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Aikido UK – Top

Aikido in the UK ~ The Beginning
By Henry Ellis

In 1951, at the age of 15 years I have leave school. I had already started a career at the age of 14 years as a time trial cycling race, before becoming a club racer the first team. At that time, I never thought of doing anything other than cycling and racing for the future.
That was until early 1956 when I visited a local club judo in a London suburb of Hillingdon, "The School the abbot of Budo "the only reason I went was to encourage my friends and 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 that was taught by Sensei Ken Williams, which I found next to the first Aikido student in the United Kingdom the legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei currently residing in the United Kingdom and teaching at the Dojo Hut.
The class was very low and training and discipline was extreme. I was raised by a strict Victorian father so that discipline and hard system I was not discouraged, in fact, 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.
The following article is based on what I personally consider the most interesting years and formative in the development of Aikido in the UK, from 1955, with the arrival of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in the UK. Until Eleven years later and my four years as an assistant to Kazuo Chiba Sensei from 1967 and ending in 1971.
After that time, Aikido has become very fragmented, with all those who want to start their own organizations, which led to masses of self-classification and stupid undeserved titles. I find the behavior of some of these self-delusional and selfish extremely sad. These are people who try to change our true history and proud lineage and to answer their own purposes diverted.

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Which, to my profound disgust which also includes the collusion Complete the "once" respected British Aikido Board (BAB). The disgrace BAB unfortunately governments have officially recognized the Board of Directors of Aikido in the UK.
BAB show no recognition or respect for the true history of Aikido in France. Former President stated in 2000 "We the British Aikido Board are not the guardians of the British Aikido history, 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 in judo
Karate 6th Dan – 6th Dan Aikido – Kendo 6th Dan – 6th Dan JuKendo
1915 – 1985
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei arrived in Britain in 1955 in response to an invitation from the London Judo Society (LJS). He was 8th dan in judo. Youngest ever fifth in Dan Japan's history of Judo, the All Japan Judo younger than 18 years, some 15 years later he would become the oldest All Japan Judo Champion at age 33 years. It was also ranked in several other martial arts. 6th Dan Aikido – 6th Dan Karate – Kendo 6th Dan – 6th Dan Ju-Kendo – 6th Dan Kyudo. He also been achieved both Yari and Naginata spears. During the Second World War Abbe Sensei was an officer and responsible for development and to intstruction the imperial army of "Ju-kendo" the art of bayonet fighting.
Abbe Sensei introduced Aikido in Great Britain for the first time in 1955, first at the LJS and in the same year LJS Judo Championships 1955 at the Royal Albert Hall. Abbe Sensei was a direct student of Ueshiba O 'Sensei Morihei who gave his personal permission to teach Aikido in the United Kingdom.
A 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 but positive martial arts, was the first time I saw a teacher wearing a hakama. I decided to join the section Aikido, but also continue the course of judo.

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This moment decision had come and had to go cycling, which was a difficult decision that would change the meaning of my life.
I asked some About Aikido of Judo, they just shrugged and said they had never heard before.
A Modification of the decision life
After two months of judo and aikido I made the fateful decision to dedicate myself to Aikido.
As I already said, this was the only class of Aikido in the United Kingdom to the now famous "Hut Dojo" as he was better known than his name present "The Abbe School of Budo". All names, he Budo great to visit the United Kingdom would pay a visit to the humble "Hut dojo.

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

I was now a five nights a week and Sunday mornings. I rose quickly, when I came 3rd kyu (green belt) Sensei Williams asked me to be his personal assistant, a position that I gladly accepted. From now training has become more than ever, with 200 push-ups on the backs of hands at the beginning of each class. This style of the early of Aikido is extremely difficult and we learn good ukemi just to survive injury, many students have today ukemi that looks like an acrobat or a gymnast and serves more to make them look spectacular swimming `. To this day I do not take a "favorite" uke with me, I am simply the class that they can either go gently or ugly, anyway they are.
A very important part of our training was the inclusion of Karate kicked and punched, it is always a part of our training.

