Yelitza Cuevas
5th Dan Instructor
5th dan in Aikido and 4th dan in Iaido, began her Aikido practice in Venezuela in January 2000. Three months later she travelled to Canada where she trained under Robert Zimmermann Sensei at Toronto Aikikai for 8 months. Yelitza returned briefly to Venezuela continuing her practice with Nelson Requena Sensei, and in November 2002, she moved permanently to Toronto and has been practicing Aikido and Iaido at Toronto Aikikai since then. Over the years, Yelitza’s practice has been strongly influenced and shaped by her main teacher Robert Zimmermann Shihan, and also by M. Kanai Shihan, Y. Yamada Shihan, and other senior instructors. One of the things that initially attracted her to Aikido was the beauty and roundness of its movements. She always admired martial arts but it was in Aikido that she found elements of strength, beauty, harmony, and non-competitiveness. She loved Aikido from day one and has practiced it uninterruptedly.
“I have found that Aikido and Iaido are the best tools I have to get to know and work on myself.”
Yelitza trains regularly and attends seminars in Canada, the US, and other countries. She is an active member of the dojo and instructs Aikido classes on Thursdays.
“Aikido and Iaido have proven to be key for keeping balance in my life, increasing my productivity at work, helping me stay healthy and making friends all over the world.”
