Malta’s most popular Aikido dojo, the Yamato Dojo in Hamrun has attracted one of Europe’s top Aikido practitioners Master (Dr) Renato Tamburelli (5th Dan) to an Easter seminar to be held at the club dojo between the 17th and 19th April 2009.

The Easter Seminar will be held at The Yamato Club, located at the Maria Assumpta Girls Secondary School in Hamrun. For further information go to www.aikidomalta.net or contact Sensei Kevin Bonanno on 9989 9733

One of Italy’s leading Aikido practitioners, Sensei Tamburelli will be leading the two day seminar which will include training sessions for all senior club members, special sessions dedicated to the newly-opened Yamato Dojo Junior Aikido club (ages 11-16) and closed-door sessions for senior Yudansha (black-belt) students. There will also be a special session open to the public on Saturday 18th at 17.00hrs.

Master Renato Tamburelli has been practicing Aikido for over 35 years. He has studied under two of Aikido’s founding Japanese masters Hiroshi Tada Sensei (9th Dan) within Aikikai Italy. In the late 80s, he was one of the founding members of AIKO association, which is under the technical direction of Nobuyoshi Tamura Sensei (8th Dan). He is the present head of the National Technical Commission of AIKO to which the Yamato Dojo is officially affiliated.

Tamburelli sensei holds a PhD in Anthropology.

Aikido is a Japanese martial art that focuses primarily on self defence and the development of a harmonious, co-operative spirit.

This will be Sensei Tamburelli’s second visit to the Yamato club. He led a seminar and officiated at the opening of the club’s new location a year ago. His visit to the Yamato Dojo builds on a very good year for this thriving club.  In January this year the club commenced the Yamato Junior Aikido club for 11-16 year olds. It also created a series of television programs on this remarkable martial art which is now on DVD and details will be available during the Easter seminar.

During 2008 the club was also assisted by another Aikido Master Sensei David Yates (5th Dan) from the British Aikido Board and received a number of senior visiting Aikidoka from Europe.