On the eve of Yamada Sensei’s 50th anniversary of his arrival in New York City and the New York Aikikai, the June 2nd edition of Crain’s New York Business Magazine features a full-page interview with him entitled “Yamada Sensei is 76. What’s your excuse?” Written by one of Crain’s top reporters, Daniel Geiger, it features of full-color photo of Yamada Sensei and celebrates Yamada Sensei’s half-century of teaching throughout the United States and the world at large. You can access the full article here:

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20140530/MEDIA_ENTERTAINMENT/140539992/yoshimitsu-yamada-is-76-whats-your-excuse

On Saturday, June 7th, the New York Aikikai hosted a large party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of  Yamada Sensei’s arrival in New York City. In acknowledgement of this historical event,  he was presented with a letter from William de Blasio, the Mayor of New York City.  A copy of the letter can be viewed by clicking here

Test applications received and dated between January 16, 2014 and May 15, 2014 (some listings represent applications prior to Hombu approval).

Shodan

• Alexander Angustain – Tarzana Aikikai
• David Bensman – Aikido Society of Memphis
• Thomas Browning – Island Aikido
• Kayla Davis – Island Aikido
• Edward Estrada – Water Oak Aikikai
• Gregory Gargiso – Aikido Schools of New Jersey
• Brad Garner – Aikido of Ashland Kentucky
• Vladimir Gerasimov – Seattle Aikikai
• Charles Hale – MIT Aikido Club
• Danielle Hyatt – Seattle Aikikai
• Jun Kawaguchi – Portland Aikikai
• Leonel Martinez-Perez – Kentuckiana Aikikai
• Roselyn Maynard – Notting Hill Aikikai
• Sean McCarty – Aikido of Ashland Kentucky
• Robert Micieli – Aikido of Red Bank
• Frank Ruzicka – Aikido of Austin
• Mark Shanahan – University of Iowa Aikikai
• Daniel Sibol – Jersey Shore Aikikai
• Takara Suzuki – Portland Aikikai
• Michael Vaccaro – Jersey Shore Aikikai
• Jesse Vance – Aikido of Ashland Kentucky
• Rochelle Wagner – Seattle Aikikai
• Tom Worsnopp – Aikido of Park Slope
• Daniel Yager – Jersey Shore Aikikai

Nidan

• Elisa Beebe – Framingham Aikikai
• Michael Carnes – Raleigh Aikikai
• Alan Crosby – Aikido of Summit
• Robert Fraley – Two Rivers Aikikai
• Robert Humphreys – New Castle Aikikai
• Damien Kick – Austin Aikikai
• Branko Mihanovic – Orlando Aikikai
• Jon Naranjo – Midwest Aikido Center
• Kathleen O’Neill – Northern Virginia Aikikai
• Teri Pierson – Two Rivers Aikikai
• Eric Poma – New Castle Aikikai
• Adele Roland – Northern Virginia Aikikai
• Carl Steiger – Oak Hill Aikido

Sandan

• Christine Blaha-James – Aikido of Austin
• Karen Clark – Aikido of Champlain Valley
• John Hillson – Open Sky Aikikai
• Christina Johnson – Orlando Aikikai
• William Kopko – New Castle Aikikai
• Joel Miller – Austin Aikikai
• Stephen Miller – Kenosha Aikikai
• Janice Taitel – Aikido Center of Dover
• John Van Kirk – Aikido of Ashland Kentucky

Yondan

• Meipo Martin – Capitol Hill Aikikai
• Jonathan Weiner – Aikido of Charlotte

As many of you know, the USAF has been collecting donations as a gesture of the USAF’s deep appreciation for what New York Aikikai, under the leadership and guidance of Yamada Sensei, has given, and continues to offer, to the USAF community and the greater aikido community world-wide.

A sincere thank you to all the dojos, instructors, members and friends who have already made a donation.  If you would like to make a donation to the USAF, you can do so until the deadline of July 20^th, by clicking below.   A presentation of the USAF’s donation to the New York Aikikai will be made at this year’s summer camp, along with a card displaying the names of all who have contributed to this half-century celebration!

