Uchi Deshi: A live-in student. A student who lives in a dojo and devotes him/herself both to training and to the maintenance of the dojo (and sometimes to personal service to the SENSEI of the dojo).

The uchi deshi course was designed to help those who have never been to Iwama to get an idea of what the lifestyle of an uchi deshi entails; and to see just how beneficial to your Aikido it can be. Matt had spent two years living as an uchi deshi to Morihiro Saito Sensei in Japan. Iwama is one of the last remaining traditional Japanese martial arts schools still offering this kind of study. This is largely due to the efforts of Morihiro Saito Sensei’s preservation of this tradition as taught to him during his 22 year uchi deshi apprenticeship to O’Sensei, the founder of Aikido. This tradition is now being upheld by his son Hitohiro Saito Sensei.

Matt had decided to run an uchi deshi course for a couple of reasons. He is being asked more and more to give people the recommendation that you need to go to train at the Iwama dojo. The course is a good way to give people an idea as to what is expected of them during their stay. Some are unsure whether they want to go or not for many reasons. The course also gives these people a taster as to what the experience might be like. Others are just intrigued as to what this kind of lifestyle would entail and there are some who may never get the opportunity to go to Japan to train as an uchi deshi. For all of these reasons, Matt wanted to make the experience open to as many people as possible. So that people could have an idea of what an Iwama experience would look like, feel like and, yes, taste like!

Matt wanted to ensure that the experience was as authentic as it could possibly be without Hitohiro Sensei actually being there. The day therefore, was structured exactly as it would be in Iwama. As seems to be the tradition for Aikido courses at the Seend Club the weekend began very early with a meditation class at 06:30. The uchi deshi however, had been up since about 05:45, getting themselves, the dojo and the outside areas cleaned and ready for the day. Matt gave a little background to meditation, its history, where it comes from and the amazing benefits that it can bring to your Aikido and your life. He then gave a basic lesson in how Hitohiro Sensei teaches and practices meditation or ‘chinkon’ every morning in Iwama.

Training followed at 07:00, and here we departed slightly from the program in Iwama. Rather than having one hour of training we had two, with a small break in between. This was to increase the intensity of the course due to the fact that it was only a long weekend. The training sessions followed the format of the Iwama lessons. There was no talking unless you were instructing or being instructed and then only the bare minimum. Everyone was on the mat ten minutes before training and lined up ready five minutes before. Everything was conducted with martial integrity. No dawdling or slovenly movements, everything had to be crisp, precise and purposeful. The attacks had to be committed, accurate and full of energy, even if conducted slowly. The ‘onegaishimasu’ that is given at the start of the class and to your partners is given with energy and meaning. We also stayed with the same partner for the whole class so that time wasn’t wasted by changing partners. It also meant that people really got to know their partner through a range of techniques so that they were able to teach and be taught by them. Finally, when someone was being corrected, everyone watched. This wasn’t to be unkind; this was so that everyone had the humility to feel that a correction given to someone else could equally be a correction for them. The classes passed quickly and then it was time for breakfast.

As per the life in Iwama, we had a ‘toban’ rota. Toban just means turn, and each of the uchi deshi put in £3.50 per day for food, which the people on toban used for cooking. For the uchi deshi this meant that everyday, several people were nominated as the cooks for the day. This had the potential to really stretch some people out of their comfort zones. However, far from being an onerous duty, all of the teams really rose to the occasion, and had a great time in the process. One uchi deshi actually commented that his day as toban was one of the best in living memory; he couldn’t remember having so much fun. We didn’t ask him exactly what he was getting up to! The uchi deshi prepared breakfast (a secret Iwama recipe provided by the dojo), lunch and a three course dinner. The culinary skills far exceeded expectation and wouldn’t have been out of place on masterchef! 

In Iwama the life of an uchi deshi meant one of service, in the traditional sense of the word. Just like in medieval England where a squire to a Knight would serve his master with the aim of becoming a Knight one day, you were on hand to serve Sensei and to help him with the work around the dojo at any time of day or night. You always had to be ready with a feeling of helpfulness to assist Sensei or anyone else who was working around the dojo. With this spirit in mind we spent a couple of hours each day helping around Cleeve House managing to get an immense amount of work done. Some of the work was the hard, physical, manual type that was very reminiscent of work on the Aiki Farm in Iwama. The kind of work that draws and bonds you together in shared, coordinated physical effort. I have to say that the work was immensely satisfying and of the small project type that we were able to start and complete in the same day.

Evening training started an hour earlier than it does in Iwama, but finished at the same time of eight o’clock, again with a small break in between. A communal dinner was then served at 8:30 giving everyone a chance to reflect on the endeavors of the day and the Aikido and other lessons that they had learned.

The three days passed very quickly, the weather proving very kind to us and most of the training being conducted outside in the glorious grounds of Cleeve house. Breakfast and lunch were taken on the terrace just outside the dojo looking out over the vista of fields and hedgerows as far as the eye can see.

On the Saturday night after dinner we went up into the small wood behind Cleeve house and Matt showed all how to dig a traditional fire pit and we had drinks around a camp fire well into the dark hours. For me there is nothing quite as elemental as the embers of an outside fire, and nothing quite ignites the imagination and passions like the flames dancing above the wood. The fire was mesmeric and it seemed to draw everyone into its spell, or maybe people were just very tired and were very relaxed by a few drinks!

The course finished on a glorious Sunday afternoon, outside on the lawn in baking Wiltshire sunshine. The final two hours of Kokyu Nage were just enough to round off a great uchi deshi weekend. The cherry on the cake was a tea party put on by Cleeve House of sandwiches, tea and scones to send everyone on their way with a full stomach and hopefully happy memories of an authentic Iwama style uchi deshi course, deep in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside.

Here are some quotes from the course participants:

“A course that went beyond Aikido technique and exceeded all my expectations.  Thank you to Sensei, the amazing people at Cleeve House and Seend Aikido club”

“The course enhanced the Aikido experience, training and working together blending different characters and experiences into one harmonious experience.”

“Japan without the jet lag!”

“This was my first uchi deshi experience and I loved every minute of it. I’m looking forward to the next one, but three days is too short, a week would be better! ”

“A great insight into uchi deshi life. Perfect timing for me personally. I now feel much better prepared for my Iwama trip.”

“All of the course content was something I will never forget and I go away from it with great new friends. Thank you Sensei!”

“A fantastic experience – to immerse oneself in Aikido with like minded enthusiasts was unique.  I have been so grateful for the teachings of Sensei and the patience, humour and companionship of my fellow uchi deshi.”

“The venue is beautiful, the people fantastic, supportive and encouraging of each other making it possible to continue even when feeling exhausted. Brilliant.”

Another course will be run in November 19-22 2009.  If you are interested in attending one of the courses please email Matt on hillmattc@googlemail.com

In the meantime please browse through the photos of the course below:

As part of the course Matt asked the students to think about and write a short paragraph on O’Sensei’s quote that, ‘Aikido should be used as a vehicle to serve mankind.’ The students all really rose to this task, and Isabelle Vinet, a student of Dave Law in the Midlands, went away and wrote a particualry good piece which she has graciously allowed all to benefit from reading. It can be found below on the following link:

Yours in Aiki,

Matt Hill.