The AAKF North Atlantic Region hosted the AAKF National Masters Seminar this year in Southampton New York on November 12 and 13, 2011. This karate seminar was a wonderful opportunity to introduce AAKF’s  high caliber sensei’s to this region. All of them are long time members of the AAKF and students of Sensei Hidetake Nishiyama, who also was the founder of the AAKF and a legend on his own in the martial arts world. The AAKF celebrated its 50^th anniversary this year. It was inspiring to see the strong commitment of all the instructors to follow and continue Sensei Nishiyama’s work of propagating karate under his principles.  The Sensei’s came from all over the country and the seminar was headed by  Sensei Robert Fusaro, 8^th dan, from Minneapolis, who started his training in 1955, he captivated all the seminar participants with his agility, speed and in depth explanations of proper alignment and full body connection. His love for karate and teaching was truly inspirational.  The event was continued by the following equally impressive Senseis, Sensei Mahmoud Tabassi, 7^th dan, Washington DC, Sensei Falah Kanani, 6^th dan, JKA San Diego, Sensei Alex Tong, 6^th dan, Texas, Sensei Toru Shimoji, 5^th dan, Atlanta, Sensei Albert Chea, 5^th Dan, California, and Sensei Richard Kageyama, 5^th Dan, also from California. All of the above named instructors have each well over 30 years of experience in karate.  They managed to cover a great spectrum from kata to kumite strategies and all of them unique in their teaching approach. The information shared by them filled the participants, instructors and students alike with new concepts and teaching ideas and again inspired everyone by their commitment and love to the art. The atmosphere was truly one of sharing and made it worth while for the instructors and students that came from all over the country to participate. The feed back from all of them was very positive. Sensei Jay Nacu, a new member to the AAKF and located in Chicago and Vassil Peytchev, Madison WI, who currently is the liaison for the AAKF Great Lake Region, they not only enjoyed the instructions but also volunteered to be the host for next years Master Seminar as well. It was also wonderful to see long time students and competitors like Amy Sperling,Minneapolis and Dr. Janet Hethorn,Delaware, still going strong and supporting these events. Karate is about continues learning and improvement and the AAKF is the place to be. TheNew York students under their chief instructor Helene Ely were more then impressed and proud to be part of the AAKF and their leading instructors and members.   This seminar left everyone even more motivated to built the newNorth Atlantic region and become more active in AAKF events. Role models like these karate masters are desperately needed in these times and we are thankful to all the instructors for sacrificing their time to share their karate experience.