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Aikido in the UK – the Beginning

Aikido in the UK ~ The Beginning
By Henry Ellis

In 1951 at the age of 15 who left school. I had already started a career at the age of 14yrs as a cycling time trial, becoming the first team a cycling club. At that time I could not imagine doing other than cycling and racing for the future.
That was until early 1956 when I visited a local Judo club in the London suburb of Hillingdon, `School Budo Abbe "the only reason I went was to encourage my then girlfriend's younger brother join. I was immediately attracted to Judo and I joined that night, the young took about a month.
It was during the following year in 1957 that saw the new Aikido class was being taught by Sensei Ken Williams, who later turned out to be a student Aikido in the UK first of the legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and now living in the UK and teaching at the Hut Dojo.
The class was very small and training and discipline was extreme. I had been raised by a strict Victorian father so that discipline and the harsh regime of not deter me from actually, probably was the challenge that was the real highlight for me. Haydn Foster Sensei had joined a few months before me and we're still good friends today.
The following article is based on what I personally consider the most interesting and formative years in the development of Aikido in the UK, since 1955, with the arrival of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei the UK. Up to eleven years later and my four years as an assistant to Kazuo Chiba Sensei from 1967 and ends in 1971.
After this period became Aikido in the highly fragmented with everyone wanting to start their own organizations, which resulted in masses of undeserved self-classification titles and silly. I find the behavior some of those employed very sad delusional and selfish. These are people who try to change our true and proud history and lineage according to their own purposes tortuous.

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What my utter disgust also include the total collusion `once 'respected British Aikido Board (BAB). Misfortune BAB are sadly governments officially recognized governing body for Aikido in the UK.
The BAB show no recognition or respect for the true history of Aikido in the United Kingdom. The former president said in 2000 "We the British Aikido Board are not the custodians of British Aikido history, and therefore have no interest in it! "Kenshiro Abbe Sensei used to say" No matter what the pretext, that is what it is and nothing more "… … .. So very true.

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 8th dan Judo
Karate 6th Dan – 6th Dan Aikido – Kendo 6th Dan – 6th Dan JuKendo
1915 – 1985
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei first arrived in Britain in 1955 in response to an invitation from the London Judo Society (LJS). It was 8th dan Judo. The youngest ever Dan 5th in the history of Japanese Judo, the youngest of Japan Judo Champion at 18 years of age, 15 years later would become the greatest champion Japan Judo at the age of 33 years. He also has been classified as in several other martial arts. Aikido 6th Dan – 6th Dan Karate – Kendo 6th Dan – Ju-Kendo 6th Dan – 6th Dan Kyudo. He also performed with both the Yari and Naginata spears. During World War II Abbe Sensei was a responsible official intstruction development and Imperial Army of "Ju-Kendo" the art of bayonet fighting.
Abbe Sensei introduced Aikido to Britain for the first time in 1955, first in the LJS and the same year in the LJS Judo Championships 1955 at the Royal Albert Hall. Abbe Sensei was a direct student of Ueshiba O Sensei "Morihei who gave personal permission to teach Aikido in the UK.
A change in my career
When I sat and watched the only kind of Aikido in the United Kingdom in 1957. I was very impressed by this unusual but positive martial arts, this was the first time he had seen a teacher who wore a hakama. I decided to join the section of Aikido, but also continue with the kind of Judo.

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It was time for a decision and cycle races had to go, that was a tough decision later change the course of my life.
I asked some of the Judoka on Aikido, simply shrugged and said they had never heard of him before.
A Life Changing Decision
After several months of judo and aikido took the fateful decision to dedicate myself to Aikido.
As I said earlier, this was the only kind of Aikido in the United Kingdom in the famous and Retreat Dojo, was best known as the real name instead of "Abbe School of Budo". All the big names in the Budo visit the UK could pay a visit to the humble "But Dojo."

