Uchideshi

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[zen711]

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone can help me but telling me of any good uchideshi programs that they know of anywhere in any of the united staes. thanx

[Chuck Clark]

I don't think the uchideshi experience is really possible in the United States. We have a Kenshusei program at the Jiyushinkan which is more of a "research student program" that is very intense and includes our instructor certification curriculum.

Students do not live in the dojo where the sensei lives (as in the stories we hear of the aikido uchideshi). Our kenshusei live outside the dojo and are required to put 25 hours a week in the dojo and academic study. We have eight six month sessions which make up the program and is available to members of Jiyushinkai.

[BC]

I believe there are a few dojos around the US which have some form of an uchi deshi program. The ones I am aware of are:

Aikido of Center City - Donavan Waite Sensei
Philadelphia, PA

Aikido Nippon Kan, Gaku Homma Sensei
Denver, CO

Ten Shin Kan Dojo, Fumio Toyoda Sensei
Chicago, IL

[REK]

I believe that Aikido Shobukan Dojo in Washington, D.C. is hosting an "International Training Program" that sounds similar to the concept of uchideshi. This is attached to Saotome Sensei's organization, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba. I think its for non-U.S. residents, tho. You can find out more at:

http://www.aikido-shobukan.org

[akiy]

REK wrote:
I believe that Aikido Shobukan Dojo in Washington, D.C. is hosting an "International Training Program" that sounds similar to the concept of uchideshi. This is attached to Saotome Sensei's organization, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba.
I wouldn't call any kind of two to three week program as described on their website as an "uchideshi" program. It's more like an intensive training program, and that's about it.

Saotome sensei has said in the past that he believes that the uchideshi system like the one he was involved in with the founder just can not exist in the United States.

-- Jun

[REK]

Mea culpa. I didn't have all the data...

[crystalwizard]

akiy wrote:

Saotome sensei has said in the past that he believes that the uchideshi system like the one he was involved in with the founder just can not exist in the United States.


I think it could actualy. There are plently of people that are willing to go away from home for 4 years, live in dorms, eat lousy food and not do much else than study (and plenty that just party but that's beside the point) in order to have a piece of paper that may or may not give them a job advantage.

I think the bigger problem might be in not attracting people that have watched too many MA movies and have some romantisied idea of what such a thing would be like.

[Erik]

I know of two dojos here in California that have programs or at least did: Aikido of San Leandro and Aikido of Fresno. Both are Iwama style Aikido. I don't spend much time with the Iwama folks but uchi deshi programs seem fairly common in that breed of Aikido.

[Chuck Clark]

[/B][/QUOTE]

...There are plently of people that are willing to go away from home for 4 years, live in dorms, eat lousy food and not do much else than study [/B][/QUOTE]

There was lots more to the Ueshiba uchideshi program and I doubt whether many people in modern society would do it.

[Mike Cummins]

BC wrote:
Aikido of Center City - Donavan Waite Sensei
Philadelphia, PA


When did he leave the New York Aikikai?

I used to train under Donovan Sensei before he moved to the US.

Mike

[BC]

Mike Cummins wrote:
BC wrote:
Aikido of Center City - Donavan Waite Sensei
Philadelphia, PA


When did he leave the New York Aikikai?

I used to train under Donovan Sensei before he moved to the US.

Mike

I don't know exatly when he opened up his dojo in Philadelphia, but I think he still teaches class at the NY Aikikai once or twice a week in addition to most of the classes at his dojo.