A Message from Yamada Sensei

Once again it is my pleasure to greet you for the New Year. I'm looking forward to spending the New Year with you. 2004 was a very very confused and emotional year for me, with the passing of Kanai Sensei and my dojo's 40th anniversary celebration. I will never forget the year 2004. It will stay with me all my life.

However, we should look for the future and see things positively. As I mentioned before, I had the first committee meeting for the future direction of the USAF. You will be informed by the Secretary by letter, or through a posting on Aikido East about what we are doing. You might have some questions about the selections I have made, but please try to understand that there are limitations in how many people can be on each committee. It's always hard to please everyone.

I understand there are many questions about Shihan status and high ranking promotions. I will address these questions in the next edition of Aikido East.

This coming May there will be a seminar for black belts in Chicago. This has been an idea I've had for a long time. Fortunately, the Midwest Aikido Center(MAC) has kindly offered the USAF the use of their dojo for this purpose. The MAC has a large and beautiful dojo. One of the reasons I haven't had a black belt seminar before now is that we couldn't find a large enough facility. I want to make this Chicago seminar an annual event. I would like to have a black belt seminar twice a year if we can find an adequate facility in another city. So if you have any ideas, please let me know.

This black belt seminar is the first seminar organized by the Federation and sponsored by the MAC. I want it to be very successful so I'm looking forward to your participation. You can find information on the MAC website at www.aikidomac.org. You will also receive a flyer in the mail at a future date.

I hope you and your families have a happy and healthy New Year.

Yoshimitsu Yamada