Names like Kenshiro Abbe – Mutsuro Otani – Tomio Otani – Mutsuro Nakazono – Tadashi Abe – M Michigami – M Noro – Koybayashi H – M Harada. N Tamara. K Chiba.
I had the privilege of studying with all these great masters of the names Budo are like the ones that the Budo. I wrote another article on my memories and experiences with these teachers "Masters of Budo."

Now he was training five nights a week and on Sunday morning. I was progressing rapidly, to reach 3rd kyu (green belt) Sensei Williams asked me it was his personal assistant, a position he readily accepted. From now on the training became more than ever, with 200 push-ups in the back of hands the beginning of each class. This style of Aikido principles was extremely hard and be good ukemi information simply to survive injury, many students today have ukemi that resembles an acrobat or a gymnast and is used more to make their tori "are spectacular." To this day do not have a 'favorite' uke me I simply tell the class that can go gracefully or ugly, in any case go.
A very important part of our training is the inclusion of karate kicks and punches, this remains an integral part of our training.

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During training a student had to attack the center at all times, if attacked outside the center was to be punished, if you hit uke tori (very often) to be considered is always the fault of bulls. Photo: K Abbe suit extreme left in 1959.
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei was a regular visitor to the Hut Dojo, where he would teach with the sword of a shinai (bamboo) that spoke very little English, and instead of attempting an explanation difficult it would be offensive to hit the arm or leg, soon learned the correct movement. Abbe Sensei said: "My English is bad, my shinai speaks English well "
In the 1950s Aikido techniques do not have names, Abbe Sensei said "this technique necessary" or that would change art of "necessary." It was not until Nakazono Sensei arrived they were able to put names to the techniques. It must have been strange for foreigners to learn the Aikido teachers saying that this necessary and required. I remember asking a beginner Derek Eastman Sensei if he was Japanese, after practice at the bar was surprised Sensei Eastman hearing had a London accent. It seems funny now, but all speak English with this dove sharply on the mat.

Opening students Aikido U.S.?
In the late 1950s we started to get a good U.S. soldiers walking distance of the local Air Force Base to attend classes West Drayton Aikido. There were some tough guys, including that they were legitimate, but the respectable boys, it was difficult to accept at first sight techniques, there were plenty of "what if" for the Cottage Pub car park became the testing ground for many techniques, Sensei Williams said: "Ellis, Mr. Smiff is necessary to show Aikido in a real situation. "So if anyone ever came to trial in the Dojo Aikido Hut, parking would be arranged in the Hut and return to practice on the tatami.
In those early days there was no need for the use of lots of Japanese terminology, something that today seems much more the top. I remember when I was assistant Chiba Sensei and visited a dojo in the north of England, the students were talking a lot of terminology in Japanese Sensei turned to me and said, "Mr. Ellis I have no idea what they're saying." The point is that many dialects area are difficult to understand in themselves countries, to turn it into Japanese and has something special.

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I'm still amused by what I remember, many years later I was invited to visit a large dojo in Texas, USA, as the class in a row, there was a strong chorus of all students to make a long speech of welcome in Japanese only made maybe two words.
The first eight grades the United Kingdom Dan

