The holder of a Seventh Dan ranking in Yoshinkan Aikido, Yamashita Shihan is one of the first Americans to have achieved such an honor.

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Much in the tradition of O'Sensei, Yamashita Shihan has dedicated his life to the study of the martial arts. Also the holder of a second degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do Karate, Yamashita is proficient at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Thai Boxing, Yanagi-ryu Aiki-jujutsu and Judo. Using this knowledge, he has successfully managed to blend various forms and techniques to create an art which is practical yet graceful, powerful yet supple, soft yet hard.

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It is this blending of attacking capability and a dedication to keeping Aikido a functional combat system that has given Yamashita Shihan a reputation as somewhat of a maverick among the Aikido community. He feels that many of the more effective techniques were removed from the system when it was converted over from the 'Old Way'. Diligently, he has sought to restore the combat effectiveness which was once the hallmark of O Sensei's original style. This is the tradition which Soke Gozo Shioda passed on and it is the legacy of all Sanbukan practitioners.

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It is the passion of Yamashita Shihan to leave you not only with a knowledge of the 'Way' of Aikido but, also with a mastery of the 'bujutsu' application of the art.  It is this passion and this dedication that Soke Gozo Shioda saw when he bestowed on Yamashita Shihan's dojo the title of SANBUKAN

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With a Bachelor's Degree in Administration of Justice, Yamashita Shihan has taught self defense, boxing and Police defense tactics at several colleges in Southern California since 1967.

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Shihan Mits Yamashita passed away on April 14th 2021 due to complications following heart surgery.