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During the formation of a student was attacked the center at any time, if attacked off center, it would be punished, if ever hit uke tori (very often), it has always been considered Tori fault. Photo: K Abbe extreme left in costume 1959.
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei was a regular visitor to the Hut Dojo where he teaches the sword a shinai (bamboo) He spoke very little English and rather than attempt a difficult explanation, he would whack the offending arm or leg, it was learned Soon the correct movement. Abbe Sensei said: "My English is bad, my shinai speaks good English"
In the 1950s, techniques of Aikido had no names, Abbe Sensei said "this technique Necessary" or he would change the technique of "necessary". It took Nakazono Sensei arrived we were able to put names on techniques. It must have been curious to hear foreign teachers Aikido saying necessary, and necessary. I remember asking a beginner Derek Eastman Sensei if he was in Japan, after the practice of advertising, he was surprised to hear Eastman Sensei had an accent of London. It seems funny now, but we all talked with this pigeon sudden English on the tatami.

First American students of Aikido?
In the late 1950s, we started to get a good few of the local U.S. military AFB West Drayton taking courses Aikido. There were hard of them, they were decent genuine guy, but technical difficulties in accepting the face value, there were many "ifs" so that the fleet Pub Hut has become the testing ground for Many techniques, Sensei Williams said: "Ellis, necessary show Mr. LCRMS Aikido in real situations." So if anyone ever came to test Aikido Hut Dojo, it is sorted on the parking Hut and then back to practice on the tatami.
In those early days it was not necessary for use lots of Japanese terminology, which now seems much higher. I remember when I was an assistant the Chiba Sensei and we visited a dojo in the north of England, the students talked a lot of terminology 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, that turn into Japanese and you have something special.

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I am always amused that I remember many years later, I was invited to visit a large dojo in Texas USA, as the class queue, there was a loud chorus of all students make a long speech of welcome in Japanese which I may just be both words.
The first eight grades Dan UK

The first group Hut Dojo were totally dedicated and trained very hard to end of the 1950 / 60s there was now a total of eight Dan grades, they were now dan grades in the entire United Kingdom for Aikido and all in a dojo.
It is common practice, every Sunday morning to lock the dojo and allow only Dan grades and students special train. This was time to test techniques and each other with real fighting. There was often blood spilled, but there was never any bitterness after, when the session ended all of us next door to the pub Hut and have a few pints of beer and count our songs.
Ki Aikido
In those early days Aikido of the word ki was rarely mentioned. I once asked Kenshiro Abbe about Ki as he had mentioned once or twice, he said he was a teacher in the techniques of Ki not need to worry, he said he would talk about when we were Ki loans, it is fun now have organizations that offer "Ki" for students first lesson.
Aikido, I see offered as Ki Aikido is a pretty horrible thing if I had only seen in those early days, I never gave my bike away. Aikido I saw was probably a real martial art, it saddens me to see how people have changed something in Aikido that is now almost religious. Why these wannbees tour Aikido into a kind of dance. Now I see others do Aikido music. Kazuo Chiba said and also repeated in an article on Aikido Journal, he said OSensie had then decided to make Aikido available to "All", including persons elderly and disabled and weak people who were not martial in nature, now, these people say, "My Aikido is Aikido true. "Well, I just hope that if one of these people are always attacked in the street, their opponent of their own dojo, because it is the Aikido only way they will be of no use to them. I attended a seminar recently where a teacher showed Ki Sankkyo Ikkyo of, as he has his hand palm up the carpet, 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, as he left the mat, a Sunday morning, I challenged to "try for real "he replied that he had arranged to go to his daughter's friends home for lunch on Sunday and was late. I regarded this as an excuse and had a small smile of satisfaction to me that I turned, I heard a voice behind me yell "OK Harry, its got to be Quick yes! "I told myself" This will be faster than you can imagine. "