The first group in the Hut Dojo is fully dedicated and trained very hard, at the end of the current 1950/60s a total of 8th dan grades, it was now only give grades in the whole of the UK for Aikido and all in a dojo.
The practice every Sunday morning to block the dojo and allow only Dan grades and special students to train. This was the moment of trial techniques and the actual fight itself. Often had shed blood, but there was never any hard feelings later, when the session ended we all go to the pub next to the Hut and have a few pints of beer and a recount of our masses.
Ki Aikido
In those early days of Ki Aikido the word was rarely mentioned. Once I asked him about Kenshiro Abbe as he had Ki mentioned once or twice, he said he was teaching the techniques Ki so we need not worry, he told us when we speak of Ki ready, It's fun to see the organizations now providing "Ki" to students the first lesson.
The Aikido I offered as Ki Aikido is something very terrible that if I have seen that in those early days I never would have given my bike away. Aikido I first saw was indeed a true martial art, it saddens me to see how people Aikido has changed into something that is almost religious. Why are wannbees Aikido back in some kind of dance. Now I see some do Aikido to music. Kazuo Chiba said and repeated in an article on Aikido Journal, saidthat OSensie had later decided to make available to Aikido "All", including the elderly and the disabled, along with the weak and those who were not military in nature, now these people are saying "Aikido My Aikido is true." Well, I just hope that if any of these people are getting attacked in the street, your opponent is of their own dojo, as it is the only way of Aikido is any useful for them. I attended a seminar recently where a teacher of Ikkyo Sankkyo Ki demonstrated, as he brought his hand palm up mat he described the palm like a bowl of soup. The mind boggles.

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Henry Ellis learns a valuable lesson

The smallest of all grades was Eric Dollimore Dan, he left the mat on a Sunday morning, I challenged him to "seek truth," replied that he had arranged to go to his girl home for friends Sunday lunch and was late. I saw this as an excuse and had a small smile of satisfaction to myself as I turned around, then I heard a voice behind me out loud "OK Harry, its got to be fast though!" I said to myself "It will be faster than you can imagine."

Eric Dollimore left the locker room after removing the hakama, stepped on the mat as the rest of the grades Dan stopped to see what was happening. Eric and I squared a another as I decided to end it all very fast to hit him with a fast to the head, like a punch that somehow was beneath me and lifted me and threw me high in the wall of the office that was about 2mt off tatami dojo, I did not hit the wall just went straight through it, while I looked up in the middle of all the dust and debris Sensei Ken Williams was sitting at his desk, he looked at me and growled "Ellis! use the goddamn door the next time. "As if that was not humiliating enough? the following Sunday morning when all the Dan grades were practicing and then everyone in the tavern, I was repairing the damaged walls of the office Dojo to me.
Bewildered
I think the greatest "lump" any person who has received ever was when we had a fit young man join us who had lost a leg in a motorcycle accident, had an artificial wooden leg, in those days, were in fact solid wood, someone threw hard and high and there was a scream to hit another student in the head with his wooden leg, I honestly thought I was dead was taken to hospital but was released the next day. When he returned to the dojo asked what really happened to him. It was explained that he had been beaten in the head with a wooden leg, he replied "Bloody hell!" It felt more like a tree "After the guy with the wooden leg had as an area rug all I wanted to stay well clear as the world of him.

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The Real Thing
Sometimes we were divided into two groups and are directed to the nearby forest, a group would be led by K Williams Sensei and the other by his brother David. A group broke up and wait on the lookout for the second group, which jumped from fall shrubs and branches and some very tough fight took place. After all this would go to a nearby bar and other packages count more than a pint of beer seems pretty crazy now, but to be honest I loved it. In those days we trained very hard physically and that this Sunday morning was a good way to vent.
Eastman Sensei Derek recalls his first visit with a friend to the Hut Dojo in 1958, when he entered the dojo was not really aware of what Judo and Aikido was approached to see a man at the center of the carpet with a blind fold (Henry Ellis).
There were four other boys and bokkens attacking with shinai. Derek friend said: "Things of this I'm leaving ", but Derek thought you would like give it a try, which attempt lasted almost 50 years.

