Rosso Fernandez Sensei

6th Dan, Chief Instructor – Auckland Aikikai

He was the first non-Japanese to be admitted into and serve a traditional apprenticeship as a live-in student at Aikido Hombu Dojo, under the Late Ni-daime Doshu UESHIBA, Kisshomaru (1921–1999).

Rosso Sensei was the first person from New Zealand to recieve the Fifth-Dan Degree from the Late Ni-daime Doshu UESHIBA, Kisshomaru and is internationally recognised and acknowledged as chief instructor of an independent Aikikai organisation in New Zealand by Aikido Hombu Dojo.

Rosso Sensei travels extensively with the airline Air New Zealand. Having opportunities to train Aikido in Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong – China, United States of America (California, Hawaii), Tahiti – French Polynesia and Australia.

Rosso Sensei still regularly returns to Japan to further develop his training at the Aikido Hombu Dojo and he regularly teaches within New Zealand and internationally.

In 2007 Rosso Sensei with a core group of Air New Zealand employees who currently train in Aikido and other supporters formed together and contributed as foundation members to help establish the Air New Zealand Aikido Club to promote Aikido within the airline and to offer training opportunities.

While living in Hombu Dojo, Japan, Sensei was fortunate to receive instruction from and take uke for all of the Hombu Dojo Instructors alive at that time.

Notable famous and inspirational Aikido instructors then at the Hombu Dojo who guided, mentored and taught were:

  • Ni-daime Doshu UESHIBA, Kisshomaru
  • Dojo-Cho UESHIBA, Moriteru (WAKA Sensei)
  • OSAWA, Kisaburo Sensei (OSAWA Senior)
  • OKUMURA, Shigenobu Sensei
  • TADA, Hiroshi Sensei
  • ARIKAWA, Sadateru Sensei
  • YAMAGUCHI, Seigo Sensei
  • FUJITA, Masatake Sensei
  • MASUDA, Seijuro Sensei
  • WATANABE, Nobuyuki Sensei
  • ENDO, Seishiro Sensei
  • SASAKI, Masando Sensei
  • TAKEZAWA, Etsuo Sensei
  • TORIUMI, Koichi Sensei
  • SHIBATA, Ichiro Sensei
  • YASUNO, Masatoshi Sensei
  • SEKI, Shoji Sensei
  • MIYAMOTO, Tsuruzo Sensei
  • YOKOTA, Yoshiaki Sensei
  • OSAWA, Hayato Sensei (OSAWA Junior)