Eric Dollimore left the room to change after removing the hakama, it is mounted on the mat as the rest of dan grades have stopped to watch what is happening now. Eric and I squared to each other that I decided to end soon for him with a fast punch to the head, as I hit, it went for pennies me and lifted me high and threw me into the office wall that was on the dojo 2mt off the tatami, I have not even touched the wall I went straight through it, I looked up in the middle of all the dust and rubble Ken Williams Sensei was sitting at his desk, he looked at me and growled "Ellis! use the door next bloody time. As if that was not humiliating enough? The next morning, Sunday, when all dan grades were in office and later, all in the pub, I was the repair of damaged walls Dojo office at my own expense.
Stumped
I think the biggest "capital" we never received it when I had a young guy, well join us, who had lost a leg in a motorcycle accident, he had an artificial leg made of wood in those days they were in fact and solid wood, someone threw hard and high and there was a cry, as he hit another student in the head with his wooden leg, we honestly thought he was dead, he was taken to hospital but was released the next day. When he returned to the dojo, he asked what really happened to him. It was explained that he had been hit on the head with a wooden leg, he replied: "Bloody hell! It felt more like a tree "After the guy with the wooden leg that had the space carpet everything he wanted all the world long kept away from him.

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The Real Thing
In some cases we divide into two groups and headed towards the nearby forest, a group will be led by Sensei Williams K and the other by his brother David. A group would be turned off and wait in ambush for the second group, they jump down and bushes from branches and some really hard fights took place. After all this, we proceed to a nearby pub and count some of the other songs on a pint of beer, it seems quite crazy now, but to be honest I loved it. In those days, we have trained so hard physically and that Sunday morning is a good way to unwind.
Derek Eastman Sensei recalls his first visit with a friend for Dojo Hut in 1958, when he walked into the dojo, he was not really aware of what judo and Aikido was, he went to see a guy in the center of the mat with a blind fold (Henry Ellis).
There was four other guys to attack with shinai and bokken. Derek friend said: "Fill what I'm going," but Derek thinks he might like to test, trying now lasted for almost 50 years.

A serious challenge
After one of these sessions and later on a pint of beer, David Williams Sensei said "Ellis, you think you can take me is not it?" I replied "No Sensei, I never think about it," he continued this way for some time. I finally said, "Sensei, this issue never crossed my mind, but it seems that it disturbs you more than me "that made him furious, and he challenged me to go in the parking lot.
David Williams has been a sort of vicious man, we were surrounded by other students and other drinkers. He has taught Aikido – karate and judo, I knew it would a difficult challenge for me.
He has made various positions in search of an opening, so I stayed as relaxed as I could make small steps to avoid his various attacks, I have always been a very positive person and on this occasion I made a positive attack punched in the head knocking him to the ground, I dropped over him and immobilizes it was unable to move, I asked "Sensei, Is it enough? "He replied" yes! "And I allowed him to rise, as I released, it hit me in the nose, break, there was a lot of blood afterwards. He lost a lot of respect and then subsequently left the Hut Dojo.
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Derek Eastman Sensei

In the end of 1958 was a new student of 16 years, joined the section that was natural to Aikido and Aikido ukemi. I took after few months of training as my own assistant. It became his job to go to the dojo early on a Sunday morning before practice and in the sweep of the winter cold outside the tatami, there was no heating in the Hut Dojo, it was like a large refrigerator, the heat was one of three heaters paraffin in the locker room, students would all leave their IM's suspended from the ceiling beams. On Sunday morning that Derek has been sweeping through a thick jelly carpet night I offered to light three paraffin heaters, I do not know you had to clean the wick first.
Soon, dojo was filled with thick black smoke and it was thought the place was on fire. Derek quickly set the heating and when the smoke clears all gi suspended were covered with black soot. Mr. Williams soon arrived and he went mad (even worse than that) he asked who was to blame? I gave a nod in the direction of Derek who has taken all Flack as a good assistant should he still moans about it to day. All dan grades would hammer him and worse, they were demanding new gi. Life is difficult to be a wizard (ukedeshi)

Ssshhh! Do not talk about Hemorrhoids
When Derek Eastman Sensei became my assistant in 1959, I allowed him to take very very hot routines and exercise, which was a bump around the inside edge of the tatami and touch every corner. Remember, Derek is only sixteen years and during one of those bunny hopping sessions a student more than Derek box and Whispers "Derek, I can not do those bumps as they are very painful" Derek asks aloud: " Why are they painful? "The student whispers to Derek" I have bad batteries (hemorrhoids), so it Derek apologized, then he changed the year. The next day he takes the exercises again and said: "Align bunny hopping and ready for everyone with batteries (Hemorrhoids) Just Stand to one side "Everyone was in the position bunny hop, including the student who had asked the day before to be excused, Derek called and said, "Why do not you take a step back when I apologized person with batteries? .
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The adult student Derek looked in disbelief and said: "Derek, no one is going to admit they HAVE BATTERIES! "It Derek went on to explain what piles were all about, that Derek had never heard before.