A serious challenge
After one of these sessions and later in a pint of beer, Sensei David Williams said: "Ellis, you believe that you can take me right?" I replied " No Sensei, I never think about it "would go on this way for some time. I finally said," Sensei, this issue has never crossed my mind, but it seems to bother him you more than I. "This made him angry and challenged me to leave the parking lot.
David Williams was a kind of vicious men, now we were surrounded by other students and other drinkers. He was a master of Aikido – Karate and Judo, I knew this would be a difficult challenge for me.
He made several bids in search of an opening, while I stayed as relaxed as I could make small movements to prevent various attacks, I've always been a very positive person and this time I give a positive attack punched in the head knocking him to the ground, I dropped on him and pinned him, was unable to move, he asked: "Master, is that enough? "He replied:" Yes! "And I let up, as I released him, gave me a punch in the nose, breaking it, there was great amount of blood as a result. He lost a lot of respect after that and later left the Hut Dojo.
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Derek Eastman Sensei

End 1958 was a new student 16 years old, joined the Aikido section that was natural and Aikido ukemi. I took a few months to train my own assistant. It became his dojo get to work early on a Sunday morning before practice and in the sweep of winter frost off the mat, there was no heating in the Hut Dojo, which was like a refrigerator, the only heat was from three paraffin heaters in the locker room, the students all left their gi hanging from the rafters the ceiling. In a Sunday morning as Derek was sweeping a freezing night in thickness of the mat I offered to light three paraffin heaters, not knowing that he had wicks to clean first.
Soon the dojo was filled with thick black smoke, and thought the place was on fire. Derek heaters and quickly solved when the smoke cleared all gi hanging were covered with black soot. Mr. Williams soon arrived and went crazy (much worse than that) asked who was to blame? I made a gesture in the direction of Derek, who took all the criticism as a good assistant must still complains about it until today. All Dan grades are going to hammer him and worse, demanding new gi. Life is tough being a wizard (ukedeshi)

Ssshhh! No mention Hemorrhoids
When Derek Eastman Sensei became my assistant in 1959 that allowed him to take very difficult routines to warm up and exercise, one of which was the holiday hops around inner edge of the mat and touch every corner. Remember, Derek only sixteen years old and for one of these sessions a student cheats limp and whispers to Derek "Derek, can not do this holiday hops, they are very very painful, "Derek asked aloud" Why are they painful? "The student whispers Derek "I have so many bad (hemorrhoids), Derek so he excused himself, then changed the year. The next day, he is taking the exercises again and said "Line ready for the holiday break, anyone with piles (haemorrhoids) you stay to one side" Everyone got in position including the student bunny hop the day before had asked for immunity, Derek called him and said "Why not take a step back as an excuse to anyone with batteries?".
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The adult student Derek looked in disbelief and said "Derek, no one will admit they have BATTERIES!" He then explained what Derek batteries question, as Derek had never heard of them before.

Harada Sensei Merry Christmas
It was Christmas 1963 and Noro Sensei was visiting the Cottage Dojo. Noro Sensei had commented on the attractive girls who often had me in the dojo before leaving the city. We had been discussing with our Sensei Noro Christmas party arranged. Noro Snsei Ellis said "The Lord has many nice friends, you need to find Harada Sensie pleasant lady for the party tomorrow night, "I said" Sensei it is too late to organize something like "Noro said:" He has to give your girlfriend. "
Quickly I phoned my girlfriend and asked if she could bring another friend, she explained that everyone had already made plans, I told her that if she did not bring a friend then he had better stay home, she was very upset, of course, she called me later to say he had found someone. On the night of the party entered the room with all grades and Sensie Dan Noro which demanded immediate "Where is Mrs. Harada" I asked my girlfriend who had just come to me "Where is your friend Harada?" Then he pointed to a woman sitting on the other side of the room which was bent, elbows on his knees as if a hunch back.
It was suggested that other non-Quasimodo in drag. I looked down and saw that his legs were covered with more bands Tutankamoun. I could not believe my eyes as I looked at Noro Sensei seemed as surprised as I, Noro said that "Mr. Ellis, Harada If you see this woman will kill you on the spot and join him. "In anger I turned to my girlfriend and asked" where did you get that? "she said in desperation had invited to the office cleaning lady who said it was sending to his friend. Harada Sensei had met now that we were talking about him and asked him what was happening, Derek had told him to go and sit with her, which spoiled his Christmas. So I said to Harada Sensei Derek really liked and had a fetish for women ugly, that did not get uglier than this.

