An Interview With Yamada Sensei

Skip Short (New York Aikikai)

Sensei, how did you get started in Aikido?

I started Aikido when I was 18.

I had been interested in it from my youth. Aikido was not well known to the public in Japan at that time, but I knew about it and about the Ueshiba family.

My Uncle, Tadashi Abe, had been a deshi of the founder, and he had been instrumental in introducing Aikido overseas. He provided an introduction for me to the Ueshiba family, and I was fortunate enough to be accepted as a deshi.

At that time, most people who were accepted as deshi had already been practicing Aikido. My situation was unique in that my first day of being a deshi was also my first day in Aikido. Since I started without technical knowledge, the beginning was demanding for me.

How long were you a deshi in Japan?

For approximately eight years, until I left Japan for the United States in 1964.

What was deshi life like?

Deshi lived a very different life-style from what I was used to. It was a very tough life - although now, when I look back, the memories are enjoyable.

It was very different from today. We slept on the tatami mats. In the winter, it was almost like sleeping in a refrigerator. In the summer, the dojo was hot and mosquito-filled. We had no privacy. So the deshi experienced physical hardship. But we all felt happy to have the opportunity to be deshi.

What was your career direction before you became a deshi?

Believe it or not, I thought of being an opera singer. My family had a background in music, and that was one of the things I considered. Of course, once I became a deshi, Aikido became my life.

Did you get to spend much time with O-Sensei?

Looking back now, I wish I could have spent more time with him. When I became a deshi, he was older, but we as deshi still had the chance to spend some time with him.

What impressed you most about O-Sensei?

Obviously, his technical ability was simply unbelieveable. I think that, beyond that, everyone from those days has a different perspective. O-Sensei was a very special man, and each person was affected by him in a different way. While some people have come to see him almost as a God, I was impressed by the fact that he did not hold himself above everyone else. Everyone knew that he was special, but he still held himself out to us as a normal person. That humility - his willingness to allow us to see him as a regular person - impressed me.

Did he say anything that left a memorable impression on you?

I am not teaching you anything, he told us. If you want to learn something you must steal it from me.

To me, this meant that he was not saying that we had to do things his way. We each had to "steal" and digest what he was showing us, and we had the freedom to learn and interpret from our own points of view.

Did you have unusual Aikido experiences with O-Sensei?

I have read the stories about O-Sensei, of course. And what people should understand about him is that his physical or technical skill were unbelieveable. The high level at which he performed in his 70s, when I was a deshi, was incredible.

Did you see O-Sensei throw people without touching them?

Yes - but I do not see that as mysterious. The root of what he did was a lifetime devoted to Budo. At the level he had reached, he could lead opponents' ki through his timing and so move them without touching them. It did happen. Most people, including me, had the same experience: when we attacked him, the next thing we knew we found ourselves, all of a sudden, on the mat. At the same time, we felt wonderful.

When you look back today, what do you think he was doing when he threw you that was different from what other people do?

He had a level of skill from having trained for his whole life, mentally and physically, at a very high level. It is a type of knowledge that one cannot get from textbooks.

What is the most important thing that you learned from O-Sensei?

Love and harmony. Warmth towards people.

How did you come to the New York Aikikai?

It was a combination of things. I had a desire to travel and my English, while not very proficient, was better than that of the other students. There were many American military bases in Japan at the time, and I had been teaching some Americans at these bases. I liked the parts of American culture that I was exposed to - music and films.

I thought of going to France, but Tamura Sensei, who was my senior, had decided to go there.

Meanwhile, a small group had developed in New York that was interested in Aikido. A member of this group, Eddie Hagahara, had come to Japan with his ex-wife, Virginia Mayhew. Eddie had trained in Judo but, after Judo became more of a sport, many Judo students became interested in Aikido. I got to know Eddie and Virginia, and I treated them well. For example, in those days, steak was very hard to find in Japan, but I made sure that I had steak for them. We developed a friendship.

Then, in 1964, I came to new York for the World's fair. The plan was for me to go with Tohei Sensei to the Japanese Pavilion and perfom a demonstration. But he was unable to go on that trip. So I came by myself.

On the way to the fair, I stopped in Hawaii, California, and Chicago, where there were already Aikido dojos, and in Colorado Springs, where there was a military base with students I knew from Japan.

I met my friends in New York and went to the New York Aikikai. I spoke to the members and became Chief Instructor.

In the early days, the community was not well organized, and they did not know if they would be able to pay the rent. Aikido was going to be my life, and I wanted to see it well organized. The members had a very good dream, but they needed help. So they agreed to let me organze and unify the dojo. That was how we startred.

Did you have help starting out at the New York Aikikai?

It was hard in the beginning. Nobody had money even to pay the expenses. So my father gave me money to pay my expenses. And Mike Abrams, who was a college kid at the time, started out helping with the business aspects.

You have traveled and helped establish many people in Aikido. When did you first get started doing that?

From the beginning, my responsibilities were to help New York Aikikai develop and to work for the spread of Aikido. It was hard financially, and I had to leave my family in Japan. At the same time, many people contacted Japan or wrote to us directly expressing their interest in Aikido. From almost the very beginning, until Kanai Sensei arrived, I traveled to Boston every week and taught classes there, traveling up and back the same day. I traveled to Southern New Jersy, Pennsylvania, and Canada, becoming a regular passenger on Greyhound and Trailways. In the beginning, I did not have anyone with enough experience to send. So I had to take care of all these requests myself.

I was traveling so much that people in the dojo complained. I had to explain and get the members to understand that I had responsibilities toward the spread of Aikido as well as toward the dojo.

