Yoshimitsu Yamada
Sensei, Teacher, Aikidoka
- Occupation
Sensei, Teacher, Aikidoka
- Date of birth
17 January 1938
- Date of death
15 January 2023 (84 years)
- A place of death
Mount Sinai Hospital
New York, USA
- Place of work
New York Aikikai
- Citizenship (s)
Japan
United States of America - City
New York
- Aikido rank
8th dan Aikido Aikikai
Shihan
"My heart is broken and very sad. Thank you for letting me stay at New York Aikikai and teaching me. I love you and will miss you so much! RIP" Grady Lane
"On behalf of myself and the North Valley Aikikai membership I extend our deepest condolences to Sensei’s family and his many students around the world." Lee Lavi
Sad Announcement Regarding Yamada Sensei
Dear Aikido Community,
It is with a heavy heart that we share the following announcement from New York Aikikai regarding the passing of our beloved teacher, Yamada Sensei. We will be in touch with more information as it becomes available.
The USAF
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