Merry Christmas Harada Sensei
Was Christmas 1963 and Noro Sensei was visiting the Hut Dojo. Noro Sensei commented the pretty girls that I often had with me at the dojo before going out on the town. We have discussed with Noro Sensei held our Christmas party. Noro Snsei Ellis said "Sir, you have many friends nice lady, you are necessary nice lady Harada Sense for the party "tomorrow night, I replied:" Sensei it is too late to organize something like that "Noro said:" The you must give your friend ".
I quickly phoned my friend and asked her if she could bring another friend, she said that everyone had already made plans, I told her that if she did not bring a friend, so she had better stay home, she was of course very angry, she phoned later to say she had found someone. On the night of the party I went in the room with all grades and Noro Sense Dan who immediately asked: "Where is Lady Harada" I asked my friend who had just walked to me: "Where is your friend Harada? She then made a woman sitting on the other side of the room who 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 saw that his legs were bandaged more than Tutankamoun. I could not believe my eyes as I looked Noro Sensei who seemed shocked as I was, Noro said: "Mr. Ellis, Harada see if this woman, you killed on the spot and I'll join. In anger, I turned my girlfriend and asked "Where did you do that?" she replied in desperation she called the office cleaning lady who said she would send her friend. Harada Sensei had now realized that we were talking about him and asked him what was happening, I told Derek to go sit with her, which 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 think it was in 1959 that Tadashi Abe came Sense of France has also taught and participated in an event with Kenshiro Abbe Sense, he had a fearsome reputation which we soon learned, well deserved. Abe Sensei was formed during the war as a pilot of a man's suicide on a submarine of a man. Chiba Sensei Tadashi Abe Sensei said that has never recovered since the war ended before he had the chance to die for his country and Emperor. Tadashi Abe Sensei Aikikai last visit in 1967 where he demanded the attention of everyone present, he held his degree when he apologized to all the ladies present and said: "This is not Aikido, the Aikido is reserved for ladies "He then threw his diplomas on the mat and went out, he never returned again. Abe Sensei carry a knife with him and he has not have to look for trouble as he was always when they are threatened, he produced the knife and offered it to his opponent by saying "please for you ". He said that a man with just his fists was not a real challenge, a man with a knife that was good for the mind.

The first seminar Aikido UK
Aikido demonstrations have now asked many top judo. The name became Aikido known. judo clubs which invites us to take small classes throughout the country. The first seminar was aikido judo club in the city of Wiltshire Currencies under Sensei Graham Burt. Sensei Williams was at that time a great power Ariel Square 4 motorcycles with sidecars for passengers, I went to that damned coffin attached to the bike, I vowed never again, I never did.

Currency was the first Aikido seminar and now became very experienced with most grades dan taking small seminars where requested. Aikido owes much to its rapid progress in support of judo clubs Teachers who allow us to use part of their tatami to teach a small class. I should add that, although the judoka has been very useful to help the promotion of Aikido, they could also be one of the most difficult to teach, they test our ability at every opportunity. If we had not been so strong and positive, they would not have time for us.

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Kenshiro Abbe Sensei & The British Council Judo

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei was very unhappy with his situation in the YOA. He said some of Judoka dan grades did not meet. On the carpet once lined up 31 Judoka senior, he went down the line to tell everyone what they would use the technology to launch each of them He then told everyone to know if the technique is a technique for left-or right-handed, he did exactly that, and beat Dan all alone as he had said. He then left the LJS.
Abbe Sensei had been in regular contact with Matsutaro Otani Sensei who had his own organization.

