Also known as

Mestre Tristão da Cunha

Description

Portuguese aikido master (8th dan Iwama Shin Shin Aikido / Iwama Ryu), founder and Technical Director of the Associação Portuguesa Aiki-Shuren Dojo (APASD). Began aikido in Melbourne in 1980/81, was uchi-deshi of Morihiro Saito at Iwama from 1986, and continued with Hitohiro Saito after 2002.

Teachers (4)

• 
  Tony Smibert

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Probable

  Probable

  Tristão da Cunha states he began aikido practice in 1980 or 81 at his university in Melbourne, first under Tony Smibert (4th dan Aikikai)

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1980–1981)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Tristão da Cunha states he began aikido practice in 1980 or 81 at his university in Melbourne, first under Tony Smibert (4th dan Aikikai)

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Iniciei a minha prática de Aikido em 1980 ou 81, já não me recordo precisamente, em Melbourne, Austrália, na Universidade onde estudava. O meu primeiro professor chamava-se Tony Smibert que era 4º Dan de Aikido, Aikikai.”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Tristão da Cunha (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info
• 
  Barry Knight

  sports_martial_artsIwama Ryu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Well-documented first traditional (Iwama) aikido teacher in Melbourne, trained with daily until the end of the university course, named Barry Knight in the CAO interview and Barry Night on the Aikishurendojo pages

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  location_onRensei Dojo badge (1981–1985)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Well-documented first traditional (Iwama) aikido teacher in Melbourne, trained with daily until the end of the university course, named Barry Knight in the CAO interview and Barry Night on the Aikishurendojo pages

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Passado um mês comecei a treinar com um outro professor que fazia Aikido Tradicional, chamado Barry Knight que na altura era 3º Dan, creio, hoje penso que é quinto. Este foi o meu primeiro contacto com o Aikido de Iwama.”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Tristão da Cunha (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

  “Morihiro Saito (1928 – 2002) taught Aikido to many generations of students. One such student Barry Knight (1945 – Present) continues to refine and explore those mind-body Aiki concepts in his Rensei dojo in Caulfield Melbourne, Australia.”

  — About Aikido - Taku Ma Dojo (Geelong)link history info
• 
  Saitō Morihiro

  sports_martial_artsIwama Ryu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Well-documented uchi-deshi of Morihiro Saito at Iwama, first in May 1986 for six months, returning repeatedly; the Aikishurendojo bio and the CAO interview both detail this relationship

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Uchi-deshi location_onIwama Dojo badge (1986–2002)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Well-documented uchi-deshi of Morihiro Saito at Iwama, first in May 1986 for six months, returning repeatedly; the Aikishurendojo bio and the CAO interview both detail this relationship

  “Viajou pela primeira vez ao Japão em 1986 onde ficou como uchi deshi de Morihiro Saito no dojo do Fundador do Aikido. Voltou para Portugal com a tarefa de implantar o Aikido tradicional em Portugal. [...] Tristão da Cunha foi uchi deshi do Grande Mestre Morihiro Saito, no último ano em que este esteve activo antes de sucumbir a um cancro dos ossos.”

  — Mestre Tristão da Cunhalink history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “A minha primeira ida foi em Maio de 1986. [...] Eu fui o primeiro português a ir lá e Sensei recebeu-me como recebe todos os alunos”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Tristão da Cunha (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info
• 
  Saitō Hitohiro

  sports_martial_artsIwama Ryu Probable

  Probable

  His own dojo's bio states that after Morihiro Saito's death in 2002, he continued with successor Hitohiro Saito, who awarded him the 6th, 7th and 8th dan grades and the Shihan title; no independent source corroborates it

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  location_onIwama Dojo badge (2002)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  His own dojo's bio states that after Morihiro Saito's death in 2002, he continued with successor Hitohiro Saito, who awarded him the 6th, 7th and 8th dan grades and the Shihan title; no independent source corroborates it

  “Depois de Morihiro Saito falecer continuou com o seu filho e sucessor, Hitohiro Saito Shihan. [...] Desde então voltou várias vezes ao Japão para ser uchi deshi de Hitohiro Sensei.”

  — Mestre Tristão da Cunhalink history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Morihiro Sensei was still alive and healthy when his son gave me the title of Shihan of the Tanrenkan. I was 5th Dan back then.”

  — (2011). Interview with Tristão da Cunha Sensei link history info

Lineage

• Aikidō Tony Smibert ← Sugano Seiichi ← Ueshiba Morihei · 3 generations
• Iwama Ryu Barry Knight ← Saitō Morihiro · 2 generations

Ranks (5)

• sports_martial_artsIwama Ryu

  military_tech4 dan Probable

  Probable

  Tristão da Cunha describes himself as 4th dan (5th dan from 2001) in the CAO interview

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (2000)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Tristão da Cunha describes himself as 4th dan (5th dan from 2001) in the CAO interview

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “O meu nome é Tristão da Cunha, tenho 38 anos e sou 4ºdan (5ºdan desde 2001-ed) de Aikido, Iwama Ryu.”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Tristão da Cunha (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

  military_tech5 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Received 5th dan in taijutsu and bukiwaza from Morihiro Saito in 2001 in Iwama, confirmed by the Aikishurendojo bio

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Dan-Kyu System (2001)

  granted by Saitō Morihiro

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Received 5th dan in taijutsu and bukiwaza from Morihiro Saito in 2001 in Iwama, confirmed by the Aikishurendojo bio

  “Recebeu a graduação de 5º Dan, taijutsu e bukiwaza, de Morihiro Saito em 2001, em Iwama, Japão.”