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Tadashi Abe Sensei
I think it was in 1959 that Sensie Tadashi Abe came to France and taught also attended an event with Kenshiro Abbe Sensi, had a fearsome reputation that he soon learned was well deserved. Abe Sensei had trained during the war as a pilot for a suicidal man in a one man submarine. Chiba Sensei said Tadashi Abe Sensei never got over the fact that the war ended before he had the chance to die for their country and emperor. Tadashi Abe Sensei Aikikai last visited in 1967 where he demanded the attention of all present, was holding his diploma as he apologized to all the ladies present and said: "This is not Aikido, the Aikido is for ladies only" then threw his diplomas on the mat and went, he never returned again. Sensei Abe carrying a knife with him and he did not have to look for problems as I always found, when he threatened to produce the knife and give your opponent by saying " Please for you! ". He said that a man with only his fists was a real challenge, a man with a knife that was good for the soul.

The First Seminar of Aikido Always UK
Aikido demonstrations are now being requested in many of the major events of Judo. The name Aikido was becoming known. Judo clubs that invite us to take small classes throughout the country. The first Aikido seminar was a judo club in the city of Wiltshire Idea under Sensei Graham Burt. Williams Sensei at that time had a powerful Ariel Square 4 motorcycle with a sidecar passenger, riding in that damn coffin attached to the bike, I vowed never again I never did.

Idea was the first Aikido seminar and now he was doing very well known to many of the Dan grades taking small seminars where requested. Aikido owes much to its rapid progress with the support of the Judo Club and teachers who let us use a section of your mat to teach a small class. I should add that while the judoka were very helpful to the promotion of Aikido, which also could be some of the most difficult to teach, that would test our ability at every opportunity. If we had not been so strong and positive that would not have had any time for us.

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Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and the Council British Judo

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei was very happy with their position in the CYL. In his view, some of Judoka dan grades do not respect. In the fore a Once lined up 31 Judoka high, then walked down the line to tell everyone what they would use the technique to shoot each of them, then told everyone if the technique is a technique of left or right hand, he did exactly that, and they beat all the single grade as he had declared. Later he left the LJS.
Abbe Sensei had been in regular contact with Matsutaro Otani Sensei, who had his own organization.

They came together and created the "British Council Judo (BJC) and the British Aikido Board (BAC) and "British Kendo Council (BKC).
Kenshiro Abbe Sensie lived in the house Otani large family in London Acton. I went there to pick either Sensei or take it to somewhere. When I entered his room, always have the window open in winter and summer.
There would be various types of poultry in the windowsill and in the room, which were so tame, as I walked in which I ignored, if Abbe Sensei left the room that they all fly away.

Abbe Sensie visited one day and my total surprise and disappointment was watching the "Series Cricket World "on television. I do not like cricket, I was disappointed to see my teacher watching a stupid game. He was very quiet, so I ventured "Sensei, do you like cricket?"
He snapped "NO! Stupid game" I was surprised to see TV now carefully, I stepped back and asked "Sensei, why watch the cricket then?" He said something very profound that I had never thought in before, as I said, "They call this world series is not the world, the only countries that have colonized Britain to play cricket, play stupid said "I see stupid game every day and never understand me stupid game, which turned the TV off and never mentioned again …

