Aikido in the UK - the Beginning
Aikido in the UK ~ The Beginning
By Henry Ellis
In 1951 at the age of 15, I was leaving school. I already started a career at the age of 14 years as a Time Trial Cycling Racing, eventually becoming an team first cycling club. At that time, I could never imagine doing anything other than cycling and racing for the Future.
Who has been to early 1956 when I visited a local judo club in the London suburb of Hillingdon, "The Abbe School of Budo` the only reason I went was to encourage my girlfriends while younger brother to join. I was immediately attracted to judo and I joined the same evening, the boy lasted about a month.
It was during the following year in 1957, I saw the new Aikido class was taught by Sensei Ken Williams, who I later found to be the first Aikido student in the United Kingdom of the legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei who was now resident in the UK and teaching at the Dojo Hut.
The class was very low and the training and discipline was extreme. I was raised by a father so strict Victorian regime of discipline and hard did not prevent me, in fact, it was probably the challenge that was the real attraction for me. Haydn Foster Sensei had just joined a few months before me and we're still good friends today.
The following article is based on what I personally consider age, the most interesting and formative in the development of Aikido in the UK From 1955, with the arrival of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in the United Kingdom. So eleven years later and my four years as assistant to Kazuo Chiba Sensei from 1967 and ending in 1971.
After that time, Aikido has become very fragmented, with everyone wanting to start their own organizations, which led to masses of self-classification and stupid titles undeserved. I find the behavior of some of these self delusional and selfish people very sad. These are people who try to change our true history and lineage and proud to meet their own purposes diverted.
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Which, to my profound disgust also include the full collusion of the "once" respected British Aikido Board (BAB). The disgraced BAB unfortunately governments have officially recognized the Governing Body for Aikido in the UK.
The BAB show no recognition or respect for the true history of Aikido in the UK. The former president said in 2000 "We the British Aikido Board are not the guardians of the history of British Aikido, and therefore have no interest in the same! "Kenshiro Abbe Sensei would often say:" Whatever your reason, you are what you are, and nothing more "... .. ... So very TRUE.
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 8th dan Judo
6e dan Karate - 6th Dan Aikido - 6th dan Kendo - 6th dan JuKendo
1915 - 1985
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei arrived in Britain in 1955 in response to an invitation by the London Judo Society (LJS). It was 8th Dan Judo. Youngest 5th Dan in Judo history of Japan, the youngest All Japan Judo Champion at age 18, some 15 years later he would become the oldest champion of the All Japan Judo at the age of 33 years. It has also been noted in several other martial arts. Aikido 6th Dan - 6th Dan Karate - Kendo 6th Dan - Ju-Kendo 6th Dan - 6th Dan Kyudo. It has also been reached with both Yari and Naginata spears. During the Second World War Abbe Sensei was an officer and responsible for developing and intstruction the Imperial Army of "Ju-kendo": the art of fighting bayonet.
Abbe Sensei introduced Aikido to Britain for the first time in 1955, first at the LJS in the same year in Judo Championships LJS 1955 at Royal Albert Hall. Abbe Sensei was a direct student of O Sensei Morihei 'Ueshiba who gave his personal permission to teach Aikido the United Kingdom.
Change in my career
As I sat and watched the only class of Aikido in the United Kingdom in 1957. I was very impressed by this unusual martial art, but positive, this was the first time I saw a teacher wearing a hakama. I decided joined the Aikido section but also continue with the class of judo.
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It is now time decision and had to go cycling, which was a difficult decision that would change the meaning of my life.
I asked some of Judo About Aikido, they just shrugged their shoulders and said they had never heard before.
A Life Changing Decision
After several months of both Judo and Aikido I took the fateful decision to dedicate myself to aikido.
As I said before, this was the only class of Aikido in the United Kingdom at the now famous "Hut Dojo" because he was better known than its present name "The Abbe School of Budo". All that Budo big names to visit the United Kingdom would be a visit to the humble "Hut Dojo".
