Yai students are also known for being serious and dedicated. Some have been training for a decade and more. Billy Thompson was the first YAI student to attain the level of Black Belt after training for thirteen years. Currently Senpai Lisa Rutledge runs the YAI program. Senpai Mike Baumgarten, Senpai Greg Scheindlin, Senpai Philip Wu, Senpai Keith Palabrica, Lynn Altman and Roger Ziegler.
Students have widely varied levels of capability and disability.
It is for this reason that the program works best with a high teacher to student ratio. Teaching assistants are always needed and welcome.