They joined together and created the British Judo Council (BJC) and the British Aikido Board "(LAC) and" British Kendo Council (BKC).
Kenshiro Abbe Sense lived in the large family home in Acton London Otani. I want to go to either collect or take Sensei somewhere. When I went in his room, he would still have the window open all year round.
There would be various types of wild birds on the windowsill and the room, they were so familiar, as I walked in they took no notice of me, if Abbe Sensei left the room, they would immediately all fly.

I visited Father Sense one day and to my surprise and disappointment he looked at the total world cricket series "On television. I hate cricket, I was disappointed to see my teacher to watch such a stupid game. He was very calm So I allowed myself "Sensei, you like cricket?"
He quickly replied: "NO! stupid game "I was surprised today while watching television with attention, I took a step back and asked "Sensei, why do you watch cricket then??" He said something very profound that I had never really thought of before, as he said "They call this World Series, not the world, only countries that colonized Britain cricket game, playing stupid, he said: "I look stupid game every day and I will never understand stupid game, he then TV and never mentioned again …

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The BJC with different organizations organized the National Summer Schools Sports Centre Grange Farm in Chigwell Essex. These summer schools are a joint liaison with all different martial arts to be together during the training week, we had students attend from around the UK. This meeting of all teachers has been very good for Aikido as people who had never seen or heard before Aikido were now see and understand Aikido, they were now invited to turn to visit all the instructors on the United Kingdom. These summer schools gave students the opportunity to try Judo – Kendo – Karate – Aikido. Students do make friends of students from other disciplines as I did myself, friends I still to this day.
I attended the first summer school, there were only three students of the Aikido Dojo he Hut Eric Dollimore, Haydyn Foster and Henry Ellis (Me). Aikido has been virtually ignored during the first week priority, all other martial arts have been given on the space carpet. The instructor does Aikido was the Abbe Sensei and he was very busy with Judo was the largest group. Fortunately The weather was very good, the three of us just went into the adjacent field and practiced aikido for a week. The word Aikido spreads rapidly calm and summer schools have been following very different with aikido is one of the largest groups.
The schools were changed at the invitation of M Nakazono Sensei. We were told the Abbe Sensei to be strong, not give or appointment to any technology unless it has been fully implemented, to do otherwise would be considered disrespectful by Nakazono Sensei. Sensei had a real bad time to teach us and had to use his power to take us, what he did, but with the inevitable damage that would follow. Sensei does not understand why we were so strong and resilient when, after all, he was there to help us later Abbe Sensei explained why we were that we were now understood and Sensei, he then explained the proper study of Aikido and we have learned so much from him in this way. Nakazono Sensei Dan had all the grades on the mat for 10 hours a day. In those days the pubs in England closed at 10 pm and 30 Sensei was on the mat up 22 hours. Ken Williams, who was national coach told me at one of these evenings exhausting "Ellis, my assistant that It's up to you to ask Nakazono Sensei's permission to leave the mat at 9 am-30 so we can get one of the last two pints of beer, I reluctantly approached 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 cons me, he said: "I travel many miles to teach you Aikido and true all you want to do is go to the pub … … I felt as if I had been broken with a bokken between the eyes, I took the answer as an absolute NO !!………………….. ………….

Tomiki Aikido

He at about this time that we heard a new group of Aikido in London.
Tomiki Aikido was introduced in the United Kingdom by Senta Yamada Sensei in the early 1960s. Yamada Sensei 6th dan Judo Judo was very respected, he was also friends with Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. We learned that this new Aikido School opened in north London. It was decided that K Williams and her eight Dan grades and pay a visit.
Our visit was unannounced and we have not received a favorable reception. Williams Sensei politely asked if we could train with them, the coach said emphatically "NO", Sensei Williams asked "WHY NOT? "The instructor Tomiki said we could not train as we wore hakama and they did not, Sensei Williams replied that we had no problem training without our hakama is. We were then informed that we were a different organization, I said that organizations were on paper and Aikido is Aikido. There was no way this teacher was going to have us in his class. If we had stormed carpet Abbe Sensei was very upset. We watched the class for a few minutes and we could see why they do not want us 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, the students came and we have spoken and they seemed very sincere and friendly. A big guy who introduced himself as a first kyu has apologized for the fact we were not allowed to go on the carpet, we talked about techniques and our differences, he asked a technique that we Nikkyo called, he tried to apply the technique on me, nothing! (Gyaku Hanmi Katata Tori) I've done on him and he screamed as he came down, I did not intend to hurt him I thought he was stronger than that, he said that my technique was incredible and I had more to his master who was in a conversation with Sensei Williams. The first asked her kyu (insisted) that his teacher trying Nykkyo on me, his teacher tried to apply the technique, nothing!, the professor told his student that I was the stone arm and it was to apply the spirit the stone he broke my arm. I asked to break my arm, he tried and spirit of the stone was not different to what was state of mind before. while trying to break my arm to my friends make a pint of beer on the bar next to me, I picked up the pint and purpose of a sudden, something I had never done before or since. You can say it was a display of arrogance and I guess you're right, it was just the way it was in the early days.

