SRI LANKA AIKIDO - Sputnik International

This is the start of the new venture to help the people of Sri Lanka.  Yamada sensei has helped to set up a school for Aikido.

He has achieved this by assisting a Japanese institution called Sputnik International.  This was established to promote cultural exchange between Japan and Sri Lanka.  They call it the "Sputnik Senior Centre".  In 2003 they celebrated with an opening ceremony.

Whilst Yamada Sensei was looking for a mat supplier for the Dojo (Sports Centre).  He visited a factory which makes tatami from coconuts, a sample of which is being shown. The photo was taken at the factory. Unfortunately, Yamada Sensei and the factory could not agree on the price of the mats.

 Since returning to Japan he has continued his search for mats.  Very recently, Sekiryu kan (the dojo in the Zen temple in Fukuoka, in which Yamada Sensei's ancestors are buried) replaced their mats with new ones.  The old mats were offered to Yamada Sensei for Sri Lanka. These mats are now in the process of being shipped to the country and hopefully the people in Sri Lanka will receive the mats in a few weeks time. 

Yamada sensei demonstrates his unique style of Aikido on their first Sports Day.