As quoted in Aikido Journal: “In 1955, Yoshimitsu Yamada was accepted to the Hombu Dojo uchi deshi program (live-in apprentice) at age 18. He studied directly under the founder, as well as Kissomaru Ueshiba, Koichi Tohei, Kisaburo Osawa and other legendary masters. Yamada Shihan (8th dan) came to the United States in 1964 and has been one of the most important and influential instructors and ambassadors for the art of aikido in the United States and across the globe. He is chief instructor of the New York Aikikai and chief instructor and technical director of the United States Aikido Federation, the largest aikido organization in the United States. In March 2019, Yamada Sensei sat down with Josh Gold to share his thoughts with the Aikido Journal community.”
Aikido Journal Interview with Yamada Sensei
2019 USAF Summer Camp Registration Is Open!
We are excited to once again host Yamada Sensei, Osawa Sensei, the USAF Technical Committee and Instructors for our 2019 Summer Camp
You are encouraged to register for a Camp Package and book your hotel room as soon as possible. Although you will have to pay for your Camp Package in full at the time of registration, you will not incur charges for your hotel reservation until your actual stay. The DEADLINE for registration is Friday, June 21st but the blocked off USAF discounted hotel rooms may be fully occupied prior to the deadline. Information about purchasing day fees can be found through the registration link below.
USAF launches Youtube page!
We are excited to announce the launching of our official USAF YouTube channel! Past and future summer camp videos will be posted here, for free access to the aikido community and the general public.
2018 was the first camp where the footage was created for an internet presence, rather than a DVD. We will continue to explore how to best present our classes in this new format, and look forward to sharing the excellent instruction provided at our summer camps with aikidoka around the world.
Check out our page here and don’t forget to subscribe! Any help spreading the news would be appreciated!
Most Influential Person
My mentor is Sensei Faust who is my Aikido teacher. He is a 7th Dan black belt (Shihan), and he is one of the top ranked people in the world. He is also the very top ranked African-American Aikidoist in the United States Aikido Federation. He even holds rank in Karate, Kung Fu, and Tae Kwon Do. He has trained and taught here and in Japan. He teaches in clubs at RPI, he teaches home-schoolers, and he teaches at youth charities. He is also a veteran. He has inspired me by being the most accomplished person I know and made me want to try to get a rank higher than his and learn as much as I can.
When I first started it was for fun because I was only 5 or 6, but now I practice to learn to defend myself. He is hard on everyone in his class but he always makes sure we get it right. He is extremely persistent and never stops practicing himself. Learning Aikido under him taught me how to commit to something. I have been doing Aikido for 8 years now and am 5th kyu, meaning I am 5 tests away from black belt. I am one of the only two people to go through the entirety of the children’s class and graduate to the adult class. Everybody else either dropped out or stayed in the children’s class. Me and the other person are also the only kids in the adult class. Usually people at my rank are in their 30s-40s. I owe this entirely to my dad and Sensei Faust. He has been practicing so long it can be measured in decades. More than four to be exact. Plus, he is a part of the direct teaching lineage of the inventor of Aikido.
I recently tested for 5th kyu and made it through with a combination of his and my dad’s teaching and encouragement. When I was 6th kyu (the numbers go down as you get higher rank) he made sure that I worked on all of the techniques until I got them all to a degree where they wouldn’t be forgotten after the test. I am currently working towards 4th kyu and plan to get to black belt within the next few years. I will be a role model in the future by taking on some of Sensei’s traits. I will also teach at the dojo, hopefully with others I know. I will teach in a way that people will learn and remember to defend themselves. I will pass on his persistence to others. I will make sure I don’t stop practicing until I can’t anymore. I will also take these traits into my regular life. I know that he will definitely leave a permanent effect on my life and many others of multiple generations.
Nahjiim Engram
Albany Aikido
USAF Summer Camp 2019 Is Gearing up!
Save the date, stay alert, stay posted, and stay tuned. Information about registration will follow soon.
Another USAF summer camp not to be missed!
