Aikido Center of Jacksonville

United States Aikido Federation

The Aikido Center of Jacksonville is a member of the United States Aikido Federation.

Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan

Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei was born on February 17, 1938 in Toyko, Japan. In 1955, at the age of seventeen, he entered the Aikikai Hombu Dojo as an uchi-deshi (live-in student), where he trained under the instruction of Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei, the Founder of Aikido. Later, he became a full time instructor at the Hombu Dojo while also teaching at Japanese universities and American military bases. In 1964, after having been awarded yondan, the Aikikai Hombu sent Yamada Sensei to the New York World's Fair to give a demonstration of Aikido. He remained in New York City as the chief instructor of the New York Aikikai.

Yamada Sensei is recognized by the Hombu Dojo as an instructor abroad, and currently holds the rank of hachidan. He is the Chairperson of the United States Aikido Federation and is the President of the Latin American Aikido Federation, which has dojos in South America, Central America and the Caribbean. He is also a member of the Senior Council in the International Aikido Federation, and leads the technical committee for North America.

Yamada Sensei has dedicated his life to the teaching of Aikido throughout the world. He has authored several books on Aikido, his latest being “Aikido Complete”, and has made numerous training videos. Yamada Sensei travels worldwide conducting Aikido seminars, which are attended by thousands of students. He is known for his clear and strong basic technique.

Aikikai Foundation

The United States Aikido Federation is officially recognized by the Aikido World Headquarters.

Morihei Ueshiba O–Sensei

Morihei Ueshiba O–Sensei was born on December 14, 1883 in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. In 1912, O–Sensei moved to Hokkaido Prefecture and began studying Daito–ryu Aiki–Jujitsu under grandmaster Sokaku Takeda. By all accounts, O–Sensei was a gifted student, readily absorbing the technical aspects of the Daito–ryu. In 1919, after learning his father was ill, O–Sensei left Hokkaido to return home. While traveling, he met Onisaburo Deguchi of the Omoto sect in Ayabe, Kyoto. His meeting with Deguchi transformed O–Sensei—he became an ardent supporter of Deguchi and a fervent believer in Omoto.

In 1927, with encouragement from Deguchi, O–Sensei moved his family to Tokyo to teach the Way of Aiki. After teaching in several locations, O–Sensei established the Kobukan Dojo in the Ushigome district, now the site of the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. O–Sensei passed away peacefully on April 26, 1969 at the age of eighty-six.

International Aikido Federation

The International Aikido Federation is a federation of Aikido organizations which are directly affiliated with the Aikido World Headquarters in Japan, the ‘mother house’ of Aikido. Currently, the IAF restricts membership to one organization per country.

The United States Aikido Federation is the organization representing the United States. Moriteru Ueshiba, the Aikido Doshu, is the IAF President. Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei, the USAF Chairperson, is a member of the IAF Senior Council.