Names like Kenshiro Abbe - Mutsuro Otani - Tomio Otani - Mutsuro Nakazono - Tadashi Abe - Michigami M - M Noro - Koybayashi H - M Harada. N Tamara. K Chiba.
I had the privilege of studying with all these great masters Budo whose names are like WHO Budo. I wrote another article on my memories and my experiences with these teachers' Masters of Budo ".
Now I was training five nights a week and on Sunday morning. I rose quickly, when I came 3rd kyu (green belt) Williams Sensei asked me to be his personal assistant, a position I gladly accepted. Now, training has become more than ever, with 200 push ups on the backs of hands at the beginning of each class. This early style of Aikido is extremely difficult and we could learn good ukemi simply to survive injury, today many students who have ukemi like an acrobat or a gymnast and is used more to `swim about their appearance dramatically. So far I am not a uke `favorite with me, I'm just saying the class in which they can either go gently or ugly, any way they go.
A very important part of our training was the inclusion of kicks and punches of karate, it is still an integral part of our training.
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During the formation of a student had to attack the center at any time if attacked off center, it would be punished if uke Tori never touched (very often), it has always been considered Tori's fault. Photo: K Abbe extreme left in costume 1959.
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei was a regular visitor to the hut Dojo where he taught with a sword shinai (bamboo ) He spoke English very well, and rather than attempt an explanation, it would be difficult to knock the offending arm or leg, we soon learned the correct movement. Abbe Sensei said: "My English is bad, my shinai speaks good English"
In the 1950s the techniques of Aikido had no names, Abbe Sensei said "Necessary technique" should be changed or the technique with "necessary." It took wait Nakazono Sensei arrived that we could put a name on techniques. It must have been strange for strangers to hear teachers of Aikido saying need and necessary for this. I remember a beginner Derek Eastman Sensei asked if was in Japan, after practice in the pub, he was surprised to hear Eastman Sensei had a London accent. It sounds funny, but now we've all talked this sudden pigeon English on the tatami.
Earlier American students of Aikido?
In the late 1950s we started to get a good number of military Americans from the local West Drayton AFB attend classes Aikido. There were few of them hard, they were real decent guy, but had difficulty with the techniques at first sight, there were many "What Ifs" for parking on the Hut has become the testing ground for Many techniques, Sensei Williams said "Ellis, necessary show Mr. Smiff Aikido in real situations." Thus, if someone were ever to test Aikido Dojo at the Hut, it would be sorted on the parking Hut and then back to practice on the tatami.
In those early days it was not necessary when using lots of Japanese terminology, which now seems much higher. I remember when I was an assistant the Chiba Sensei and we I visited a dojo in the north of England, the students spoke many words in Japanese, Sensei turned to me and said: "Mr. Ellis, I no idea what they say. " The fact is that many dialects area are difficult to understand in his own country, to turn that into Japanese and you have something special.
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I am always amused when I recall many years later I was invited to visit a large dojo in Texas USA, as the class lined up, there was a loud chorus of all students to make a long speech of welcome in Japanese which I have may be two words.
The first eight UK Dan Grades
The first group Hut Dojo were totally dedicated and trained very hard, at the end of 1950/60 there were now a total of 8 dan grades, they were now the only dan grades throughout the United Kingdom for Aikido and all in a dojo.
It was common practice every Sunday morning to lock the dojo and allow only dan grades and special students in train. This was the time of testing techniques and each other with real fighting. There was often bloodshed, but there was never any bitterness after when we finished the meeting everything would go door next to the pub Hut and have a few pints of beer and count our lumps.
Ki Aikido
In these early days of Ki Aikido the word was rarely mentioned. I once asked Kenshiro Abbe about Ki as he had mentioned once or twice, he said he taught in Ki techniques, so no need to worry, he said that we talk about us when we were Ki loans, it is fun now see organizations offering "Ki" Student first course.
