Sensei’s Writings

Special class for instructor candidates at the Nepal Army Ranger Central Dojo Yap Shihan proved yet again her high level of quality as a Shidosha (instructor) during this seminar as she kept walking around the spacious dojo with vigor and power throughout the class with keen observations to point out sharp advice and points of improvements persuasively to students.  

A large scale group bokken training was carried out in the training ground. Over 400 soldiers, divided into 2 groups, participated in the training. Yap Shihan’s sharp voice of “Kiai” echoed throughout the large training field. Today’s practice was wrapped up with 100-meter mae ukemi.  

  Welcome Stephanie Yap Shihan to the Nepalese Army Rangers to Central Aikido Dojo at Himalaya Barracks Chhauni. It’s our honor to welcome the visit by Yap Shihan, 7th dan and Director of Iwama Shinshin Aiki Shuren Kai North America and the Founder of Aikido of South Florida – Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai USA and Gaku Homma Nippon …

  Yap Shihan, 7th dan and Director of Iwama Shinshin Aiki Shuren Kai North America and the Founder of Aikido of South Florida – Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shuren Kai USA, came to visit Bilay House, a humanitarian support and educational facility where over 60 children of the Karen People live and study after having fled to Thailand from Myanmar …

  It’s such an honor to be able to come to visit the Nepalese Army Instructors Training Unit with Stephanie Yap Shihan of Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai North America who holds the 7th dan, the highest rank within Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai North America. I would like to express my sincere gratitude toward high ranking officers and everybody …

  It’s such an honor to be able to come to visit the Nepalese Army Instructors Training Unit with Stephanie Yap Shihan of Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai North America who holds the 7th dan, the highest rank within Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai North America. I would like to express my sincere gratitude toward high ranking officers and everybody …

  I visited Turkey in support of NGO activities. I discussed with Ali Uludag Shihan in Istanbul, my longtime friend and Aikikai 7th dan , what we possibly could do as Aikido Dojo in the aftermath of the big earthquake to help the people in need, and we decided to organize a seminar to raise funds in support of WWY …

  Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey, is a beautiful city on Turkey’s Aegean coast. In this city, there is an alumnus of Nippon Kan’s Uchideshi Program, and he has been practicing the philosophy of AHAN (Aikido Humanitarian Active Network) which Aikido Nippon Kan has been advocating. The alumnus is Cihan Karaogluol Sensei . He has been active to …

  My deep sense of appreciation toward my dearest Yasuo Kobayashi (Aikikai 8th dan, bestowed in 1990), the Soshihan of Aikido Kobayashi Dojo It took 2 months for a newsletter to be delivered… Aikido Kobayashi Dojo publishes the Kobayashi Dojo Aikido Newsletter twice a year, in May and in November.  I had been wondering about the November 2022 issue, and …

  The mochi placed at the front of the Dojo for the New Year’s Day and the following days is called “Kagami Mochi”. Kagami mochi is made up of two flat round mochi with the smaller one placed atop the larger one with a daidai (a Japanese bitter orange), kombu and other offerings, per local customs and traditions, placed on …

  The Keiko Hajime event and a New Year’s gathering event were held to commemorate the arrival of the New Year. A day after these events, we received a sad news that Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan, a pioneer of Aikikai Aikido in the U.S., had died. At the time of the United States Bicentennial, Aikikai Aikido in the U.S. was under …