  — Mestre Tristão da Cunhalink history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “sou 4ºdan (5ºdan desde 2001-ed) de Aikido, Iwama Ryu”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Tristão da Cunha (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistory info

  military_tech6 dan Probable

  Probable

  6th dan Shin Shin Aiki awarded by Hitohiro Saito, stated in the Aikishurendojo bio without an exact date; no independent source corroborates it

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  history_eduTradition only

  Tradition only: every supporting source is the lineage's own account of itself

  Dan-Kyu System

  granted by Saitō Hitohiro

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  6th dan Shin Shin Aiki awarded by Hitohiro Saito, stated in the Aikishurendojo bio without an exact date; no independent source corroborates it

  “Mais tarde, recebeu a graduação de 6º Dan Shin Shin Aiki do Kaicho Hitohiro Saito, filho e sucessor de Morihiro Saito.”

  — Mestre Tristão da Cunhalink history info

  military_tech7 dan Probable

  Probable

  Stated as 7th dan since 2006 in the Aikishurendojo bio and as 7th dan in the 2011 English interview; both are his own dojo's own material, no independent source corroborates it

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (2006)

  granted by Saitō Hitohiro

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Stated as 7th dan since 2006 in the Aikishurendojo bio and as 7th dan in the 2011 English interview; both are his own dojo's own material, no independent source corroborates it

  “É 7º Dan desde 2006.”

  — Mestre Tristão da Cunhalink history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “What is your grade? I am 7th Dan.”

  — (2011). Interview with Tristão da Cunha Sensei link history info

  military_tech8 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Promotion to 8th dan (VIII dan Dentō Iwama Ryu) confirmed independently by the APASD Iwama News blog and an Enrico Neami article with photographs, both placing the conferral at the Kagami Biraki ceremony in Iwama on 17 January 2016 by Hitohiro Saito

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Dan-Kyu System (2016-01-17)

  granted by Saitō Hitohiro

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Promotion to 8th dan (VIII dan Dentō Iwama Ryu) confirmed independently by the APASD Iwama News blog and an Enrico Neami article with photographs, both placing the conferral at the Kagami Biraki ceremony in Iwama on 17 January 2016 by Hitohiro Saito

  “Il capo scuola dell'Iwama Shin Shin Aiki Shurenkai Saito Hitohira Jukucho ha conferito ai Maestri Alessandro Tittarelli Shihan e Tristao Da Cuña Shihan il grado di VIII dan Dentō Iwama Ryu in occasione della cerimonia del Kagami Biraki che ha avuto luogo in Iwama il 17 gennaio 2016.”

  — Enrico Neami. (2016). Conferito l'8 dan ai Maestri Tittarelli e Da Cuñalink history info

  “É com enorme orgulho e felicidade que informamos a passagem no nosso estimado Mestre a 8°Dan. Um magnífico reconhecimento de Hitohira Saito Sensei [...] A entrega do 8ºDan deu-se na celebração do Kagami Biraki em Iwama, no Japão.”

  — A Direcção APASD. (2016). OMEDETOU GOZAIMASHITA, MESTRE!!!link history info

Students (1)

• 
  Pedro Escudeiro

  sports_martial_artsIwama Ryu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Escudeiro states he began aikido in January 1983 at the Aiki-Shuren Dojo de Portugal, the school founded by Tristão da Cunha, and is explicitly named among Tristão da Cunha's students in the Esgrima Lusitana technical programme acknowledgments

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  location_onGinásio da Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa badge (1983)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Escudeiro states he began aikido in January 1983 at the Aiki-Shuren Dojo de Portugal, the school founded by Tristão da Cunha, and is explicitly named among Tristão da Cunha's students in the Esgrima Lusitana technical programme acknowledgments

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Comecei a praticar Aikido em Janeiro de 1983. Tinha na altura 11 anos de idade. [...] A minha escola, Aiki-Shuren Dojo de Portugal”

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2002). Aikido em Portugal (Pedro Escudeiro, Surya). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais)linkhistory info

  “Ginásio Luddance [...] Treinos dirigidos por Pedro Escudeiro (2º Dan Taijutsu) e Luís Pires (1º Dan Taijutsu)”

  — João Cruz. (2003). Iwama Ryu Aikido em Portugal - Lista de Dojoslink history info

  “ao mestre Tristão da Cunha (Aikido Tradicional) e aos seus alunos, Pedro Escudeiro, José Carvalho, Jorge Feio, Vasco Moleiro e Nuno e Tozé Cotovios”

  — Nuno Russo. (2021). Programa Técnico da Escola da Esgrima Lusitana do Santo Condestávellink history info

Honours (1)

• receipt_longShihan Probable

  Probable

  Shihan title of the Tanrenkan awarded by Hitohiro Saito while Tristão da Cunha was 5th dan, per the 2011 English interview on his own dojo's site; no independent source corroborates it

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Title

  granted by Associação Portuguesa Aiki-Shuren Dojo

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Shihan title of the Tanrenkan awarded by Hitohiro Saito while Tristão da Cunha was 5th dan, per the 2011 English interview on his own dojo's site; no independent source corroborates it

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Morihiro Sensei was still alive and healthy when his son gave me the title of Shihan of the Tanrenkan. I was 5th Dan back then. [...] Later on, on the same say [sic], I was eating with the venerable old master and he said [...] Omedetou (congratulations). You are now a Shihan!”

  — (2011). Interview with Tristão da Cunha Sensei link history info

Sources