On May 8th, 2021, I conducted an interview with Harvey Konigsberg, 7th dan shihan under Yamada Yoshimitsu, head shihan of the United States Aikido Federation. Konigsberg sensei is one of Yamada sensei’s most senior students. He has been a member of the New York Aikikai for over fifty-five years. He also has his own dojo in Woodstock, New York where he resides with his wife Carolyn and four cats.
Konigsberg sensei is also a professional artist. What makes him unique hinges upon two elements: his masterful ability to combine aikido movement with the penetrating stroke of his artistic brush. In whatever he does, he is an artist working his craft. His aikido informs his art, and his art informs his aikido. When one views his aikido paintings, they come alive. They capture your spirit. When you are on the mat with him, he takes your center in an instant, but always with a smile and a grin: as if to say, “Wow, how did that happen?” I hope that those who read this interview will come away with a glimmer of what this amazing teacher and artist has and continues to give to both his aikido students and to his fellow artists.