Make your donation here

It has to be felt.

How many students felt the dynamic power? Have you experienced the exhilaration, fear, uncertainty, excitement as the dynamic circle sends you spinning to the conclusion of the technique? The uke may not fully know how it will end, but for sure they are fully engaged and dare not lose the connection. Those who have had this happen will say to you, it has to be experienced; it’s active, not passive. You have to make contact and stay committed. If you give up that commitment, the interaction changes in a single moment. We love our videos; it gives us a reference point. It gives us something to observe, but it’s passive. Ultimately, we must physically delve into the depths of the movement. We have to engage physically. It’s in that interaction, the ‘doing’ where we feel what happens and it becomes a part of us.

USAF President Emeritus, one of the first members of the New York Aikikai (NYA) and current Sensei, Mike Abrams, explains that it’s important for students to feel the instructor’s technique. He’s an open history book.  Sensei Abrams is another living legend, who explains the importance of what Yamada Shihan and his contemporaries did with the NYA. Sensei Abrams’ class takes you back to the foundations of training at the NYA; he speaks of the ukemi that Sensei Yamada took for his sempai. You get a picture of it in your mind, while listening. In Sensei Abrams class, when he asks you to grab him, one may do so in a rather naïve, unsuspecting manner. One may wonder what is coming next, but as soon as he begins to move you become immediately clear that whatever happens will end with you on the mat, usually face down. Similarly, Harvey Konigsberg Shihan will point to the connection between his hand and his hip movement. He will then explain it to you, in his low gravely voice. He may then say, “Grab” and you do. Then what you thought you understood goes flying out of your head, as quickly as you land on the mat. His disarming warmth and spiritual connection lull you into a feeling of smooth quiet and security. That is of course, until you feel his hip move and his weight drop while you get tossed. You get up, smiling, because your body gets this “turning on the light bulb” moment of comprehension. And ultimately, when Shihan Yamada says, “grab”, undoubtedly, healthy concern goes through uke’s mind from inception. You know his movement is big, powerful and direct. Some uke have explained that when they take ukemi for Yamada Shihan, they feel like their bodies are going in separate directions at the same time. For example, during one class, Yamada Shihan seemed to be moving toward a particular irimi-nage opening, but it appeared that he changed his mind, so he picked the uke up, as though to do an aiki-otoshi. The entire class held it’s breath and watched with wide eyes, while the uke’s head turned from side to side, looking for the landing place (kind of like a fighter jet coming in for an emergency landing).

Then he let us all off the hook, as he said to the uke, with a chuckle, “don’t worry, I’m not going to do that.” Even as we enjoyed his humor in that moment, we were all taking ukemi, because we followed him intently. We were in sync with him and there was nothing between him and us. We released a collective sigh of relief for the uke, but more for ourselves, because for a moment, “things got real”. We felt the air swoosh, when he picked up and seemed to swing the uke around. We felt the distance between the uke high in the air, (with Sensei Yamada holding the uke underneath his arm pit), and the mat. We felt his joviality, but we simultaneously felt the seriousness of training, which I believe he wants us to understand. After class, in the locker rooms, we talked about that and kind of nodded at each other as if to acknowledge it in a single word, “Yeah”.

I suppose all of this is to reiterate, that is it has to be felt.

Dena Williams

New York Aikikai

FINAL CALL FOR ALL CAMP REGISTRATIONS AND HOTEL RESERVATIONS

DEADLINE EFFECTIVE SUNDAY, JULY 13TH INCLUDES:

- ALL CAMP PACKAGES

-ALL HOTEL RESERVATIONS

- FINALIZING ROOM ARRANGEMENTS / ROOMMATES

 Day passes will remain available for purchase online and on-site. To register online go to usafsummercamp.com

CAMP CANCELLATIONS – All camp packages are non-refundable after SUNDAY, JULY 13^th (case-by-case consideration will be made due to emergency or health concerns).

