Yamada Sensei DVD II and Biography Projects

Dear Fellow Aikidoka,

As you know, this summer Yamada Sensei will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the New York Aikikai. As part of the celebration, we are working on two very special projects. The first is part II of the existing DVD documentary about Sensei and the Aikikai. The second is as a written biography of Yamada Sensei and an exploration of his profound influence in the Aikido world over the years. We wanted to let you know about both of these projects as we will be inviting your feedback and input as we compile our research. This is a very exciting time for the world of Aikido, and we feel that it is a prime time to capture on film and on the page some of the extraordinary accomplishments and achievements of one of its central leaders.

As we collect information, anecdotes, photographs and other pieces of research, we welcome any contributions you may have. If you have special stories or memories of Sensei that you feel are particularly exemplary of him and his unique teaching style and charm, we would love to hear them. We would like both the DVD and the biography to be as inclusive of all the various aspects of Yamada Sensei's influence and effect on Aikido as possible.

We look forward to seeing you all at the seminar this summer. Feel free to contact us at the addresses below if you want to contribute something or if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Nan & Alberto

Alberto Botero : beto@mindfulgroup.com

Nan Wolk : nanwolk@earthlink.net