Yoshimitsu Yamada

Besides O'Sensei, he has also been taught by aikido masters such as Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Koichi Tohei, Kisaburo Osawa, Kenji Tomiki, Hiroshi Tada and Seigo Yamaguchi, among others.

An invitation to give an aikido demonstration at the 1964 World's Fair brought Yamada Sensei to New York. He stayed there to become head teacher at the New York Aikikai, and introduce aikido to the east coast of the US.

By 1972, he had assumed his role as an ambassador of aikido worldwide, introducing thousands of grateful students on almost every continent to his powerful, inspiring and cheerful teaching style.

Since the time he was a resident student, there has been an amazing global growth of aikido.

Yamada Sensei remains to this day the essence and soul of aikido that he learned from O'Sensei during every class he teaches, whether to beginners or advanced students. He believes that a solid foundation in aikido is crucial to each student's progress.

Without saying anything, his teaching shows that sincere, positive and intensive training is the best path to physical and mental development.

Yoshimitsu Yamada 8th Dan, Shihan passed away on 15-1-2023.