We are very pleased to be hosting Senta Yamada as part of the 50 years of Tomiki Aikido in the UK. Yamada was resident Judo/Aikido instructor at the LJS and has a great budo pedigree. For me it is a great honor to have him teach at my Dojo. Senta Yamada was born in Fukuoka, Japan in 1924. As a Graduate of Kobe Marine University he began to practice Judo in middle school, and received his 1st Dan at the age of 16. He became an outstanding competitive judoka, eventually reaching the rank of 6th Dan under the founder of Judo, Dr Jigaro Kano. Yamada sensei's name appears along side the famous in the historic Sekiryu Kan Dojo, as one who completed the session of 1000 throws. Dr Kano sent Yamada sensei to study Aikido with Morihei Ueshiba Sensei the founder of Aikido after the war. As a live-in student (uchi dechi) he began private training with the founder in Wakayama Prefecture. Yamada sensei later returned to Tokyo, where he met and began training with Professor Kenji Tomiki whose approach and training system in Aikido had a major influence on his thinking. Through his training and association with these great men, Yamada Sensei has obtained knowledge and insights into the arts of Aikido and Judo that few persons have today. Yamada Sensei's mastery of these arts, his efficient and powerful body movement and his natural teaching ability is inspirational. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUAmRDhAiE0"]YouTube - KIKUSUI KAI JUDO[/ame]