FINALIZING ROOM ARRANGEMENTS – Please email either Laura or Karen with changes/cancellations to your hotel reservation no later than Sunday, July 13^th.

Please do not have anyone just “drop in” and stay in your room without registering them with the hotel.  This is not allowed as per our contract, and puts our relationship with the hotel in jeopardy! 

HOTEL CANCELLATION POLICY –  The hotel has a 48 hour cancellation policy. All cancellations within 48 hours of arrival date will be charged one night’s room rate, including tax. A “NO SHOW” WILL BE CHARGED FOR EACH NIGHT OF THE RESERVATION THAT THEY DID NOT CANCEL WITH 48 HOURS NOTICE

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS MAY PERTAIN TO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW:

1) If you listed your roommate as “unknown” and no roommate assignment has been made, the hotel will allocate either a king or 2 double beds, based on availability.

2) If you listed children in your room but did not purchase a camp package for them – they may join you for aikido dinners free of charge if they are under 5.  If they are 5 and older and did not purchase a camp package, they will not be able to join you in the dinner dinning room.

3) If you are not registered for Camp AND do not have a hotel reservation – Day Passes are available.

4) Every person staying in every room must be registered with the hotel.  Contact Laura at laura@usaikifed.com or Karen at karendepaola@usaikifed.com prior to the Sunday July 13^h deadline.

Please note that having friends “crash” in your room is not permitted.  Please be respectful of our working relationship with the hotel and help us maintain our outstanding reputation with the staff.

Thank you!

Laura Pavlick & Karen De Paola

Camp Coordinators

As Fairfield Iowa Aikikai’s youth program continues to grow, June’s successful testing and promotions brought smiles to many faces.

August brings Fairfield Iowa Aikikai’s 2nd Annual Youth Camp

San Juan Aikikai has moved to a new location.  The large bright windows blanket the tatami and reflect sunlight on the shomen’s clean sharp lines.  Stop by and visit this beautiful dojo at: 1220 Calle Cadiz, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00920.

Summer Camp of 2014 is over and it was an exceptionally successful camp.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Summer Camp organizers, the wonderful ladies and staff at the reception desk and the many other invisible efforts that were made by so many members. I’d also like say thank you for the big donation that was made to New York Aikikai from so many individuals and dojos.  I didn’t know it was going on and it was a great surprise.

So far this year I received so many warm congratulations everywhere I went. All I can say is that I’m the luckiest guy surrounded by so many wonderful people. You are my treasure.

I was also given so many gifts from many people, and meaningful letters from the Chicago City Mayor, New York City Mayor, and the Vice Prime Minister of Russia, but to me, the most wonderful gifts were the big hugs from so many ladies who are normally very tough on the mat. I promise you that I’ll continue to do my best to work for you.

Y. Yamada

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer and you are all ready for the next season.

I’d like to let you know that I will be inactive for the months of September and October. I have decided to have a long rest to refresh my body, to prepare for many more years to come.

I’m not ill, so please do not worry. I’m still healthy and strong like a superman.

Y. Yamada

After spending 14 years in the same location in the Village of Patchogue,
NY, Aikido at Suffolk Aikikai has moved to a new comfortable location in
Medford, New York. The space is air conditioned and provides plenty of
parking.  The move coincides with the celebration of Suffolk Aikikai’s 20th
anniversary on August 6, 2014.

First Annual Mid-West Children’s Aikido Seminar – June 2014

On June 7, more than 60 children and young adults from across the Mid-West gathered at the tastefully renovated dojo in Urbana Illinois for a full day of Aikido instruction and “games” to sharpen their skills, deepen their understanding of “the Way of harmonious spirit,” and to forge new friendships with their peers.

Two dojos with robust children’s programs, Fairfield (Iowa) Aikikai and Central Illinois Aikikai (CIA), the hosting organization, worked together to offer four Aikido sessions on Saturday.  Lessons were offered by Julio Soares, Bogdan Heretoiu, CIA’s chief instructor Knut Bauer, 5h Dan, Shidoin, and Fairfield Iowa Aikikai’s chief instructor, Sensei Motier Haskins, 5^th Don, Shidoin.  The seminars consecutively increased in skill level concluding with break fall practice and group photos.