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The BJC, with their various organizations organized the summer at the National Sports Centre Grange Chigwell Essex rural. These summer schools were a joint affair with different martial arts all be together during the training week, we had students attend from all over the UK. This meeting of all teachers was very good for Aikido as people who had never seen or heard before Aikido were coming to see and understand more about Aikido, they in turn were now inviting visiting trainers throughout the United Kingdom. These summer schools gave students an opportunity to try Judo – Kendo – karate – Aikido. Students make friends with students from other disciplines such as I did it myself, yet I have friends to this day.
I attended the first Summer School, there were only three students of the Dojo Aikido Hut, Eric Dollimore, Haydyn Foster and Henry Ellis (I). Aikido was virtually ignored during the priority of the first week, all martial arts were on the opaque space. The only instructor Abbe Sensei of Aikido and he was busy with Judo which was the largest group. Fortunately the weather was very good so the three of us just entered the adjacent field and practiced Aikido for a week. Aikido The word was spreading quickly and quietly following summer schools were very different with Aikido is one of the largest groups.
The courses changed with the invitation of M Nakazono Sensei. We were told by Abbe Sensei to be strong, not to give or go for any unless the technique was fully implemented, to do otherwise would be disrespectful seen Nakazono Sensei. Sensei had a hard time teaching us and had to use their power to take, what he did, but with the inevitable injuries that had to follow. Sensei did not understand why we were being so strong and tough when after all I was here to help, later Abbe Sensei explained why we were as we were then and Sensei understood, then explained the proper study of Aikido and learned a lot from him in that course. Nakazono Sensei Dan had all the grades on the mat for 10 hours a day. In those days the pubs in England ends at 10-30pm and Sensei had us on the mat until 10 pm. Ken Williams, who was the national coach told me during one of those nights exhausting "Ellis, as my assistant it is for you to Nakazono Sensei permission to leave the tatami in 9-30 pm so we can get a last couple of pints of beer, reluctantly approached a Sensei no one drinks.
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I asked if we could finish a little early to go to the pub, I was so mad at me, said: "I travel many miles Aikido teach truth and all I want to do is go to the pub "… … I felt like it was crushed with a bokken between the eyes, I took the answer as an absolute NO !!………………….. ………….

Tomiki Aikido

It was around this time that we hear about a new group of Aikido in London.
Tomiki Aikido was first introduced to the UK by Senta Yamada Sensei in the 1960s. Yamada Sensei 6th Dan Judo Judoka was a great respected, was also a friend of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. We learned that this new Aikido school was opened in north London. It was decided that K Williams and her eight Dan grades would pay a visit.
Our visit was unannounced and we are not favorably received. Sensei Williams politely asked if she could train with them, the instructor said emphatically, "no," Williams Sensei asked, "WHY?" Professor Tomiki has said he could not train as wearing hakama and did not, Sensei Williams said we had no problem training without our hakama's. We were then informed that we were a different organization, he replied that these organizations were only on paper and Aikido is Aikido. There was no way this instructor was going to have in its class. If we were to burst into the carpet of Abbe Sensei would have been very upset for that. We saw the class for a few minutes and we could see why they refuse to join them. We went to a pub near the road, we were surprised a little later to see the Tomiki group come in the bar, students came and talked to us and they seemed genuine and friendly. One big man who introduced himself as a 1 kyu apologized for the fact that not allowed to go on the carpet, we talked about techniques and our differences, asked about a technique we called Nikkyo, tried to apply art in me, nothing! (Hanmi gyaku katate Tori) I did to him and cried as he went down, I did not intend to hurt him as I thought was stronger than that, I said that my technique was impressive and took me to his teacher who was in a conversation with Sensei Williams. The first asked her kyu (Insisted) that your teacher Nykkyo treat me, his teacher tried to apply the technique, nothing!, The teacher told his students he was doing the arm of stone and if applied the minds of stone broke his arm. I asked him to break his arm, tried and minds of the stone was no different from whatever their previous thinking. as he was trying to break my arm one of my friends put a pint of beer at the bar with the beer I drank and drank at one time, something he had never done before or after. You could say that was a sign of arrogance and I suppose it would be correct, it was just the way it is in those early days.

The attack the floppy rubber knife
The following year I made a presentation somewhere and was surprised to see a demonstration of Tomiki Aikido by the same group, I have no idea why the two were there. I made a real knife and when the other group made its exhibition used a flexible rubber knife.

