 20 acres. It is close enough to civilization that people can come but remote enough to experience a sense of rural connection to the natural world.

The founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, said that Aikido can be for everyone. We have taken this message to heart. Whereas many dojos are focused on males ages 20-40 we have programs for students ages 6-86, spanning genders and geography. We offer dedicated programs for special needs youth and for senior citizens. We offer casual programs for those with full lives and also a residential immersion opportunity for those who can dedicate a week, a month, a year to this powerful practice. The immersion program, called uchideshi, is transformative in empowering students and enhancing the adoption of Aikido’s non-violent approach to conflict resolution. It is the traditional method of personal teacher to student transmission of this beautiful art.

Decades after starting Aikido, my motivation is to enhance others’ growth. Aikido facilitates students becoming better people.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Look up the Japanese phrase “ikigai”. It means a reason for being. It is to find the nexus of what you love, what you are good at, and what the world needs.

The founder of Aikido waxed poetically that Aikido “is medicine for a sick world”. The contemplative and self-directed practices provide a respite from the ever-competitive and often destructive methods of living today. Aikido is non-competitive and is focused on personal growth and non-violent conflict resolution. It is practiced in a supportive environment that lifts up its practicioners.

I have used my skills in organization to envision and implement a state-of-the art training facility and program. Long-term visions are actualized incremementally by assessing what is possible and turning some of those into what is probable and turning some of those into what is real. Personal determination and a study of best practices from others have contributed to our successes. Build incrementally and apply quality-control and self-assessment measures along the way.

Celebrate successes big and small!

How would you describe your ideal client?

An ideal client doesn’t exist. Each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses.

My goal as a teacher is to provide tools so students can enhance their strengths and diminish adverse impacts of weaknesses.

However, a student who comes to the dojo with an open mind and a willingness to learn will advance along the path. I was taught that you can’t expect devotion to precede practice, so students have to commit a bit to the training before reaping rewards. Dedication from the student is reciprocated with attention from the teacher.

We do see many students who come to the dojo when they are at a pivotal point in their life. Change of jobs. Divorce, Relocation. Adopting a practice like Aikido fosters the student to regain a sense of self and direction for their own lives. Our “uchideshi” immersion program is especially powerful in fostering re-sets.

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