2018 Year At A Glance
We would like to share with you our 2018 year-end report that was circulated to USAF Chief Instructors. The formatting is for a trifold brochure, so please take that into consideration when you review the content. We hope you find it informative and wish you a wonderful 2019.
New Year’s Recommendations 1-1-2019
The following list comprises the 2019 New Year’s recommendations for 5th dan and above, and Shihan.
The recently posted list on Aikikai Foundation’s website can be found here: Kagami Biraki Grading 2019
Godan
- David Babcock – New York Aikikai
- Steve Bandy – Aikido of Dallas
- Luis Cataldi – Raleigh Aikikai
- John Chiarolanzio – Aikido of New Paltz
- Shawn Dansby – Aikido of Cincinnati
- Alberto De La Pena – Aikido of Dallas
- Brian Ericksen – Heaven and Earth Aikido
- Laura Gabbe – Aikido of Park Slope
- Jamal Granick – Aikido of Park Slope
- Michael Grover – Florida Aikikai
- Jean Laplante – Aikikai de l’Universite Laval
- Joshua Layton – Monteregie Aikikai
- Janet Lowe – Florida Aikikai
- Meipo Martin – Capital Hill Aikikai
- Charles Oaks – Aikido of Dallas
- John O’Connor – Long Island Aikikai
- Martin Perez – Toronto Aikikai
- Thanh Vinh Pham – Aikido de la Montagne
- John Porter – Aikikai of Philadelphia
- Mark Reichert – Cornell Aikido Club
- Ahmed Rhando – Aikido School of Maghreb
- Mary Dee Seabolt – Aikido Center of Jacksonville
- Alexander Sorisky – Ottawa Aikikai
- William Stairs – Ottawa Aikikai
- John Thompson – Aikido of Denton
- Paul Tigh – Aikido of Dallas
- Robert Vichnis – Aikido of Park Slope
Rokudan
- Thomas Berry – Aikido of Ashland
- Fabio Chirinos – Dairyukai Aikikai
- Cong Nguyen – Summit View Aikido
- Jonathan Reid – Aikido of Central New York
- Edward Schechtman – Center Island Aikido
- Jose Maxcen Soriana – PAPA Aikido Michigan
- Kevin Templer – Aikido of San Antonio
- Christine Wong – Aikido of Santa Barbara
Nanadan
- Douglas Firestone – Aikido of Westchester
- George Kennedy – Aikido Center of Atlanta
- TK Lee – Aikido of Houston
- Charles McGinnis – Aikido fo Cincinnati
- Joel Posluns – North Vancouver Aikikai
- Yoko Okamoto – Aikido Kyoto, Japan (a non-USAF dojo, but promoted by Yamada Sensei)
Shihan
- Eugene Abarrategui – Aikido de la Montagne
USAF Code of Conduct & Membership Regulations
2019 New USAF Dojo
The USAF would like to welcome the following new member dojo:
1/6/2019:
Tenchi Aikido of Somerset
Chief Instructors: Sheila Cahilig & Jeffrey Marfil
360 Milltown Road
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
1/23/2019:
East Lake Aikido
Chief Instructor: Galen David
3359 36th Ave South
Minneapolis, MN 55406
9/2/19
South Bay Aikikai
Chief Instructor: Gustavo Rearte
1310 Shorebird Way
Mountain View, CA 94042
10//19
Cedar Rapids Aikikai
Chief Instructors: Jack Hayes & Jayne Thomson
1224 5th Street, SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
11/26/19
Motor City Aikido
Chief Instructors: Jennifer & Steve Owczarek
50625 Van Dyke Ave
Shelby Twp, MI 48317
Harvey Konigsberg Sensei’s Artist Website
Konigsberg sensei has a new website, harveykonigsbergart.com, which highlights his new, beautiful and dynamic Aikido prints, paintings, and T-shirts. He says, “I believe art should be a luminous experience for both the artist and viewer. To create this experience in my work, I continuously strive to use movement and form to reveal the unseen world.” Visit the site to see his newest art, including the “Aiki Women” series. Prints start at $40. Mixed media paintings sell for $350. T-shirts are currently 50% off and are going for $14. His art makes great gifts!
