The Legacy of Yamada Shihan in Europe – Bernau Summer Camp

 by Gabi Bixel, 5th Dan, Shidoin - AikiMuenster Dojo, Germany

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce our Sansuikai - Yamada Shihan Legacy Website:https://www.sansuikai-yamada.de. Yamada Shihan has a large following in Europe and Sensei traveled to Europe many times a year to teach summer camps and weekend seminars. One of his favorite aikido seminars was the Bernau summer camp in the beautiful Bavarian mountains near Lake Chiemsee in Germany.

For more than 20 years Yamada Sensei accepted the invitation of Jochen Maier, 7th Dan Shihan and Doris Wiedenmann, 6th Dan Shidoin to come and teach in Bernau. August 2022 was his last summer camp, after a two year break due to the pandemic. All the years before Yamada Sensei never missed a single year!

I had the privilege to see Yamada Sensei for the first time in Bernau in 2011 and thereafter every following year. Sensei taught in many other places in Europe, but for me personally the Bernau Summer Camp has always been special. I attended the Bernau seminar every year together with my aikido partner David Ross, 6th Dan Shidoin. I took my Nidan, Sandan exams in Bernau, Sensei approved my Yondan recommendation and awarded me Shidoin. In 2022, Sensei asked me to teach a class in Bernau, directly after his Friday class and dan exams. I felt very proud and honored. We all looked forward to seeing Sensei again in 2023, but as we know, it did not happen. Yamada Sensei passed away on January 15, 2023.

Over the years, the Bernau summer camp has provided an opportunity for many people throughout Europe, the United States and Canada to come together to practice under the watchful eye of Yamada Shihan. Bernau seminar has always been a great event to meet old and make new friends, not to mention the occasion to experience the surrounding environment of the beautiful Bavarian mountains and lakes - the cool and refreshing Weissbier awaits you - see you in Bernau! Jochen still hosts the Bernau summer camp, so why not plan to join us in 2025 or one of the upcoming years?

To keep Sensei’s legacy and the memories of Bernau summer camps alive, David and I have decided to initiate this Sansuikai - Yamada Shihan Legacy website and to share personal stories about Sensei and his favorite summer camp in Europe. Steve Pimsler, 7th Dan Shihan and Chief Instructor of New York Aikikai has contributed an article which captures the spirit of Yamada Sensei and the New York Aikikai.

If you were in Bernau and attended Yamada Sensei's summer camp, please contact us. We would like to invite you to share your story and pictures with us so that we can publish them on our website. Your contribution will be greatly appreciated and a great way to keep Sensei's legacy alive. Thank you so much in advance!