Dear Aikido Friends,

The year of 2014 is going to be a big and meaningful year for me. I will be the half-century anniversary of my time in the United States and of the NY Aikikai.  I know that neither you nor I want to miss such a great opportunity to have a big party and celebrate together.

I had a few ideas to make this celebration an enjoyable one for everyone.

One idea was to use summer camp for the time and location of the celebration, but unfortunately, that will not work out. It will be impossible to accommodate the many people who might come from all over the world.

My second idea was to have a big seminar in New York City. It seemed like a good idea at the beginning, until we found out that there were no big spaces that could handle such a big crowd and provide us with the services we would need, like changing rooms and showers. There were also safety issues and regulations that both public and private places would impose on us and make the number of people who could participate very limited. I would not want to have many people shut out because of such restrictions. I’m very upset about these circumstances but we really have no choice.

So here is my solution: In 2014, I will still conduct my yearly major seminars so I can see you all. Whenever and wherever you see me, just give me a big hug and warm words.

Anyway, we will have a drinking party at the NY Aikikai sometime in June of 2014 and you will all be welcome to attend. I’ll let you know the exact date later in this year.

Thank you for your understanding, your concern and your wish to help me celebrate.

Y. Yamada

Each year I sit down and think about what to write as the New Year begins and another year lies ahead.  I always come back to the same thoughts. I feel lucky to be involved with so many people all over the world, and wherever I go the experience on the mat is always familiar – people smiling, and each one taking time in their busy lives to practice aikido for their own personal reasons.  It’s important to not only focus on the fun of practicing, but on the technique and learning to execute the moves in a clear and meaningful way.  I see that the students are working hard to achieve this and it’s important that the instructors continue to strive for this as well.  Aikido is a unique chance for people to do something positive for themselves and together, and that should always remain in each persons mind.

This past December New York Aikikai hosted its annual Christmas seminar.  It was the first seminar since we have completed our dojo renovations.  It was wonderful to see so many people in the dojo, and to see the new beautiful space filled with all of our friends enjoying themselves.  I am very grateful for this change, and hope you will have a chance to come and visit the dojo to see our new improvements some time soon.

I can truly say it’s good to be home! I have traveled all over the world and coming home to NY to finish the year at my dojo always makes me happy.

It’s hard to believe that another year has passed, but when I look on the back of my office door at my calendar for 2012, I think that the new year will be just as busy. Even though I am tired from traveling so much, every where I go the aikido is growing and the people are excited to learn. Many people who live in countries where they have to struggle every day are so happy on the mat. It makes my job so much easier because of that. And as always, being at our own Summer Camp is one of my favorite weeks of the year – it makes me very proud to see so many members coming to camp, and now they are bringing their families. As you know, I love children and as we are all getting older, this seems to make it feel more complete.

The Board and Technical Committee meetings every year are usually very long, but I sit through them because I know how important it is to listen to what our members are discussing and see how hard they are all working to keep the USAF the best aikido organization possible. They have worked very hard this year to make sure that the future is in order for the USAF to continue in a strong and positive way. The TC will be in touch with instructors this year to discuss suggestions for how to improve our teaching curriculum and they will continue to work with the Board towards providing the best benefits for our members possible. Next fall will be the IAF meeting in Japan, where I will go with representatives from the Board of Directors and Technical Committee. Since this happens only every 4 years, we will spend a lot of time preparing for the meeting so we can have a good voice representing the future of the USAF.

As usual, I would like to thank everyone who came to the christmas seminar at New York Aikikai this year. We had close to 250 people here, and 46 tests. I like to be at my dojo when members and visitors from all over the world are all around me. It feels like the dojo is alive and home to everyone.

As I sit in my office and listen to the song “There’s no place like home for the holidays,” I think they are right.

Sincerely,
Y. Yamada

The changing seasons always bring so many changes in life as well.  With the start of spring, I have just returned from the annual Yudansha seminar at the Midwest Aikido Center.  It is always such a well-organized and hospitable seminar.  The students at MAC work so hard together, and they are a great example for us all to learn from.  Then, the new season has also brought some sad changes.  I went this last weekend to British Columbia to visit Kawahara Sensei, who is not well. He called me and I knew I should go to visit him.  Seeing him reminds me about how we should appreciate life, and makes me remember the other losses I have experienced over the last year.  But returning to NY, to my dojo, is always great for me regardless of where I’ve been.  And now that spring has arrived in NY and everyone is walking around with a bright smile, it makes me look forward to beautiful days ahead.

In a few short weeks when the season changes from spring to summer, we will be that much closer to Summer Camp. I hope to see you on the mat!

Y.Yamada