| Richard Strozzi-Heckler | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1944 |
| Nationality | American |
| Organization | Strozzi Institute |
| Known for | somatics, leadership development, psychology, aikido |
| Website | |
| strozziinstitute.com | |
Richard Strozzi-Heckler is an internationally known speaker, author, coach, and consultant on embodied leadership and mastery.[1] He has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology [2] and holds the rank of sixth degree black belt (ryukodan) in aikido.[3] He is the president of Strozzi Institute in Petaluma, California.[4]
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Richard Strozzi-Heckler spent his early life in a military family periodically moving to new naval bases. In his early teens he began studying martial arts,[1] beginning with Judo, then Karate and Jiujitsu.[5] He excelled in athletics while in high school and was awarded a scholarship to San Diego State College where he was named All-American in track and field.[6]
After returning from a tour of duty in the Marine Corps in the late 1960s, Strozzi-Heckler continued his education, eventually earning a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with an emphasis on mind-body connection.[6] He co-founded the Lomi School in 1970 with Robert K. Hall, Alyssa Hall, and Catherine Flaxman, integrating aikido [6] and bodywork principles into a body oriented psychotherapy called Lomi Work.[7]
In 1976, Dr. Strozzi-Heckler, together with George Leonard and Wendy Palmer, established the Aikido of Tamalpais dojo in Mill Valley, California.[6]
In 1985 he was invited to contribute to a US Army Special Forces project designed to test the effectiveness of integrating various practices into its training program. During the six month program he taught aikido and meditation techniques.[5]
In 1986, he moved to rural Sonoma county outside of Petaluma, CA [6] and developed a methodology aimed at reproducing the outcomes of the US Army project with individuals and civilian organizations. This methodology was named Strozzi Somatics [8] and has been presented in various forms to diverse groups around the world.[5]
Strozzi-Heckler continued to work with the armed forces, including the US Navy SEALS, US Air Force,[5] and the US Marine Corps - helping to design and implement its Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.[9]
Pointing out the relationship of thoughts and mood to an individual's body (e.g., posture, facial expression, tone of voice),[10] Strozzi-Heckler has said that congruency between these elements and a person’s words is a primary characteristic of effective leaders.[3] He asserts that this characteristic can be practiced and improved as reliably as practicing and improving one's skill in a martial art or with a musical instrument.[6]
Strozzi-Heckler’s methodology involves eliciting an individual or organization’s defining values and introducing practices that combine conceptual understanding with physical activity in a way that is intended to produce an increase in behavioral traits that are in accordance with those values.[5] Many of these practices are based on aikido movements or principles.[5][6]
In addition to corporate and military leadership, Strozzi Somatics have been applied to law enforcement, corrections, professional and Olympic athletics,[5] education, politics, social justice, and health.[1]