Integral Aikido: The Science, Art and Spirit of Nihon Goshin Aikido
Originally from New York, Jim Giorgi possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Master of Science in Education degree in School Psychology. He has been a practicing psychologist since 1977, working as a certified school psychologist and as a psychotherapist (N.Y. State-LMHC). He specialized in Biofeedback and is a certified EEG Neurotherapist. He is also certified in the practice of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). In 1983, he began the study and practice of both Zen meditation and the martial art of Aikido. Jim began his study of Nihon Goshin Aikido at the Aikido School of Self-Defense in Middletown, New York under the direction of Sensei Robert B. MacEwen, Jr. and has been a student of Sensei MacEwen continuously since that time. He was promoted to Sho-dan in September of 1988; to Ni-dan in July of 1996; and to San-dan in January of 2003. Since his promotion to Sho-dan, he has been an assistant instructor at the Aikido School in Middletown and has attended for many years the weekly black belt classes conducted by Shihan Bowe at NGAA headquarters in New Jersey. He also has traveled, both with Sensei MacEwen and on his own, to conduct seminars at NGA dojos and other martial arts venues around the country. In 2006, Jim moved to Florida to work as a general partner in Natural Soap Formulas, manufacturing the nontoxic, biodegradable, industrial-strength soap and cleaner KD GoldTM. He began teaching Nihon Goshin Aikido at that time in Fort Lauderdale and is chief instructor at the South Florida Aikido School of Self-Defense. In 2005, Jim was presented with the Samurai Award by the International Federation of Ju-Jitsuans (IFOJJ), and in 2009 he was inducted into the Gold Coast Martial Arts Association Hall of Fame with a Bronze Life Achievement Award. A Zen Buddhist Priest and Dharma Teacher, he was ordained in 2000 by his Zen teacher, Hye Seong, Sunim, Abbot of the Catskill Zen Center in Summitville, New York. Jim is also the author of the book Between Yesterday and Tomorrow: Transforming Ordinary Life into an Extraordinary Adventure. He currently lives in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area with his lovely wife, Sveta, teaching Zen meditation as well as Aikido and practicing as a psychotherapist and life coach.