“I was feeling a bit shy going to a different town to practice, but everyone in the Central Illinois Aikido dojo made us feel very welcome and after a few minutes I felt right at home.  I am looking forward to next year seeing my new friends again!”  LR

A few older “children at heart” adults joined in as well and were reportedly very busy just keeping up with the younger crowd!  Everyone also enjoyed a pizza lunch break hosted by the Central Illinois Aikikai.

“This was a great experience.  I was impressed by the maturity and dedication of our young adults, some of whom are now transitioning from junior black belt to the adult Aikido world – fifth and fourth Kyu level.”  Sensei Motier

Senseis Bauer and Haskins are thinking ahead to next year and the possibility of expanding to a two-day weekend seminar or perhaps even a full week “Summer Camp” and inviting children and young adults from all over the US to enjoy Aikido in the heartland.

written by David Todt (Fairfield Aikikai)

It was last winter when this unbelievable incident happened at New York Aikikai.  One day after class, one of our uchi-deshi had to go to the basement to adjust the boiler in order to get more heat for the cold night.  To his surprise, he found a homeless guy was comfortably living in our basement.  You might not believe this but it is a true story, and we didn’t know that he had been living there for quite a long time.

Not too long after this incident happened, this time, accidentally, I found that a homeless guy named Nodule was living in my lung without my permission….continued…

CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW FULL SIZE

This year the Florida Winter Seminar celebrated Yamada Sensei’s 50th Anniversary by holding a special Red Carpet event. During the event the audience had the opportunity to see a movie clip that Yamada Sensei starred in called Master Blaster. We presented him with an Oscar for his performance and to show appreciation for his 50 years of dedication teaching Aikido in the US. At the end of the show people close to Sensei talked about how he changed their lives.  Jonathan Weiner of Aikido of Charlotte directed this film and captured it with his crew.  We are all very thankful. Please enjoy this special tribute film to Yamada Sensei.

Penny Bernath

Florida Aikikai

 Over the weekend of October 25 2014 something pretty amazing happened in the middle of the Atlantic.

Bermuda Aikikai, headed by Sensei Collins Smith, 6^th dan, has been around now for 31 years. Last year for the 30^th anniversary we had a suitably celebratory seminar lead by Shihan Richard Stickles. This year was different, this year was “in-house” with almost all of the instructors being direct students of Sensei Smith. We are talking about upwards of 10 instructors all coming from this tiny little island dojo so you know something great has been happening there.

A little history: Sensei Collins Smith started his martial arts career in his teens. He was a world-class karate fighter and even went twice to the Karate world championships in Japan. Somewhere along the line he discovered Aikido and soon became a student of now Shihan Stickles. For years Sensei Smith studied in New Jersey with Sensei Stickles, in New York with Yamada Sensei, and out west with Chiba Sensei. He returned to Bermuda in 1983 to open his dojo where with unwavering loyalty to his lineage and dedication to his students he has quietly been teaching Aikido ever since.

Bermuda is a dot in the middle of the ocean and Bermuda Aikikai was never going to be a big commercial success, and yet Sensei Smith juggled work and family and the dojo and never gave up, for him Aikido was, and still is, a gift to be received and passed on. He brought the biggest names in Aikido to his students and always supported his students when they wanted to go out and see the larger world. His philosophy was to teach the foundations and let people’s personalities take it from there, something I think he learned from Yamada Sensei and something that, 31 years later, was wonderfully evident in the diversity of aikido we saw when 10 of his students, all now instructor level, brought their styles and in some cases their own students to the mat.

The Aikido that started on that little island has spread. I now have a dojo in Nova Scotia, Canada (Lunenburg Aikikai), Anthea Pascaras has a dojo in London England (Notting Hill Aikikai), and there are two other dojos headed by Graham Fraser and Evie Pond in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick respectively (Mount Saint Vincent Aikikai and Aikido of Central New Brunswick) both under Sensei Smith’s umbrella. The little ripples that started in Bermuda 31 years ago have now crossed the ocean and spread to other lands.

