Kim Johan
April 2008
Nationality: Korean
Dojo: Korea Aikido Federation
Although he stayed only two weeks as an uchideshi, it seems that
his uchideshi experience affected him much. It has been more thantwenty years since Mr. Yoon of Korea met aikido for the first time.
We now find development in the young generation---the future.

My Visit to Aikido Kobayashi Dojo
Kim Johan
It all began by the words of my aikido teacher in Korea, Yoon sensei,“Come back alive.” He said that with a smile, and now that I am at the end ofmy uchideshi experience period, I realized the meaning of his smile: my stay inJapan as an uchideshi was full of interesting experiences.
I would like to share some of those experiences with you here.
First of all, I must tell you about Kobayashi Sensei. Yoon Sensei told a
lot about Kobayashi sensei to me, and I was hoping to learn many things fromhim. In his 70’s, he can be considered as an elderly person. Yet, he is still fullof energy and takes uke during practice. He makes lessons very enjoyable foreveryone who is taking part of his class. His commitment to his class made me
respect him very much. During practice, I was astonished not only by thequality of his technique (of which there is no doubt), but also by his constantloving smile and generous nature towards everyone including uchideshi. I could
feel that these attributions come from long years of experience as an aikido
instructor. It seems that everyone in his class was united as a family when hewas present.
Secondly, I would like to tell you
something about kid’s class. This was myfirst experience of teaching Aikido tochildren because we don't have a kid’s classin Korea. The kids learn variations of thetechniques taught in adults’ classinterspersed with a lot of games designed toincrease their co-ordination and develop theirfitness. It seems that both children and adults
have fun learning Aikido in Kobayashi Dojo.
I was also very struck by the numberof females practicing Aikido, because inKorea, there are very few women practicing
aikido. I felt very envious of the atmosphere
where there are many women, such as femalemember of Meiji University aikido club, who practice aikido with suchenthusiasm and dedication as men do.
I was very sad to leave after two weeks as my body had just about toadjust to the routine. Dojo life wasn't too difficult to adapt to because I'dworked as uchideshi before in Korea, and I was able to share all the chores withmy fellow uchideshi Bjorn and Lars. I enjoyed their company even thoughcommunication was difficult because I'm not fluent in English.
I don’t speak any Japanese either, and this was a real frustration. I got
two hamburgers at Moss Burger when I thought I'd ordered something else!
Buying food at the supermarket for Friday morning breakfast was a very
difficult experience. After aikido practice, it was very frustrating not being able
to respond to Dojo members’ questions and conversation and that is my major
regret.
Finally, I was very happy to meet Obayashi San (who is very popular inKorea!), and eat delicious Japanese food everyday with other uchideshis. I ate
natto for the first time and really enjoyed it.
I want to come back to Japan to stay in the dojo and I'm going to learnsome Japanese so I can speak to more people!
I can't thank Kobayashi Sensei and Hiroaki Sensei enough for their
hospitality and for making me feel so welcomed.