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THE NEW YORK AIKIKAI 142 West 18th Street 2nd Floor New York NY 10011 212.242.6246 | ©2021 New York Aikikai All Rights Reserved | Site Design

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It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved teacher, Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan.

Yamada Sensei died peacefully on Sunday, January 15, 2023 under the care of doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital with his family by his side.

Private funeral arrangements are being made by Sensei’s family. Please respect their privacy during this difficult time.

The New York Aikikai will hold a memorial at a later date that will be open to all who loved and learned from him. We know many of you will want to express your sympathies in some manner. We will make some appropriate suggestions shortly.

Yamada Sensei arrived in New York City in 1964 to become chief instructor at the New York Aikikai. He started aikido at age 17 at honbu dojo, Aikikai Headquarters, as an uchi deshi (live-in student) to O Sensei. He not only built the NY Aikikai into a world-class aikido school but he helped spread the relatively unknown marital art into a thriving community throughout the US, and later on, internationally. A great proponent of individuality and full-hearted training, his classes soared with the harmony and power of a symphony, inspiring all to give their best.

The NY Aikikai will remain open as Yamada Sensei wished. He loved nothing more than big classes with high spirits, so please honor him by training as you would if he were leading class. His amazing energy and generosity of spirit will be there on the mat for all of us.

Yoshimitsu Yamada
February 17, 1938 – January 15, 2023

YAMADA SENSEI’S MEMORIAL


Dear New York Aikikai Community,

We are humbled by the overwhelming global response to Yamada Sensei’s Memorial. For planning purposes, we need to gather a guest list.

Kindly reserve your space as soon as possible if you are planning to attend Yamada Sensei’s Memorial on February 25th. The deadline to register is January 25th.

Register individually here: https://tinyurl.com/yamada-memorial

Please contact memorial@nyaikikai.com with questions.

Thank you,

The Board of the New York Aikikai


REMINDER:

We have reserved a block of rooms at the Hotel Beacon NYC at a special rate for those who need a place to stay.

Hotel Beacon NYC
2130 Broadway
New York, NY 10023

King Studio – $169 plus applicable taxes
Double Studio -$199 plus applicable taxes
King Suite – $259 plus applicable taxes
Double Suite – $289 plus applicable

Please call Reservations Manager Dawn Matthews at the direct line of 646-277-3203 or via email to book the special group rates for the New York Aikikai. The second option is our in-house reservation team at 212-787-1100, ext 2 or via email.


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