Aikido I see offered as Ki Aikido is a thing pretty awful if I had only seen in those early days, I never gave my bike away. Aikido I saw was probably a true martial art, it saddens me to see how people have changed something in Aikido that is now almost religious. Why these wannbees shot Aikido in a sort of dance. Now I see some do aikido music. Kazuo Chiba said and also repeated in an article on Aikido Journal, he said OSensie had then decided to make available to Aikido "all", including the elderly and the disabled and the weak and those who were not martial by nature, now these people say: "My Aikido Aikido is true." Well, I hope if just one of those people are never attacked in the street is their opponent of their own dojo, which is the only way their Aikido is useless for them. I attended a seminar recently where a teacher showed Ki Sankkyo of Ikkyo, as has his hand palm up to the mat, he describes the palm like a bowl of soup. Dizzying.
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Henry Ellis learns a valuable lesson
The smallest of all the dan grades was Eric Dollimore one, as he left the mat, a Sunday morning, I challenged to try it "for real", he replied that he had arranged to go to her daughter at home with friends for Sunday lunch and was late. I considered this as an excuse and had a small smile of satisfaction for me that I am distracted, then I heard a voice behind me yell "OK Harry, its got to be fast though! "I told myself" This will be faster than you can imagine. "
Eric Dollimore left the locker room after removing his hakama, is mounted on the mat as the rest of dan grades stopped to watch what is happening now. Eric and I-squared to each other that I decided to finish very fast for him with a quick punch to the head, as I hit some how it was under me and lifted me high and threw me into the wall Office dojo was 2mt off the tatami, I did not just hit the wall I went straight through it, as I looked up in the middle dust and rubble Ken Williams Sensei was sitting at his desk, he looked at me and growled "Ellis! use the bloody door next time." As if that was not humiliating enough? the following Sunday morning, when all dan grades and later practiced in all the pub, I was repairing damaged office walls Dojo at my own expense.
Stumped
I think the biggest lump `` we ever received was when we had a young guy and is well join us who had lost a leg in a motorcycle accident, he had an artificial wooden leg, in these days, they were made of solid wood, someone launched violently up and there was a scream as he hit another student in the head with his wooden leg, frankly, we thought it was death, he was taken to hospital but was released the next day. When he returned to the dojo, he asked what had actually happened to him. He explained that he had been hit on the head with a wooden leg, he replied "Bloody hell! He felt more like a tree "after the guy with the wooden leg as a place mat was all he wanted everyone kept well clear of him.
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The Real Thing
On some occasions, we would be divided into two groups and headed towards the nearby forest, a group will be led by Sensei K Williams and others by his brother David. A group left and wait in ambush for the second group, they jumped from bushes and branches down and some real tough fights occurred. After all that we would head to a nearby pub and count each other to pieces over a pint of beer, it seems completely crazy now, but to be honest I liked. In those days we trained so hard that it physically and Sunday morning was a good way let off steam.
Derek Eastman Sensei recalls his first visit with a friend at the Hut Dojo in 1958, as he entered the dojo, it was not really aware that judo and Aikido was, he walked in to see a guy in the center of the mat with a crease on the blind (Henry Ellis).
There were four other guys attack with shinai and bokken. Derek friend said: "Fill what I'm going, but Derek thought he would give it a try, trying hard now since almost 50 years.
A Very Serious Challenge
After one of these sessions and later on a pint of beer, Sensei David Williams said: "Ellis, you think you can take me is not it? "I responded:" No Sensei, I never think about that "He would continue this way for some time. I finally said, "Sensei, this topic has never ever crossed my mind, but it seems that it bothers you more than me" this made him furious, and he challenged me to go out into the parking lot.
David Williams was a kind of vicious man, we were surrounded by other students and other drinkers. He has taught Aikido - Karate and Judo, I knew it would be a difficult challenge for me.
