Training with a Master: Still Being Amazed
Training With Kiiko Matsumoto
I recently had the pleasure of training with the master of my acupuncture style, Kiiko Matsumoto. It’s always an honor to be in the presence of a living master—someone who not only carries decades of knowledge, but embodies it so fully in their hands.
The highlight of the training was when I volunteered to be treated.
Patients often say they can’t believe how a single point can instantly relieve a painful, tender area. I hear this all the time in clinic—and even after practicing this style for over 12 years, feeling these reflexes and responses on thousands of patients, I still find myself amazed.
But experiencing it firsthand again was something else entirely.
Kiiko found three vertebrae in my back that were so tender, I honestly think my chiropractor would have had difficulty adjusting them. The sensitivity was sharp, deep, and radiated. A few points in my leg reduced it some, but that didn’t satisfy her. Then she located a single point on my scalp and needled it.
… Immediately… the pain was gone.
Completely gone.
When she returned to press the same areas again, I genuinely couldn’t believe she was touching the exact same spots. The tenderness had disappeared so thoroughly, it felt like she was touching a different area, even though I know how this style works.
It was a powerful reminder of why I continue to practice this style. Kiiko-style acupuncture is not about chasing symptoms—it’s about listening carefully to the body, finding the exact point of imbalance, and allowing the system to reset itself.
The training itself was incredibly rich. I came away with several new points and reflex relationships to explore in the clinic, particularly for allergies and sinus conditions—perfect timing as we move into spring.
More than anything, experiences like this deepen my respect for how much there is still to learn. Even after years of practice, the medicine continues to surprise me. And that sense of discovery is part of what makes this work so meaningful.
Many Lives Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture Redwood City
650-366-4299
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