As his uke attacked him with flexible rubber knife I started counting the times he had been stabbed with a flexible rubber knife, eventually disarmed her Tori uke and took the knife from him flexible rubber. then declared the winner. When Tori came off the mat, I asked "What was that all about?"
He said the aim was to disarm his attacker had told me "You can not disarm a man you've been stabbed 8 times, because you have died" ..

He will travel Hakama

Sensei Ken Williams then suggested that Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman take a year of work and travel to the UK to disseminate the word of Aikido to a wider audience. Sensei Williams asked, "Where shall we go?" I looked like I was stupid and replied "Where there is Aikido course" … This was a challenge and after much discussion, they agreed to do this. In 1963 I had a little Austin Mini car and we started without a plan or a sense of real direction. We had our hands on the articulation of the grand sum of £ 20. Times were hard then. We address north and went in a large circle of Britain which lasts 12 months. We knew some Judo dojos to call other clubs who just stopped and introduced ourselves. Some welcomed us and some were not really interested. No one was able to pay for education.

If we were lucky we would get a bed and a meal a teacher or a student. He soon ran out of money and want to work for a few days to earn some money to get ahead. When we arrived in a town or city that is trying flirt with local girls wherever they could, often lead us back to their houses to eat, and if we're lucky a night sleeping on the couch, also want to date girls who like mothers daughters loved to hear the accent of London, which became very good at it and became an asset, it was moments of despair and often slept in the car that was a very unpleasant experience in the cold of northern England. We take different jobs of many workers in construction – Painters – Photographers in a seafront – Wizards to a funeral director, where he collected the bodies from the morgue and take them to the chapel rest. He was caught later in the chapel of rest with the directors daughter I was getting the rest, but was full of life, as the employer had captured places us a coffin with an old woman on the roof of the mini to pose for a photo.
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His daughter in the Chapel of Rest and the old woman in the coffin was too much for the boss, who was the end of that work, now we were on the road again. We have worked in the steel works north – sweepers and hats bearing the British player who joined the fun. There were many others as well. We also worked on an old railway, which was a really horrible, calls it "The Death Railway" was not there for long.

In an area that was introduced at the head of a school that allowed us to demonstrate our Aikido Aikido and from there was accepted now the education system more in the United Kingdom. This was an incredible breakthrough for the promotion and the future of Aikido.
In one area had a student that the father had been working on the development of the M1 (first motorway in Britain) A father and his crew had found several large urns of Roman coins and gave me a handful of these deformed bronze coins that I show only the girls we met, I say the money had been in the family for hundreds of years and I wish they would have, which often lay at a bed and food for a few nights.
Nakazono Sensei Matsutaro Masahilo

In the early 1960 Kenshiro Abbe Sensei invited Matsutaro Nakazono Sensei to visit the UK. Sensei came to the now famous Hut Dojo with Sensei Pierre Chassang. Nakazono Sensei made many visits the UK and to date is the teacher that we remember with affection and great respect for all grades of the age old Dan. I was on stage with Sensei Nakazono BJC National Championships 1963. This event was at the Royal Albert Hall in London. I have always believed this event did more to promote and demonstrate the martial arts in the United Kingdom anything else before or since. With so many big names like Kenshiro Abbe Sensei as follows – - Matsutaro Otani – Matsutaro Nakazono – M Michigami – Harada M – M Noro. The excitement and excitement of being part of this event and the large arena at the Royal Albert Hall is with me to this very day.