Back to the seminar: 10 instructors all affiliated with Bermuda Aikikai, something like 300 years of collective experience, 10 different styles all unique and yet somehow still linked together, 5 affiliated dojos, a whole lot of fantastic aikido AND a trip on Sensei’s boat. I would say that makes for a pretty fantastic 31^st anniversary party and a tremendous measure of one man’s work.

On a serious note I have called Sensei Smith my friend and teacher for nearly 25 years and  my debt to him can only be repaid by following his example. I now have my own dojo in the equally (compared to Bermuda) isolated eastern edge of Canada. Like Bermuda Aikikai we will never be a big dojo, but we are close knit and we are growing and if there is one thing that the seminar in Bermuda last month taught me it is that great aikido can come out of the tiniest places when your heart is in the right place and you have loyalty and dedication.

James Constable

Chief Instructor, Lunenburg Aikikai

Photos by John Manderson | Luminous Imaging

To The Aikido Community, Students and Friends of Yamada Sensei,

Yamada Sensei has communicated with the aikido community through the US Aikido Federation, Europe, Australia and South America about his recent operation.

The operation was a success and Yamada Sensei is making exceptional progress in terms of regaining his pre-operative health. He continues to impress his medical team with his recovery. At the New York Aikikai he has resumed his full teaching schedule; the intensity and energy level of his classes have not diminished a bit.

That said, he is still in the recovery process. Yamada Sensei’s doctors would like his strength, conditioning and healing to proceed unimpeded so that his recovery will be full and complete. They have urged him to restrict his exhaustive travel schedule for the next several months in order for that to happen. Ideally it would be best for Yamada Sensei to limit those trips that are the most demanding because of flight lengths and teaching schedules.

If you are hosting one of his seminars please be understanding of Yamada Sensei’s recovery especially if he should need to postpone your event. This is all temporary; Yamada Sensei has every intention of resuming his teaching schedule around the world. His return to full health is the key to that happening.

Thank you.

Steve Pimsler

President, NY Aikikai

It’s hard to believe another year has gone by.  As you know, 2014 was a special year for me in many ways.  Most importantly, it was the celebration of my 50^th anniversary at New York Aikikai.  I had so many wonderful occasions to be all over the world, and I appreciate how hard you worked at hosting and attending seminars that focused on my anniversary.   I made so many speeches, was awarded honorary plaques and statues, received so many gifts, and even had a chance to sing some of my favorite songs for you at summer camp while Steve played his guitar. It was a yearlong party for sure.  My health then became my focus towards the end of the year, but once again you showed me so much support and understanding.  The perfect way to end the year was the NYA Christmas seminar, where I was able to teach and relax at my home dojo and be surrounded by my students and all the visitors who traveled to be a part of the event.

Even though I am in good health and continue to grow stronger every day, I will use 2015 to take the time to further my recovery and return to my old self.  Sometimes that might mean traveling less or not teaching as many classes, and as you know, I can grow restless when I am told to take it easy.  But I am determined to be as fit as ever, and even if my schedule is lighter this coming year, in my heart I will always be on the mat.

Happy New Year,

Sincerely

Y. Yamada

Aikido of Charlotte’s Annual Friendship seminar was held on January 3, 2015.  Classes were taught by Sensei Dennis Main, 6th Dan, Shidoin and Sensei Jonathan Weiner, 4th Dan, Fukushidoin of Aikido of Charlotte and were joined by Sensei Charlie Huff, 4th Dan and Sensei Phi Truong, 2nd Dan of Charlotte Aikikai (an ASU Affiliate). This was a special occasion as well, because Main Sensei was just promoted to 6th Dan with the New Year and the opportunity to train with our fellow aikidoka from the area was an excellent way to celebrate.

We were joined by practitioners from as far away as Columbia, SC and Greenville, NC, from a variety of affiliations: ASU, Nihon Goshin Aikido, even Karate.  It was a great time to learn, make friends, and have a fantastic workout.