Yoshimitsu Yamada: Passing of the Most Important Aikido Teacher in the World

The New York Times obituary for Yamada Sensei read, “Yoshimitsu Yamada, Who Brought Aikido to the U.S., Dies at 84.” The headline was inaccurate. Yamada Sensei did not bring aikido to the US or even to New York, the city he loved, taught in and lived in for over 50 years. He was however at powerful and at times controversial figure with perhaps as many disliking as loved him. Love him or hate him he was the most important aikido teacher of the modern era and arguably responsible for the spread of aikido around the world.

“Aikido is for the Japanese.” Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido Founder.

To explain why Yamada Sensei is the most important modern aikido teacher in the world, one must rewind to what aikido once was. Before World War 2, aikido was an art not to be taught to non-Japanese. This sentiment was expressed by the person who some credit with bringing aikido to the US, Admiral Isamu Takeshita.

Admiral Takeshita was an enthusiastic supporter of the Founder, demonstrating the art in the United States during his time as a military attaché. He refused to teach the art to non-Japanese however. “Judo and Yawara have been taught to the foreigners,” Admiral Takeshita said, “but not this one. We will not export this art to foreign countries if we can help it.”[1]