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A visit by the representative H Koybayashi Sensei Aikikai 1965 / 6

M Nakazono Sensei came to visit the Hut Dojo, where an unexpected visitor in 1965 / 6 (?) A terrible looking H Koybayashi Sensei who had been sent by the Ueshiba K Doshu visit and report back to the Aikikai in the standard and progress of Aikido in Europe. He sat on the mat and never spoke or smiled, gave each of Dan grades a piercing glance before moving along the line. Nakazono Sensie leaned back as if observing this from a distance. As I have written, we only knew one way to attack an opponent and that was hard and always at the center, Kobayashi Sensei stood up and glared at Dan grades and suddenly pointed at one in particular, and gave him a bokken and then set out to attack him in the head 'shomen' … .. The student did just that and cut to the center and our shock and horror went straight to the head Kobayashi Sensei, blinked as any other man would have collapsed immediately Nakazono Sensie and looked at my surprise he was not surprised as we were, I'm sure there was a hint of a smile when he was proud of his students British, have often wondered if he had ever warned Kobayashi Sensei of our positive approach to Aikido. I would add that Kobayashi Sensei no more mistakes thereafter.

On his first visit to the Dojo Sensei Nakazono hut suddenly we were informed that all dan grades who had been rated by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei would be re-rated to ensure they meet standards of the Aikikai today.
We face a very tough new classification, where a student was de-graded to Shoden and add to the humiliation, Nakazono said, "Necessary sell your gi while prices are high."
Sensei Nakazono said the eight grades given its level was very good and all that could charge on an equal basis with students in the Aikikai.
Hut Dojo was the core of Aikido throughout the United Kingdom. There are no other degrees out of the hut. Aikido is spreading throughout the United Kingdom, the grades given at the weekend were out of school around the country courses – seminars and demonstrations. There is no doubt that there was a shortage of degrees Dan, but Dan grades from the rule of the Cabin took men of a certain size and a long time.

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Sensei Ken Williams decided it would be a good idea to give honorary degrees throughout the United Kingdom. I did not like this idea at all people were attracted by the strong Aikido dan grades Hut original, what would they think if they saw people who were not of that standard ',' acting and Dan grades. I've always been very loyal to Williams Sensei, but I could not accept it. I complained bitterly my complaints were ignored, I was assured that these "new" Dan grades would send monthly reports of his hut progress, surely the first report on the end of the month, Williams Sensei report thrust in my face and said "there! what I said "I looked at the report and sure enough it contained some details of this progress people, and signed Billy Bloggs Shodan, Sensei Williams gave the report and asked "Where is the honor in signing this document, which did not sit well at all.
I think this was the beginning of the rupture such great camaraderie that had existed in the Hut for the last years.

Chiba Kazuo Sensei arrived in 1966 in the UK.
Kenshiro Abbe had become to Japan for the Olympics, while there was a visit to see Osensei, had not discussed this planned visit with Sensei Williams or any other person, so one can imagine, was a shock when he arrived at the Dojo Sensei Chiba Hut. This was a severe test of loyalty as it not only Hut dan grades had to take some serious decisions. Some months later I joined Sensie Chiba. Haydn Foster Sensei decided to stay in the cabin and when Williams later moved Sensie Wales took over the old Hut dojo, some grades were so disappointed that Dan totally abandoned Aikido.
Derek Eastman Sensei was absent for a year work on oil platforms in the North Sea, when I got home started his own dojo, later asked if I could start at Ellis Schools of Aikido Traditional which I agreed, I joined Derek and we have been teaching and training together ever since.
I became assistant since 1967 Sensie Chiba until 1971 during which time we were going to appear on television and BBC radio world, seminars and demonstrations.

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I chose to work pressure and family to take a step back from the hectic schedule to be with Chiba Sensei 1971. I'm still in contact with Kazuo Chiba Shihan who personally invited me to his many years 40 in the celebrations of the United Kingdom in London in October 2006.

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 Sensie 1957. Ellis Judo began in 1956 in the now famous Retreat Dojo where he became one of the first students of Aikido in the UK and is now a pioneer of British Aikido. Ellis is an avid writer in the true history of Aikido in the UK and a constant thorn in the side of those who seek to corrupt that proud history, lineage and legacy left to our care by the first masters of the 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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