Ota_sensei

Ota sensei at Keishicho - 1980
Shortly after this photo was taken, Ota sensei lead the practice through one hour of Kakari-geiko followed by 45 minutes of Kirikaishi, non-stop. Ota sensei noted that the most grueling practices at Keishicho took place during the time Uchida sensei was training there.

Ota Tadanori sensei is Mushinkan dojo's mentor. Ota sensei first came to the United States in March 1985. The original intent of his visit was to prepare Uchida sensei for the 6th World Kendo Championship in Paris, France. However, Uchida sensei resigned his position on the U.S. team for personal reasons and, instead, used Ota sensei's visit to establish kendo in Colorado Springs.

As a child, Ota sensei was physically weak and very susceptible to illness. His father started him in kendo believing kendo would help strengthen his son.

Ota sensei's first teacher was Fukuoka Akira, a disciple of Takano Sasaburo sensei. Fukuoka sensei was a very nurturing teacher with a gifted insight that allowed him to connect with each student's character and abilities. Under the instruction of such a rare teacher, the young Ota was always motivated and eager to learn more. Fukoka sensei always stressed the basics and Ota sensei worked day and night to try and achieve perfection. Before bed, Ota sensei would practice his suburi, often falling asleep with his bokkuto still secure in his grasp.

Ota sensei's abilities eventually earned him a rare appointment to the Keishicho Tokuren directly upon his graduation from high school. At first, Ota sensei found his skills less than those of his new teammates. However, it was Matsuda Teinosuke who recognized Ota's potential form his solid grasp of the kendo fundamentals. Under Matusda's tutelage, Ota sensei quickly advanced and earned his spot on the Keishicho team.

Times were difficult during Ota sensei's early years at Keishicho. A police officer's pay was marginal and many of the kendo team members had to share cramped living quarters. The meals provided at the police department were very basic in both substance and portion; after a long workout, it just wasn't enough. "Back then, we weren't paid enough to go out and eat like they do today", Ota sensei explained. To keep their health and energy, the team members would pool their money and buy groceries to bring back to the dojo. There, they would cook for themselves. It was through this type of experience that the group became a very close family. In later years when Ota sensei was made coach of the Keishicho team, he saw this closeness within the team start to disappear, as the team members didn't spend much time together beyond practice. To bring back the close camaraderie he shared with his teammates, Ota sensei started preparing a meal for the team one day a week at the dojo. This revived the feeling of family among the Keishicho members and institutionalized the custom of a periodic team prepared meal.

Fukuoka sensei lived long enough to see Ota sensei achieve the kendo rank of Hachi-dan, Hanshi - the only student of Fukuoka sensei to do so. Fukoka sensei passed away at the age of 95.

Ota sensei is very fond of cooking - an essential survival skill in his early days at Keishicho, he has since turned it into a favorite pastime.

Ota sensei came to Colorado in 1985 to help Uchida sensei start kendo at the United States Air Force Academy, the program that would eventually become the Mushinkan Kendo Dojo. After his stay in Colorado, he went to California where he helped train the U.S. national team for the world competition in Paris, France. Ota sensei was made an honorary U.S. team coach and traveled with the U.S. delegation to Paris.

Although numerous teachers have visited the United States before, Ota sensei was the first instructor from Japan officially invited and hosted by the U.S. kendo federation. (Ota sensei's trip was privately funded by Uchida sensei for the benefit of all kenshi in the U.S.) This visit opened the lines of communication between the U.S. and Japan kendo federations, and propelled both organizations into a unprecedented period of progression. Although his modesty would keep him form accepting any recognition, the skill level of American kendo that has been achieved in recent years is a direct influence of Ota sensei's refined character and unmatched prowess.

Ota sensei retired from Keishicho in 1999 after rising to the position of Assistant Director of the kendo training department. Grief-stricken from the death of Nakamura Takeshi, Ota sensei's teammate and closest friend, Ota sensei retired one year eary.

Ota sensei is currently the kendo program advisor at Tokai University and is a member of the Japan Olympic Committee advisory board. He is also in charge of organizing and conducting the educational programs of the All Japan Kendo Federation. He is known as the ultimate authority on the kendo kata.

The late Nakamura Takeshi sensei (pictured above) and Ota sensei are best recognized from the kendo kata video produced by the All Japan Kendo Federation. To this day, the video remains as the model for kata training

Uchida sensei's children consider Ota sensei to be their third grandfather. When Jennifer Uchida was 3 years old, she couldn't pronounce "Ota" so she called him "Oh sensei." The nickname has been used in the Uchida household ever since. The first photo of Uchida sensei; Ota sensei; and Uchida sensei's daughter, Jennifer, was taken in March 1985. The second photo was taken 16 years later in April 2001.