A Message from Yamada Sensei

This is an interview conducted between the editor and Yamada Sensei

Question: Sensei, we recently finished summer camp. I understand that you have some thoughts about camp - could you tell us about them?

Sensei: Before I go into the details of my thoughts, it is sometimes important to go back to the origin of the situation. As for summer camp, if you recall, when we started over 35 years ago, we were so happy to just get everybody together and spend a week enjoying the practice and social life. Also, in the old days the aikido community was so small and only New England Aikikai and New York Aikikai had strong leaders and were capable of organizing summer camp. We were not looking at camp to make any profit. However now there are so many members and dojos that I feel future summer camps should by organized by the Federation.

So, to me, this year summer camp was the beginning of a new era of camps and I'm so happy to see so many people who participated and enjoyed camp. It's no secret that in the past there were some complaints and disappointments with camp. Some people felt mistreated and some felt personally insulted. I am not blaming anyone in particular, it's simply that there were problems with how camp was organized. It was my main concern in the last few years to see the attendance going down and people losing interest in camp.

However, this year I saw a big change and effort to improve the way camp was run, and it was nice to see people's renewed interest and enthusiasm. I'd like to give my compliments to New England Aikikai for their efforts.

Question: What is your opinion about the dan tests?

Sensei: First of all, according to the new system members of the Technical Committee will be conducting the testing with me and they have no mercy, so watch out! As the Technical Committee, we are creating a new system of evaluation forms so after the tests people who tested will be able to find out what they need to work on, and if they failed, why they failed.

As far as the last tests were concerned, they were very satisfactory. One thing I'd like to point out is that if you are sending your student to test, you - as the teacher - must attend the test. If you are not there, how could you tell if your student did well or not? And also as a teacher you should know that if your student has failed you should take the blame. So, the next time you send your student to a seminar to test, make sure your student is ready so as not to embarrass yourself.

Technically speaking, I wanted to see more variety of technique in the jyuwaza. Every teacher has their own technical limitations, so please encourage your students to attend various seminars conducted by different teachers. Remember, that if your student gets better than you, than you should be proud of yourself as a teacher.

Question: Recently some individual members have invited instructors from different organizations to teach at their dojos for seminars. What is your opinion about this?

Sensei: I'm glad you brought up that question. When somebody asks me if it's ok to invite so-and-so from a different organization, I don't say no. As a matter of fact, I like to encourage the exchange of knowledge and experience. However, there is one condition. It is proper manners for the person who is invited to contact me to explain that they were invited by an instructor from my organization and to see if it is ok with me if they accept the invitation. Both the host and the guest should contact me. I don't want to be the last one to find out about the situation. So in the future, if one of you are invited by an individual from another organization, please tell me and contact the head of that organization and explain who you are and what you were invited to do, and ask for permission to accept the invitation. If you do that then it makes me a good leader.

Question: Sensei, can you tell us about your involvement in teaching seminars. I've noticed you have a very heavy schedule. Are you tired from traveling so much, or still enjoying it?

Sensei: That's another good question. I would be lying if I said I'm not getting tired, but I'd also be lying if I said I'm not enjoying it. To me, I feel you better make hay while you still can, and I also feel it's my duty and responsibility to take care of the seminars. It is true that as I'm getting older it's sometimes too much and I don't know how I keep doing it. For instance, after one summer camp I had to go to France, Germany, then Scotland, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Spain, Italy and Paris and then Japan. And between these trips I had to take care of domestic seminars as well.

Normally, when I go overseas I come back to New York on Monday and have 2-3 days until the next trip. I have to take care of all my own dojo paper work, Federation work, answer emails and faxes and letters, and get ready for my next trip.

To me, teaching is not hard, but not sleeping enough, the time irregularities, different weather, different food, the different lifestyles...to make those adjustments so often is the most difficult part for me. However, it's nice to know you are always wanted and I don't mind continuing as long as my health allows me to.

See you next time.