07/26/2026
To Yuichiro Aoyama sensei!!
Thank you for making such an impact on our clubs and all of the others you visited over the years here in Georgia!!
We are so grateful for your wise words and enthusiasm- getting destroyed by your sharp hits and beautiful strikes.
I will always hear your feedback to slow down and stop lifting my head for kirikaeshi haha. You provided countless explanations for us and I am always trying to keep working to improve. But as you said, kendo is also about developing our character, not just our physical abilities.
You told me several years ago that the reason you are so good at explaining is because you had to work hard to become strong in kendo - it didn’t come easy to you. I hope to continue to be a better teacher because I constantly have to struggle haha.
We will miss you and your young old man presence! Congratulations on your contribution at Georgia tech, making your 6 dan, and starting your family. Please return home safely to your wife and kids and we hope to see you again one day! You always have a dojo with us here , even if Ishimori sensei always kidnapped you for GKA taikai.
- on behalf of everyone at GKA
Diana !
