I met Sébastien Heurteau at the All Japan Embukai last year. He was there as a spectator but also as the uke for Yukimitsu Kobayashi Sensei from the Hombu Dojo. We very quickly became friends and I got very interested in his practice. Sébastien Heurteau is one of those exceptional individuals that are totally dedicated to the practice of Aikido. He spent seven years at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, training every day and more particularly under the direction of Yasuno and Endo Sensei. Sébastien has also served as uke for teachers such as Kuribayashi and Kobayashi Sensei during demonstrations in Tokyo and throughout Japan. Sébastien is currently preparing his final return to France with his Japanese wife and he agreed to talk to me and share both his experience of Japan and his path as an Aikidoka.
(Original blog post may be found
here.)