The attack on the floppy rubber knife
The following year, I made a display somewhere and was surprised to see another manifestation of the Tomiki aikido by the same group, I have no idea why we were both there. I have real knife and when the other group does their display they used a knife soft rubber.

As the uke attacked with rubber disk knife, I started counting the times he had been stabbed with a knife in soft rubber, possibly Tori disarmed his ukulele and took the knife from him rubber disk. He then declared winner. When Tori came out the carpet, I asked "what was that all about?"
He said that the purpose was to disarm his attacker he had, I said "You can not disarm a man who has just stabbed eight times because you're dead" ..

Have you Hakama Travel

Sensei Ken Williams then suggested that Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman take a year to work and travel in 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 replied "When there is no Aikido course" … It was quite a challenge and after discussion it was agreed to do so. In 1963 I had a little Austin Mini car and we left without a plan or a sense of real direction. We had in our pockets the sum of common £ 20 Great. Times were hard in real time. We headed north and went into a large circle of Britain for a period of 12 months. We knew that some judo dojo to call the, other clubs we just stopped and introduced ourselves. Some of us wished 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 a 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 we try to flirt with local girls wherever we could, they often take us back to their homes for food, and if we were very lucky one night sleeping on the couch, we would also talk to girls who like girls mothers liked to hear the accent of London, we became very good at it and it became an asset, they are desperate times and we often slept in the car which was a very unpleasant experience in the cold north of England. We taken so many different tasks from "builders – Painters – Photographers on a waterfront – Wizards to a funeral director, where we collect the bodies from the morgue and take them to the chapel of rest. Then I took in the chapel of rest with the directors daughter who I was, on to rest, although it was full of life, and the contractor had us placing a coffin with an old lady in the gallery roof to pose for the mini photo.
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Her daughter in the chapel of rest and the old lady in the coffin was too much for the boss, which was the end of this work, we were on road. We have worked in the mills of the North – road sweepers and wearing bowler hats Colombia adds to the pleasure. There were many others too. We have also worked on an old railway, it was a really horrible, we called the "death" The railway, we did not stay there long.

In an area that we were introduced to the head of a college that allowed us to demonstrate our Aikido and there, Aikido is now accepted in the training system in the United Kingdom. It was an amazing breakthrough for the promotion and future of Aikido.
In one area there was a student whose father had worked on the development of the M1 (first motorway in Britain ) His father and his crew had found several large urns of Roman Coins and he gave me a handful of these bronze pieces that I show deformed 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 for 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 invited Nakazono Sensei to visit Matsutaro the United Kingdom. Sensei came to the now famous Hut Dojo with Sensei Peter Chassang. Nakazono Sensei made many visits to the UK and to date, it is the teacher who fondly remembers with great respect by all ranks of the old dan time. I was on stage with Nakazono Sensei at the BJC National Championships 1963. This event was at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This event, I always believed did more to promote and develop the martial arts in the United Kingdom than any before or since. With so many big names such as Kenshiro following the Master – Abbe – Matsutaro Otani – Matsutaro Nakazono – Michigami M – M Harada – Noro M. The thrill and excitement of being part this event and in the large arena at the Royal Albert Hall is with me to this day.