It has different postures in search of an opening, while I stayed as relaxed as I could take small steps to avoid its different attacks, I have always been a very positive person and on this occasion I made a positive attack punched in the head knocking on the ground, I dropped over him and stands, he was unable to move, I asked "Sensei, is this sufficient? "He answered" yes ", and I allowed her to rise, as I released, he punched me in the nose, breaking, there were many blood as a result. He lost a lot of respect after that and subsequently left the Hut Dojo.
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Derek Eastman Sensei
At the end of 1958, There was a new 16-year-old student joined the Aikido section was a natural extension to ukemi and Aikido. I took it after several months of training as my own assistant. It became his job to go to the dojo early on a Sunday morning before practice and scanning winter frost off the tatami, there was no heating in the Hut Dojo, it was like a large refrigerator, the heat was only using three heaters paraffin in the locker room, students have suspended all leave their IM's to the ceiling beams. One Sunday morning that Derek swept a thick gel at night since my Carpet offered to light three paraffin heaters, I do not know you need to clean the wick first.
Soon the dojo was filled with thick black smoke and we thought the place was on fire. Derek quickly set the heater and when the smoke cleared all were hanging gi covered with black soot. Mr. Williams soon arrived and he went crazy (much worse than that) he asked who is to blame? I gave a nod in the direction of Derek who has taken all the Flack as a good assistant should, "he moaned again about this until now. All dan grades would hammer him and the worst They demanded new IM's. Life is difficult today to be a wizard (ukedeshi)
Ssshhh! Do not Mention Hemorrhoids
When Derek Eastman Sensei became my assistant in 1959, I left to take the very difficult to heat and exercise routines, one of which was bumps around the inside edge of the tatami and touching each corner. Remember, Derek is only sixteen years and during one of these meetings of bunny hopping on a student club and whispers to Derek "Derek, I can not do those bumps because they are very painful" Derek asked aloud: " Why are they painful? "The students whispered in the ear of Derek" I have lots of bad (hemorrhoids) Derek if he apologized, he then changed the year. The next day he takes the exercises again and said: "Line up ready for bunny hopping, anyone with piles (haemorrhoids) just stand aside "Everyone is lowered into position bunny hop including the student who the day before, had asked to be excused, Derek called him and said: "Why do not you back when I excuse anyone with batteries?".
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The adult student Derek stared in disbelief and said: "Derek, no one is going to admit they have batteries! "He then explained Derek the batteries were all around, as Derek had never heard before.
Merry Christmas Harada Sensei
It was Christmas 1963 and Noro Sensei was visiting the Hut Dojo. Noro Sensei had commented on the attractive girls that I have had with me at the dojo before leaving town. We discussed Noro Sensei with our Christmas Party. Noro Snsei said: "Mr. Ellis you have many friends nice lady, you must find nice lady Harada Sensie for the party tomorrow night, I replied "Sensei is too late to organize something like that" Noro said the "you must give your friend ".
I quickly phoned my girlfriend and asked her if she could bring another friend, she explained that everyone had already made plans, I told her that if she does not a friend, then she had better stay home, she was naturally very upset she phoned later to say she had found someone. On the night of the party I walked into the room with all grades dan and Noro Sensie who immediately asked "Where is lady Harada" I asked my friend who had just walked up to me: "Where is your friend Harada? "She then pointed to a woman sitting on the other side of the room that was leaning on his elbows on his knees as if she had a hunchback.
It has been suggested that it was none other than Quasimodo in drag. I looked down and I saw that his legs were covered with bandages over Tutankamoun. I could not believe my eyes when I looked across at Noro Sensei who seemed equally shocked I was, Noro said: "Mr. Ellis, Harada see if the woman you killed on the spot and I'll join. "In anger, I my friend turned and asked "Where did you get that?" She said that in desperation she called the office of wife household who said she would send her friend. Harada Sensei has now realized that we were talking about him and asked him what was happening, I told Derek to go sit with her that has ruined his Christmas. I then told Harada Sensei Derek really liked and had a fetish for ugly women, they were uglier than this one.
