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Richard Moon is an American Aikido instructor, author, musician, executive coach, and founder of The Listening Institute. His multidisciplinary career spans martial arts, music, personal development, and culinary arts, unified by a central theme of harmony and conscious interaction.

Richard Moon is the founder and chief instructor of Aikido of Marin, a dojo based in Marin County, California. He also taught alongside his teacherRobert Nadeau Shihan, a direct student of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido at City Aikido in San Francisco. ^[1]

Richard was awarded the rank of 6th Dan (6th-degree black belt) by the United States Aikido Federation.

Moon expanded his martial arts training through the study of Cheng Hsin, an internal art developed by Peter Ralston that emphasizes conscious awareness and effective interaction.^[2]

He also studied Capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art, under Mestre Acordeon (Bira Almeida).^[3]

Moon is the author of several books that explore the intersection of martial arts, consciousness, and leadership:

• Quantum Aikido: The Power of Harmony in Physical, Spiritual, and Daily Life (2018), which draws parallels between Aikido principles and quantum mechanics.^[4]
• In Aikido, Harmony, and the Business of Living, which applies Aikido philosophy to executive coaching and conflict resolution.
• The Power of Extraordinary Listening (2021), which outlines his approach to deep listening and connection.^[5]

In addition to his published works, Moon has made several of his writings available for free online, including essays and excerpts from his books, aimed at making his teachings accessible to a broader audience.

Inspired by a peace-building workshop with youth from post-war Bosnia, Moon founded The Listening Institute, an organization dedicated to promoting harmony and connection through the practice of listening. The institute extends the principles of Aikido beyond the dojo into broader social and professional contexts.

Moon is a versatile and accomplished musician. He leads the Marin-based band R Moon E (pronounced "Harmony"), formerly known as The Night Nurses. The band blends elements of rock, blues, jazz, and folk, reflecting Moon’s eclectic musical background.

His musical training includes:

• Classical guitar with George C. Economides
• Indian ragas and voice with G.S. Sachdev and at the Ali Akbar College of Music
• Jazz and blues studies at the California Jazz Conservatory

Moon has performed solo and with various ensembles for decades, and his compositions often explore themes of unity, consciousness, and emotional expression. He also shares music and performance videos through platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud.

He has also produced albums for Hawaiian songwriter Liko Martin.

Moon is an accomplished chef who previously ran a vegetarian restaurant and developed several award-winning recipes.

Moon has authored several books and essays that are freely available through ExtraordinaryListening.com. These works explore the intersection of Aikido, communication, leadership, and consciousness. Notable titles include:

• The Power of Extraordinary Listening – A foundational text presenting listening as a transformative act of intention.
• The Business of Listening – Co-authored with Doug Stone, this book applies listening principles to executive leadership.
• Healing With Ki – A personal narrative detailing Moon’s use of Aikido-based energy healing during a family medical crisis.

Moon has edited, titled, and published a large collection of instructional and philosophical videos, which fall into two main categories:

• Miniclasses: Short-form instructional videos created and taught by Moon himself. Examples include:
  • The Art of Ukemi: Fundamentals
  • Moonsensei: Aikido Happens Here
  • Aikido in Three Easy Lessons in 11 Minutes

• Shihan Lessons: Featuring Robert Nadeau Shihan, filmed and edited by Moon. Examples include:
  • Aikido Shihan Robert Nadeau: Present History
  • O Sensei’s Process: Forging the “I”
  • Balance as a Doorway
  • The Field Dances Us

These videos are hosted on public platforms and serve as both pedagogical tools and historical archives.

^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}