A Message from Yamada Sensei

CLICK HERE FOR AN IMPORTANT ANNOUCEMENT ABOUT SUMMER CAMP 2008

FEBRUARY 25 2008: I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your generous attention to my birthday. I received thousands of cards and gifts and I enjoyed them very much. Although I announced there was no big celebration, so many people generously came to NY and we had a wonderful time. Now I am officially 70 years old; however, I hope you don't treat me like an old man! Once again thank you very much for your generosity.

I hope you and your family and your sweetheart had a wonderful holiday. I also had a good one although, at the same time, I had to take care of so much business at the last minute. It was the last year of my life in my 60s, and I thank god for giving me a wonderful, meaningful life for so many years. I don't know how much longer it will be that god won't give up on me, so I'd like to use all the time I am given spent with you in both a positive and happy way.

This year I have a big responisbility in rebuilding a USAF summer camp. I'd like to give you an update about camp this year. Originally, we were accepted to return to Roger WIlliams but unfortunately it didn't work out because Roger Williams will be undergoing major renovations during the summer. Instead, luckily, we were accepted by Stockton College in New Jersey. I think it's a good location for many reasons. It's close to the beach, many good restaurants, an amusement park and, most importantly, it is close to Atlantic City!

I was told that some people are unhappy because summer camp is not in the New England area but the fact is that there were no colleges available in the New England area. Everybody hopes summer camp will take place near their home state, but it's almost impossible to meet everybody's ideal location so I ask for your understanding.

New York Aikikai will do our best to meet your expectations, and we hope camp this year will be like the old days with many many people.

Happy New Year

Yoshimitsu Yamada