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Tadashi Abe Sensei
I believe that by 1959 that Sensie Tadashi Abe came to France and taught there has been a Event with Kenshiro Abbe Sense, he had a fearsome reputation which we soon learned, well deserved. Abe Sensei was formed during the war as Pilot suicide man submarine on one man. Chiba Sensei said Tadashi Abe Sensei has never accepted the fact that the war ended before he had the chance to die for his country and Emperor. Tadashi Abe Sensei Aikikai last visited in 1967 when he demanded the attention of all present, He held his diploma when he apologized to all the ladies present and said "This is not Aikido, what Aikido is for Women "He then threw his diplomas on the mat and went out, he never returned. Abe Sensei would carry a knife with and it should not look for trouble as it always was when he threatened to produce the knife and offered it to his opponent by saying "if you product for you! ". He said that a man with just his fists is not the real challenge, a man with a knife that was good for the mind.
The first seminar Aikido UK
Aikido demonstrations were now asked several top events judo. The name Aikido became known. Judo Club would like to invite you to take small classes throughout the country. The first seminar has been in aikido club Judo City Currencies Wiltshire under Sensei Graham Burt. Sensei Williams was at that time a large powerful Ariel Square 4 motorcycle with a sidecar passenger, I have visited that damned coffin attached to the bike, I swore never again, I never did.
Currencies seminar was the first and now Aikido became well known with many degrees dan taking small seminars where requested. Aikido owes much to its early development support of judo clubs and teachers that would allow us to use a section of their tatami for teaching a small class. I should add that while the judoka were very useful to help the promotion of Aikido, they could also be one of the most difficult to teach, they would test our ability at every opportunity. If we had not been as strong and positive, they would not have time for us.
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Kenshiro Abbe Sensei & The British Judo Council
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei had become very unhappy with his situation at the LJC. He estimated that some grades dan judoka do not respect him. On the carpet once he has lined up 31 senior judoka, he went down the line to tell everyone what they would use the technique to launch each of them, he then told everyone to know if the technique would be left or right handed technique, he did exactly that and broke all the dan grades Only as he had indicated. He then left the LJS.
Abbe Sensei had been in regular contact with Otani Sensei Matsutaro who had his own organization.
They joined together and created the British Judo Council (BJC) and the British Aikido Board (BAC) & "British Kendo Council" (BKC).
Kenshiro Abbe Sensie lived in large family home in Acton London Otani. I want to go collecting or Sensei or taken somewhere. When I entered his room he would always open the window in winter or summer.
There would be various types of wild birds on the windowsill and in the room, they are so familiar, I walked in they took no notice of me, if Abbe Sensei left the room, they would immediately fly immediately.
I visited Father Sensie a day and to my surprise and disappointment he looked at the overall "World Series Cricket television. I hate cricket, I was disappointed to see my teacher to watch such a stupid game. He was very calm so that I dared "Sensei, you like cricket?"
He bluntly replied: "NO! Stupid game" I was surprised that now watching television with attention, I took a step back and asked "Sensei, why are you watching cricket then?" He said very deep that I never really thought anything before like he said "They call this world series, not the world, only countries that colonized Great Britain cricket, stupid game, "he said" I look stupid game every day and I do stupid game ever, he then turned off the TV tension and never spoke again ...
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The BJC with various organizations organized the National Summer School at Grange Sports Farm Center Chigwell in Essex. These summer schools were a joint affair with all the different martial arts to be together during the week of training, we had students attending from across the UK. This meeting of all teachers has been very good for Aikido as people who had never heard or seen Aikido before becoming now see and understand Aikido, they were in turn invites This visit instructors throughout the United Kingdom. These summer schools gave students the opportunity to try Judo - Kendo - Karate - Aikido. Students would make friends of students from other disciplines as I did it myself, the friends I still to this day.
I attended the first summer school, there were only three students of Aikido there from the Hut Dojo, Eric Dollimore Haydyn Foster and Henry Ellis (me). Aikido has been virtually ignored during this first week, all other martial arts have taken precedence over space mat. The only instructor of Aikido there was the Abbe Sensei and he was very busy with judo, which is the largest group. Fortunately the weather was very good so the three of us just went into the adjacent field and practiced Aikido for a week. The word aikido is spreading rapidly calm and summer schools have been following very different with the Aikido being one of the largest groups.
