My Uchideshi Experienceby Karlo Gataric“Early mornings, late nights, lots of cleaning, lotsof training.”
Before I left Tasmania to come to Japan that iswhat I was told would be the life of the uchideshi at
Kobayashi Dojo. Well, I was informed correctly as
training 2 to 3 times each day, then traveling between
Tokorozawa and Kodaira dojos to clean before eachtraining session left you with a very busy schedule andaround 6 hours a day for sleep. Cleaning and training.
This is what you do. This is uchideshi life. The dojo
becomes your primary concern.
Eating tends to be a bit on the run during the day and noodles at the train
station were quick and also a carbohydrate intake which ensured you had theenergy to maintain the pace. Evening meals after the last training were usuallyat a restaurant and always involved a few quiet beers.
During my time as uchideshi there were four others living as uchideshi aswell. Communal living with a washing machine that worked overtime was adaily event.
No television, no radio, no newspaper meant that conversations amongst eachother led to a real insight into peoples personalities.
The keiko however was the highlight of my time in Japan. Once one
adapted to the firm tatami at Kodaira by using smaller, tighter ukemi you could
embrace the training regime to the full. Training with high rank and high level
students allows you to use the techniques on people who can receive them. That
I will really miss about Japan.
The jo and bokken work outside in the street was an aspect I particularly
enjoyed as training outdoors in the open air in the Japanese spring was fun andrefreshing.
Highlights of the keiko were also the children’sclasses with their highlevel of enthusiasm and spirit and most of all fun. It was a real eye-opener forme and made me realize what our own club was missing out on by not having achildren’sclass.
Also attending the Yamanaka camp with Igarashi sensei and Kobayashi
sensei were great fun as was training at Meiji University.
The Wednesday morning breakfast provided by Hiroaki sensei and hiswife Miyoko were absolutely outstanding. All uchideshi are invited to join themand the gesture and the fantastic food were always greatly appreciated. The
natto however was always interesting. Always entertaining to watch people try
and eat it.

Another interesting aspect of uchideshi
life was cooking the Friday morning breakfast
for Kobayashi sensei and 5 to 6 other seniorsenseis as well as the uchideshi in quitepossibly the smallest kitchen in the world. A
challenge we all undertook with some concern
but we always got there in the end. That
tradition has been going on for many, manyyears now and I am sure that sensei has beenpresented with some interesting meals overthat time.
Then there was onsen (public bath).
What a lifesaver!!! Bjorn, a Swedish
uchideshi introduced me to onsen in my firstweek in Japan and from that point on it
became a weekly ritual on Mondays. Onsen
should be part of the weekly uchideshi program. Maybe Hiroaki sensei will one
day schedule it into the timetable. I just loved the onsen. Fantastic way to relax.
Japan in general was polite, efficient and organized. Looking for bicycles
at the station once they had been moved was frustrating at times though. Thepolite shop staff and efficient trains made life hassle free.
My time as uchideshi was short but was an excellent, valuable experience.
I look forward with great anticipation on returning to Japan for further training
in Aikido.
I leave behind in Japan new friends and found it to be a wonderful country
with the most polite and friendly people. The patience and kindness displayed
to me and the other uchideshi will always be remembered fondly.
Many, many thanks to Kobayashi sensei, Hiroaki sensei, Kasahara san,Ukai san and everybody else in Japan who allowed me to come to Japan toexperience your aikido and your culture.