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

M Nakazono Sensei came to visit the Hut Dojo with an unexpected visitor in 1965 / 6 (?) A formidable looking Koybayashi H Sensei, who had been sent by the Ueshiba Doshu K 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 smiled, he gave each one of dan grades piercing glance before moving along the line. Nakazono Sense sat down, as if this observation distance. As I have already written, we knew a way to attack an opponent and that was hard and always center, Kobayashi Sensei stood up and glowered at grades Dan and then suddenly made to anyone in particular and gave him a bokken and then reported to attack the head "shomen" … .. The student did just that and cut to the center and to our shock and horror went straight to the head Kobayashi Sensei, he blinked his eyes when, like any other man would have collapsed, I immediately looked Nakazono Sense 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 UK students, I am often asked if he had already warned Kobayashi Sensei of our positive approach to Aikido. I would add Kobayashi Sensei does not make any mistakes more after that.

On the first visit of Nakazono Sensei Dojo Hut we were suddenly informed all the Dan grades had been classified by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei would now be re-graded to ensure they meet modern standards of the Aikikai.
We have experienced a significant re-grading, where a student has been de-classified Shoden and add humiliation, Nakazono said "Necessary sell your gi while prices are high."
Sensei Nakazono said the eight Dan grades than their level was very good and they could all practice on an equal footing with students at the Aikikai.
The Hut Dojo has been the core of all Aikido the United Kingdom. There were no other dan grades outside the hut. Aikido was now spreading across United Kingdom, dan grades were absent most weekends teaching up and down the country with courses – seminars and demonstrations. There does no doubt there was a shortage of degrees dan dan grades but the standard of the cabin took the men of a certain size and a long time.

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Sensei Ken Williams decided it would be a good idea to create honorary degrees dan around the United Kingdom. I did not like that idea at all, people were attracted by the strong Aikido dan grades of origin Hut, what would they think if they saw people who were not of the standard "Acting" like dan grades. I've always been very faithful to Williams Sensei, but I could not accept that. I complained bitterly, my complaints were ignored, I was assured that these "new dan grades" send in monthly reports on progress Hut, although course the first report came at the end of the month, the thrust of Sensei Williams over my face and said "it! What I am saying" I looked at the report and of course it contained some details of the progress people, and signed Billy Bloggs Shodan, I handed the report Sensei Williams and asked him: "Where is the honor of signing this document," which does not go down well at all.
I think this was the beginning of the breakdown of this large camaraderie that existed at the cabin for years.

Chiba Kazuo Sensei arrived in 1966 in the United Kingdom.
Kenshiro Abbe was returned to Japan for the Olympics, while there he paid a visit to see OSensei, he had not discussed the planned visit with Sensei Williams or someone else, then we can imagine it was a shock when Chiba Sensei arrived at Hut Dojo. It is now a severe test of loyalty Not only Hut dan grades had to take serious decisions. A few months later I decided to join Chiba Sense. Haydn Foster Sensei decided to stay at the cabin and when Williams later moved Sense Wales, he took over the old Hut dojo, some grades were so disappointed that Dan totally abandoned aikido.
Derek Eastman Sensei went away for a year to work on the Oil Platforms North Sea, when he returned, he started his own dojo, later, he asked if he could start school Aikido Ellis that I accepted I joined Derek and we have been teaching and training, and since that time.
I became assistant Chiba Sense of 1967-1971 during This time we were to appear on television and radio BBC World, seminars and demonstrations.

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I decided in 1971 because of pressure of work and family to step back from the busy schedule of courses in Chiba Sensei. I am still in contact with Kazuo Chiba Shihan who personally invited me to his 40th year celebrations in the United Kingdom in London in October 2006.

Henry Ellis 5th dan
Co-author of Positive Aikido
Traditional schools of Aikido Ellis
www.british-aikido.com

Henry Ellis a direct student of the legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sense, 1957. Ellis started judo in 1956 in 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 a writer passionate about the true history of Aikido in the United Kingdom and a constant thorn in the side of those who try to corrupt the proud history lineage and the legacy left to us 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

Pocket FishRmen – 3 songs – Live on Austin Access – 1997