Schools Summer changed at the invitation of Sensei Nakazono M. We were told the Abbe Sensei to be strong, not give or get for any technology unless it is fully applied, to do otherwise would be perceived disrespect by Nakazono Sensei. Sensei had a real hard time teaching us and had to use his power to take us, but what he does with the inevitable injuries that have followed. Sensei does not understand why we were so strong and resistant if after all he was there to help us later Abbe Sensei explained why we were like we were and then Sensei understood, he then explained the true study of Aikido and we have learned so much from him to this course. Nakazono Sensei had all dan grades on the mat for 10 hours a day. In those days the pubs in England closed at 10 pm 30 and Sensei had us up on the tatami 10pm. Ken Williams, who was national coach told me at one of these evenings exhausting "Ellis, as my assistant that It's up to you to ask permission Nakazono Sensei left the tatami to 9-30h so that we can get the last two pints of beer, I approached with reluctance Sensei himself a non-drinker.
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I asked if we could finish a little earlier to go to the pub, he was so angry against me, he said: "I travel many miles in Aikido teach you true and everything you want to do is go to the pub" ... ... I felt like I was broken with a bokken between the eyes, I took the response as a categorical !!..................... .. .............
Aikido Tomiki
It was about this time that we heard about a new group of Aikido in London.
Tomiki Aikido was introduced first in the United Kingdom by Senta Yamada Sensei early 1960s. Yamada Sensei 6th dan in judo has been a very respected Judoka, He was also friends with Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. We have heard that this new Aikido school opened in north London. It was decided that K Williams and her eight grades dan pay them a visit.
Our visit was unannounced and we were not welcomed. Sensei Williams politely asked if we could train with them, the coach said emphatically, "No, Sensei Williams asked" WHY NOT? "The instructor said that Tomiki we could not train as we wore hakama and they do not, Sensei Williams replied that we had no problem training without our hakama's. We were then informed that we were a different organization, I responded that organizations were only on paper and Aikido is Aikido. There was no way this instructor was we will have in his class. If we stormed the carpet Abbe Sensei was very disturbed by this. We watched the class for a few minutes and we could see why they want not to join them. We went to a pub just down the road, we were surprised some time later to see the Tomiki group coming into the bar, students came and told us and they seemed very sincere and friendly. A big guy who introduced himself as a 1st Kyu presented its apologies for the fact that we were not allowed to go to the mat, we spoke about techniques and our differences, he asked on a technique we called Nikkyo, he tried to apply the technique on me, nothing! (Gyaku Hanmi Katate Tori) I've done on him and he yelled down, I did not intend to hurt him I thought he was stronger than that, he said that my technique was incredible took me over to his master who was in a conversation with Sensei Williams. The kyu first asked her (stressed) that his teacher Nykkyo try on me, his teacher tried to apply the technique, nothing! Professor told his student that I was the arm of stone, and if was to apply the spirit of the stone it would break my arm. I asked to break my arm, he tried and spirit of the stone is no different from whatever his state of mind was precedent. while trying to break my arm of my friends put a pint of beer bar next to me, I picked up the pint and purpose of a sudden, something I had never done before or after. You can say that was a display of arrogance and I think you would be right, that is how it was in those early days.
The attack knife rubber Floppy
The following year I made a display somewhere, and was surprised to see another demonstration of aikido Tomiki by the same group, I have no idea why we were there. I'm not real knife and when the other group they display their used a knife rubber disk.
As his uke attacked him with rubber disk knife, I began to count the time he had been stabbed with a knife in soft rubber, Tori eventually disarmed his uke and took the knife in her rubber disk. He then himself declared the winner. When Tori came out the carpet, I asked "what was that all about?"