I also tried to develop competent Aikido teachers and to encourage them to develop their own dojos. I am very lucky that many of my students have become good teachers. I am very happy and lucky to have Harvey Konigsberg as one of my students. He is devoted to Aikido. Even though he has his own dojo in Woodstock, he travels each week to teach at the New York Aikikai. He is a very humble man and a great example for Aikido.

Although you have created standard technical requirements, you have supported - even within the New York Aikikai - teachers with many different styles.

The New York Aikikai is unique. I like to have strong teachers who develop their own styles. I do not want everyone to copy me. Everyone is different, and everyone has different physical abilities. I like it that way. As long as we have common standards, Aikido should be individual. I hope that I have some style, but I don't want people to try to copy it exactly. I respect the individuality and the freedom of our teachers - as long as we have common standards.

At the New York Aikikai, you and Sugano Sensei - teachers of a very high level - both instruct. How did you both come to teach at one dojo?

On a personal level we were friends. I sacrificed, and we brought him here.

No other school in the world has two almost equal Shihan teaching. The arrangement is difficult to support financially, but New York Aikikai has gotten the benefit.

You have traveled all over the world teaching and have spent much time in South America. How do you see Aikido in South America?

I have been teaching in South America regularly for over ten years, and I have seen Aikido develop tremendously there - to the point where it is almost equal to Aikido in the United States.

A very important factor in this growth is that people are developing their Aikido cooperatively and not in isolation. I have encouraged them to see many different Aikido teachers. I am happy to have them as guests in our school, and they have helped to enrich our school when they visit.

You have also visited the former Soviet Union. What has that been like?

I have been going there for nine years now. Under the communists, Aikido was prohibited. Now, they are growing as we were in the United States 40 years ago. They are hungry and they are practicing hard. The people have more freedom. They seem happier than in our earlier visits. And I see many more women practicing than before.

How does Aikido in Japan compare to Aikido in the United States?

Today Aikido is more advanced in the United States. There is more committment here from students. In Japan, there are many excellent teachers, but the new generation needs to make more of a comittment to Aikido. More people stay with Aikido for long periods of their life in the United States.

In addition to your trvels throughout the world, you have visitors from all over the world at the New York Aikikai.

Yes, I feel that this is one of the members' rewards for providing me with the freedom to travel and to form connections with Aikido throughout the world. We have many visitors from all over the world at the New York Aikikai, and the attitude and atmosphere of welcoming and receiving guests from all over the world and accepting their contributions is something that money cannot buy. We grow, not by being isolated, but by inviting the world and learning and growing together. I have invested 40 years in developing this attitude at the New York Aikikai, and I am very happy to see it.

Looking back, I see that I spent the first ten years developing my school. The next years were emphasizing the development of Aikido teachers. So the last ten years have been very fulfilling for me. I am more mature. I feel I have grown. And it is only since I turned 50 that I have been comfortable with people calling me Sensei. Until then, I would ask myself "Do I deserve to be a called a Sensei?" And, as I have gotten older, I have become more confident that I am a good teacher in Aikido.

We are lucky to have our own building. For may years we were poor, but now we have a place for the future of Aikido in New York. We owe great thanks to Tom Tormey and Mike Abrams for their work in helping us to own our building. We have many talented people from many fields who have contributed to our dojo, and we are very lucky. It seems that, whenever there is a need, there is someone at the New York Aikikai to help. Because of all who have helped, we hope we have a home for Aikido in New York City for future generations.

As you look back at your time in Aikido, what three things are you most proud of?

First, I am proud of my dojo. I feel that the New York Aikikai is a very special place.

Second, I am proud that I have helped to make a contribution to the spread of Aikido, even though it was often difficult.

Third, I am proud that I have helped to support many men and women who have become excellent teachers. In terms of freedom and opportunity for women practitioners, America is the best place in the world, and I am proud that many excellent women teachers have studied with us here.

When teachers are beginning Aikido dojos, what is their toughest challenge? And what is your advise for them?

In many ways, their toughest enemy can be themselves. There are obvious financial problems, but the toughest thing is learning how to deal with students and other people.

It is the nature of the teacher-student relationship that some teachers can become too bossy. But it is very important to respect people as human beings - and not to cage students inside one's own knowledge. Give them freedom.

There is a tendency for instructors to worry that students will gain knowledge or learn something that they themselves do not know. The solution is to encourage students to grow, to have confidence, and not to feel threatened if your students grow. We must all try to improve ourselves and support students' becoming exposed to other teachers. I am still learning from teachers, and I learn from my own students. Even though I am a Sensei, I am still learning. For example, I still learn from Tamura Sensei whenever we have a joint seminar. If he does something differently, I do not hesitate to learn it and use it, although I will use it in my own way.

What is your advice for beginning students in Aikido?

Most people come to Aikido with mature, open minds. This may be because of the art's nature, and we are fortunate to draw people like this. My hope is that the first impression new students get is that Aikido is enjoyable and that it is fun to meet Aikido people. And it is important to come to Aikido with an empty mind, willing to learn.

What do you think is the most important thing Aikido has to offer?

To have a big heart and to be able to deal with many different people - that is my goal. When you learn Aikido, you become a person with confidence who can forgive other people. Teaching that way of interacting is a valuable contribution that Aikido can make to society.

In what direction do you see Aikido evolving? In what direction would you like to see it evolve?

I feel that, technically, Aikido needs to be true to its essence. I feel that, today, some people are getting too far away from the pureness of Aikido technique. This is something that concerns me for the future, after my generation.

My hope for Aikido tomorrow is that, despite all the differences between instructors, all of them have big hearts and give their students freedom.

The challenge is to keep Aikido's essence, respect our students, and give our students freedom to learn.