Uchi Deshi by Daniel Picciola Sensei

In 1993 I saw Yasuo Kobayashy Sensei for the first time, a short and corpulent man. His circular movements and technique are out of question and I’m not the one to comment on him, there is nothing I can add to a Shihan master living in Japan and who is the master with most affiliated instructors to him and his school.
The Doshu himself gives the Hombu Dojo building to Kobayashi for him to examine his students.
Well, the story doesn’t end here, but starts. At that time I was starting with Aikido and after many years of Karate-do I met Alejandro Nuñez Sensei, ha! The exact opposite to Kobayashi Sensei physically, tall and skinny, haha!
With time I fell in love with Aikido and, as many martial art practitioners, my desire of travelling to the Far Orient started to grow and grow.
The more I talked with A. Nuñez Sensei the bigger my interest in Japan became. He would encourage my dream of travelling. Of course he had already been there, in Japan, before I had even met him.
After some years of practice I started to save money to be able to trip, and believe me when I tell you, you have to save a lot.
In 1997 the idea of travelling was stronger every day, and A. Nuñez Sensei asked me if I really wanted to go to Japan. I said YES without a second thought.
Then he told what the Uchi Deshi thing was all about; that made me doubt a little… But the enthusiasm was stronger than the doubt.
In 1998 everything was almost set for us to trip to Japan! There was only one thing left, the money. At that time I had a 0 KM bike (Honda Shadow VLX 600); which became money for my trip. You see how much money you need?!
Well, in 1999, last century, I visited the Orient as Uchi Desi in the Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan Dojo. There I shared time with other foreign students and with A. Nuñez Sensei.
We had the privilege of being the first Argentinean that took part in the “All Japan Aikido Demostration” in the Budokan of Tokyo, representing our country. We also took part in the in the “Aikido Kobayashi Dojos 30 Anniversary” (A real party and delight of Aikido masters).
OK! I’ll stop with my gratifying memories and continue with the Uchi Deshi story. What really cheers me up is that that year our school started with a tradition that had started many years ago, since O’ Sensei had his own students and even before, with other masters…
This tradition is kept by Kobayashi Sensei in Japan and now in South America by Nuñez Sensei.
Ten years from my trip to Japan I had the fortune of being the first Alejandro Nuñez Sensei’s Uchi Deshi. In this litter of Kansha, Aikido School, I was joined by three students of mine from Unión La Plata Dojo: Juan Zabalza, Ezequiel García Luna and Jerónimo Ponce Figliozzi; among other students from Uruguay, V. Lopez, A. Lamara and little B. Webster.
Well people, I think this Uchi Deshi thing is good, don’t you think? This is the second time I do it and, you practice a lot, you learn, you meet people, you have a great time, except for some bruises, haha!
Visiting Nuñez Sensei is a lot cheaper that travelling to Japan! And you don’t have to sell a bike to do so, haha!!!!!!!!
Well, all this was to tell you to live your own Uchi Deshi experience wherever you can.

I cannot tell a lot more through this media; but I can say THANK YOU to A. Nuñez Sensei for receiving me with open arms since the first day in his Dojo and so on until today, thanks for my Uchi Deshi experiences and I really wish to be able to continue with this tradition which does so much for the Aikido practice, body and soul.

Just dear!!!!!!!!!!! Sayonara!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daniel Picciola