He said that the purpose was to disarm the assailant he had, I said "You can not disarm a man who has just stabbed 8 times you because you are dead "..
Have you Hakama Travel
Sensei Ken Williams then suggested that Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman take a year to work and travel the United Kingdom to spread the word of Aikido to a wider audience. I asked Sensei Williams' Where shall we go? "He looked at me as if I was stupid and said "Where there is no Aikido course" ... It was a challenge and after discussion It was agreed to. In 1963 I had a small Austin Mini car and we left without a plan or a sense of real direction. We had in our pockets Joint Grand sum of £ 20. Times were really hard times. We headed north and went to a great circle Great Britain sustained for 12 months. We knew that some judo dojo to call for, other clubs we just stopped and introduced ourselves. Some made us welcome and some were not really interested. Nobody has been able to pay us for teaching.
If we were lucky we would get a bed and a meal with a teacher or student. We quickly ran out of money and we would work for a few days to earn some money to get by. As we arrived in a city or town that we try to dredge the local girls everywhere where we could, they often take us back to their homes for food, and if we have been very happy one night sleeping on the sofa should also be dredged girls mothers who like girls loved to hear the accent of London, we became very good at it and it became an asset Once they were desperate and we often stayed in the car was the most unpleasant experience in the cold north of England. We have so many different tasks of `builders - Painters - Photographers on the seafront - Wizards to a funeral director, where we had to collect bodies in the mortuary and take them to the chapel. I was later captured in the chapel with the directors of the girl who was laying to rest, although it was full of life and the funeral we had placed a coffin with an old lady in the gallery roof of the mini to ask for a photo.
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Her daughter in the chapel of rest and the old lady in the coffin was too strong for the boss, that was the end of this work, we were on the road. We worked at the mill North - sweepers and on the British bowler hats which added to the amusement. There were so many other too. We also worked on an old railway, it was a really horrible, we call it "The Death Railway", we did not stay long.
In one area we have been presented to the head of a college that allowed us to demonstrate our Aikido and thence Aikido was now admitted to the system of continuing education in Great Britain. It was an incredible breakthrough for the promotion and future of Aikido.
In one area there was a student whose father had worked on developing the first M1 motorway (Great Britain ) From his father and his crew had found several large urns of Roman Coins and gave me a handful of these bronze coins deformed that I would like to show to one for the girls we met, I would tell them the play had been in the family for hundreds of years and I would like to them to have, it would often get a bed and food for a few nights.
Masahilo Matsutaro Nakazono Sensei
In the early 1960s Kenshiro Abbe Sensei Matsutaro invited Nakazono Sensei to visit the United Kingdom. Sensei arrived in the now famous Hut Dojo with Sensei Peter Chassang. Nakazono Sensei made numerous visits to the UK and to date, it is the teacher who remembers with emotion and with great respect by all ranks dan old at that time. I was on stage with Nakazono Sensei at the national championship BJC 1963. This event was at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This event, I always believed did more to promote and showcase martial arts in the United Kingdom than anything before or after him. With so many big names as Kenshiro Abbe the following sensei - - Matsutaro Otani - Matsutaro Nakazono - M Michigami - Harada M - M Noro. The thrill and excitement of being part of this event and the large arena at the Royal Albert Hall is with me till this day.
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A visit of the representative H Koybayashi Sensei Aikikai 1965 / 6
M Nakazono Sensei came to visit the Hut Dojo with an unexpected visitor in 1965 / 6 (?) A fearsome looking Koybayashi H Sensei, who had been sent by the Ueshiba K Doshu to visit and report to the Aikikai on the standard and progress of Aikido in Europe. He sat on the mat, and never spoke or smiles, he gave each one of dan grades a piercing stare to move before the line. Nakazono Sensie fell over as if that remote observation. As I have already written, we knew only one way to attack an opponent and it was hard and always at the center, Kobayashi Sensei got up and darkens to dan grades and then suddenly made to specific person and presented him with a bokken and then reported the attack to the head shomen `` ... .. Students did exactly that and cut to the center and to our shock and horror went straight to the head of Kobayashi Sensei, when he winked, like any What other man would have collapsed, I immediately looked Nakazono Sensie and to my surprise, it was not as shocked as we were, I'm sure there was a hint of a smile, as he was proud of his British students, I am often asked if had never told our Sensei Kobayashi positive approach to Aikido. I would add that Kobayashi Sensei does not make any mistakes over after that.
