Uchideshi
Florencia Fridman
The question: why did you started practicing Aikido?, came up
several times during Uchideshi. I precisely choose the expression“came up”, because I did not had to face it before.
I started practicing Aikido 10 years ago, in a small town 20kms
away from the capital city of Uruguay. It was one of those towns
where nothing ever happens, but, if you step out these common
places and scratch the surface a little, everything is happening.
A path, a long wooden hallway, lighted in the sides andsurrounded by stones. At the end, a blank space, an altar. I came in, took my shoes
off, went carefully across the hallway and sat down to observe in silence. From thatmoment on, I could not be away from Aikido.
I would realize years later, that at the time I was in luck (even though I don´tbelieve in such thing), of encountering my Sensei, for whom I
will be forever grateful. This Sensei and his teachings molded
my life, helped me to be patient and tempered, to wait and to act.
To find the right timing. One of the many things I value the mostamong his teachings, it is to learn to be passionate. I have nevermet someone with such passion and devotion. And this feelingcan be so contagious that in time around him a great community
emerged, a diverse and complex family, joined together by ashared passion. Each one of us, the Rioplatense family, Aikido
lovers.
My Sensei told us stories while sharing tea. Stories about his practice, histeachers, his travels to Japan. 10 years ago, I learned that Aikido Kobayashi Dojo
hosted Uchideshi, a live in training program completely dedicated to Aikido, fromthat moment on, I knew I was coming to Japan.
I was an Uchideshi in Aikido Kobayashi Dojo for 10 weeks. Each one of thedifferent from the one before. What at first was magic, transformed to real. A hardreality. Despite of it all, the level of exhaustion
both physical and mental, the capacity of discover
new and profound grades of pain and frustration
every weak, can not be compared with the quality
and quantity of learning of this experience.

I am beyond grateful to Aikido Kobayashi
Dojo, to Soshihan Yasuo Kobayashi, from whom
I had the honor of taking classes, making of his
dojo my home and discovering an extraordinary
feeling of shared joy in practice; with the Dojocho,
Hiroaki Kobayashi Sensei, for whom I have great
admiration and whose Aikido amazes me every
practice; and with all instructors in charge.
I also extend my thanks to each of thepractitioners, being in an unknown place, withsuch physical and mental demands, it is possible
be vulnerable. Each of them made the only
moments of real enjoyment occur during practice.
Their patience, their kindness and willingness,gave strength to move forward.
The uchideshi experience is simple, and with simple I don't
mean easy. The uchideshi experience, as I said before, is hard andtough. But simple.
In my case, I tried to pay attention, to listen, to know how toask and not be afraid. Smile and remember the gratitude of being able
to invest time in doing what I love.
Paying attention is key in this experience, that's how I learned“If you lose the center, you lose everything”, as Kasahara Sensei
commented while showing me how to fold his Hakama; or theinfinite number of times I was told to relax, expanded by senpai Norikosan and hercomment “If you do not relax, you will get hurt”, among hundreds of passing remarksthat I repeated as mantras in difficult times.
Closing, I share some conclusion, or brief part of my learnings in thisexperience: the Shodan test is a small step in a long way; when in doubt, always ask
myself if I am doing my best; if I treat people with love and respect, I will get thesame in return; we are all passing through, I am not that important.
10 years ago I started practicing Aikido, I don't know why.
But if I know why I stayed and why I will continue. Eachexperience, each person is unique. My word of this experience is"縁"(en) in that I do believe.