Special Events

2008 CLASS TRIP to JAPAN

Sensei's Tony and Mary Anne recently made their 9th trip to Japan to train with Yamada Sensei. At 85 years of age, Yamada Sensei is very strong and his movement and techniques are as smooth and effective as ever! On this trip, 9 people went along with Orlando's. Besides training in the Sekiryukan (the oldest aikido/ judo dojo in Japan) our group traveled to the Budokan (an equally famous old dojo) and observed demonstrations of iaido (the drawing and cutting of the sword), kendo (Japanese fencing) and kyudo (Japanese archery). Our group also attended the Final Grand Championship Sumo tournament which crowned this year's champion!

2005 CLASS TRIP to JAPAN

On November 17th, 10 members of our class traveled to Japan. Our itinerary included aikido training with Yamada Sensei at the Sekiryu Kan (The oldest aikido dojo in Japan),sightseeing in Kyoto, Osaka and Nara, and a visit to the popular hot spring resort town of Beppu. We also attended the 2005 Grand Sumo Championship!
Click on the following link for more info on this trip: Japan 2005

ENGLAND TRIP

Tony and Mary Anne Orlando made a trip to England to attend a seminar hosted by John Waite Sensei at one of his dojos near London. The seminar was conducted by Yamada Sensei who traveled from Japan to teach the seminar. The seminar focused on the principle that all techniques are initiated from the strong basic natural body movements developed through the the Judo Taiso exercises.
Click here for info on this trip: England Trip

NEW ZEALAND TRIP

Tony and Mary Anne traveled from our "harsh" North Carolina winter to the sunny summer climate of New Zealand to visit and train with John Waite Sensei.
Click on the following links for info on this trips: NEW ZEALAND 2005


JAPAN TRIP

Tony and Mary Anne Orlando received an invitation from Yamada Sensei to go to Japan for the third time to train. The Orlando's stayed with Yamada Sensei for 10 days training and discussing Aikido and the lost concepts taught to him by Ueshiba Sensei, Dr. Kano and Professor Tomiki.
Click on the following links for info on these trips: Japan Trip 2001 or Japan Trip 2003


YAMADA SENSEI VISIT

The Carolina Aikido Club was honored to have received a fourth visit from Yamada Sensei from Japan to teach our class. Yamada Sensei was a friend and student of the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba Sensei, the designer of Judo, Dr. Jigaro Kano, and the developer of the Tomiki style of Aikido, Professor Kenji Tomiki. Through his training and association with these great men, Yamada Sensei has obtained knowledge and insights into the art of Aikido and Judo that few, if any, persons have today. Yamada Sensei's mastery of the art, his efficient and powerful body movement and his natural teaching ability was an inspiration to all who trained with him.
Click here for info on this visit: Yamada Sensei