It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei, one of the few remaining direct students of the founder of aikido.
Yamada Sensei arrived in New York City in 1964 to become Chief Instructor at the New York Aikikai and later founded the United States Aikido Federation, the largest aikido organization in the United States.
He started aikido at age 17 at Hombu Dojo, Aikikai Headquarters, as an uchi deshi (live-in student). He helped spread the relatively unknown marital art of aikido into a thriving community throughout the U.S., and later on, internationally.
Rest in Peace, Yamada Sensei.