On the first visit Nakazono Sensei Dojo Hut as we were suddenly informed that all grades Dan, who had been classified by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei should now be re-graded to ensure they meet modern standards of the Aikikai.
We played a new very difficult to rank, where a student has been de-graded to Shoden and add to his humiliation, Nakazono said, "Necessary sale your gi while prices are high.
Nakazono Sensei Dan said all eight grades that their level was very good and they could all practice on an equal footing with students from the Aikikai.
The Hut Dojo has been the core of all Aikido in the UK. There were no other dan grades outside the Hut. Aikido is now spreading across the United Kingdom, dan grades were away most weekends teaching up and down the country with courses - Seminars and demonstrations. Over there is no doubt that there was a shortage of degrees dan, dan grades, but the standard of the cabin took men a certain size and a long time.
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Sensei Ken Williams decided it would be a good idea to create honorary dan grades through the United Kingdom. I did not like that idea at all, people were attracted by the strong Aikido dan grades Hut original, what would they think When saw people who were not of the standard `acting` as dan grades. I've always been very loyal to Williams Sensei, but I could not simply not accept it. I complained bitterly, my complaints were ignored, I was assured that these "new" dan grades would send in the monthly reports on their progress Hut, of course, the first report came at the end of the month, pushing the Sensei Williams over my face and said "it! What did I tell you "I looked at the report and sure enough it contained details of the progress of those present, and signed Billy Bloggs Shodan, I handed the report Sensei Williams and asked "where is the honor of signing this document, which descends not well at all.
I think it was the beginning of the breakdown of this great camaraderie that existed at the Lodge for the last few years.
Kazuo Chiba Sensei arrived in the United Kingdom 1966.
Kenshiro Abbe was returned to Japan for the Olympics, while there he made a visit to see Osensei he had not discussed the planned visit with Sensei Williams or anyone else, so you can imagine it was a shock when Chiba Sensei arrived at Hut Dojo. It was then a severe test of loyalty not only dan grades the cabin had to make serious decisions. A few months later I decided joined Chiba Sense. Haydn Foster Sensei decided to stay at the cabin and when Sensie Williams later moved to Wales, he returned to the old dojo Hut some dan grades were so disappointed that they completely abandoned aikido.
Derek Eastman Sensei went away for a year work on the platforms of oil from the northern sea, when he came home, he started his own dojo, later he asked me if he could Ellis started the schools of Aikido which I accepted, I joined Derek and we have been education and training together since.
I became assistant to Chiba Sensie from 1967 until 1971, during which time we were to appear television and radio, BBC World, seminars and demonstrations.
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I decided in 1971 due to pressure of work and family to step back from the busy schedule to be with Chiba Sensei. I am still in contact with Kazuo Chiba Shihan who personally told me invited to its 40th year celebrations of the United Kingdom in October 2006 in London.
Henry Ellis 5th Dan
Co-author of Positive Aikido
Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido
www.british-aikido.com
Henry Ellis a direct student of the legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sensi 1957. Ellis began Judo in 1956 at the now famous "Hut Dojo` where he became one of the first students of Aikido in the United Kingdom and is now a leading pioneer of British Aikido. Ellis is an avid writer on the true story of Aikido the United Kingdom and a constant thorn in the side of those who would attempt to corrupt the proud history, lineage and legacy at our expense, by teachers at the beginning of martial arts.
About the Author
Henry Ellis Co-author of Positive Aikido. Principal of the Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido UK - USA. The book Positive Aikido is now available from www.NineCircles.co.uk
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