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Aikido in the UK ~ The Beginning
By Henry Ellis

In 1951 at the age of 15 I left school. I had already begun a career at the age of 14 years as a bike race time trial, before becoming a club racer in the first team. At that time, never I thought of doing anything other than cycling and racing for the future.
That was until early 1956 when I visited a local judo club in a London suburb of Hillingdon, "The Abbot School of Budo" the only reason I went was to encourage my friends and younger brother to join. I was immediately attracted to judo and joined the same night, the boy lasted about a month.
It was during the following year in 1957 saw a new kind of Aikido that was taught by Sensei Ken Williams, found next to the first student of aikido in the United Kingdom the legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei currently residing in the UK and teaching at the Cottage the Dojo.
The class was very low and the training and discipline was extreme. I was raised by a strict Victorian father for the discipline and drive system was not discouraged, in fact, was probably the challenge that was the real attraction for me. Haydn Foster Sensei had joined a few months before me and we remain good friends.
The following article is based on what I personally consider the most exciting and formative years in the development of Aikido in the UK, since 1955, with the arrival Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in the UK. To Eleven years later and my four years as assistant to Kazuo Chiba Sensei from 1967 and ends in 1971.
After that time, Aikido has become very fragmented, with everyone wanting to start their own organizations, which have resulted in mass self-rating and stupid titles undeserved. I think the behavior of some of these self-delusional and selfish sad. These are people who try to change our true history and lineage proud and respond their own deviant purposes.

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Which, to my deep regret that also includes the collusion Complete the "once" respected British Aikido Board (BAB). BAB Misfortune governments regrettably have officially recognized the Governing Council of Aikido in the UK.
BAB show no recognition or respect for the true history of Aikido in France. Former President announced in 2000 "We the British Aikido Board are not the guardians of British history Aikido, and therefore have no interest in it! "Kenshiro Abbe Sensei used to say:" Whatever their motive, are what they are and nothing else "… … .. 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 arrived in Britain in 1955 in response to an invitation from the London Judo Society (LJS). It was 8th dan in judo. Youngest ever Dan fifth in the history of Japan Judo All Japan Judo under 18, some 15 years later would become the oldest of Japan Judo Champion at age 33. Also been classified into various other martial arts. Sixth Dan Aikido – 6th Dan Karate – Kendo 6th Dan – Ju-Kendo 6th Dan – Dan Kyudo sixth. Too has achieved so much Naginata Yari and spears. During World War II Abbe Sensei was an officer and responsible for developing and intstruction the imperial army of "Ju-kendo" the art of bayonet fighting.
Abbe Sensei introduced Aikido in Britain for the first time in 1955, first the LJS and the same year LJS Judo Championships 1955 Royal Albert Hall in. Abbe Sensei was a direct student of Ueshiba O Sensei "Morihei who gave his personal permission to teach Aikido in the UK.
A change in my career
When I sat and watched the only kind of Aikido the UK in 1957. I was very impressed by this unusual but positive martial art, was the first time I saw a teacher wearing a hakama. I decided to join the section of Aikido, but also follow the course of judo.

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It was time to decision and had Cycling to go, it was a difficult decision that would change the meaning of my life.
We asked some of Judo About Aikido simply shrugged and said had never heard before.
A change of Life Decision
After some two months of judo and aikido took the fateful decision to dedicate myself to Aikido.
As I said before, the only kind of Aikido in the United Kingdom to the now famous "Hut Dojo" as he was better known, more than its current name "The Budo School Abbot." All names, which largely Budo to visit the United Kingdom would pay a visit to the humble "But Dojo."

Names like The Kenshiro Abbe – Mutsuro Otani – Tomio Otani – Mutsuro Nakazono – Tadashi Abe – M Michigami Noro M – - Koybayashi H – M Harada. Tamara Chiba NK
I was privileged to study with all these great teachers who are the names of Budo like a Who's Who of Budo. I wrote another article on my memories and experiences with the teachers of these teachers Budo. "

It was now a five nights a week and Sunday mornings. I got up quickly when I reached the 3rd kyu (green belt) Sensei Williams asked me to be his personal assistant, a position he accepted with pleasure. From now on A training has become more than ever, with 200 push-ups of arms in the back of hands at the beginning of each class. This style of Aikido principles is extremely difficult and learn good ukemi just to survive injury, Many students today have ukemi that resembles an acrobat or gymnast and serves more to make them look spectacular beaches. To this day I do not take a "favorite" uke with me, I would simply tell the class that can be careful, or ugly, go anyway.
A very important part of our training was the inclusion of karate kicks and punches, it is always an integral part of our training.

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During the formation of a student were to attack the center at any time if attacked outside the center, which would be punished, if you hit uke tori (very often), has always been considered by Tori. Photo: K Abbe extreme left in the costume of 1959.
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei was a regular visitor to the Hut Dojo, where he taught at the sword, a shinai (bamboo) spoke very little English, and instead of attempting an explanation difficult, was to strike the offending arm or leg, soon learned the correct movement. Abbe Sensei said, "My English is poor, my shinai speaks good English"
In the 1950s, the techniques of Aikido are no names, Abbe Sensei said "This technique Kit" or that would change the technique of "necessary." Nakazono Sensei was taken we were able to put names on techniques. It must have been curious to hear foreign teachers saying Aikido necessary, and necessary. Memory have asked a rookie Derek Eastman Sensei if he was in Japan, following the practice of advertising, was surprised to hear Eastman Sensei had an accent London. It seems funny now, but all this pigeon suddenly spoke English on the mat.

First American aikido students?
In late 1950, started to have a good few U.S. military Local Air Base West Drayton attend Aikido classes. They were difficult to them, were real decent guy, but have difficulty to accept on face value techniques, there was a lot of "if" for the fleet Pub Hut has become the testing ground for many techniques, Sensei Williams said: "Ellis, Mr. LCRMS Aikido are needed in real situations." So if anyone ever came to test the Aikido Dojo in the barracks would be sorted Hut parking lot and return to practice on the tatami.
In those early days there was no need to use a lot of Japanese terminology, which now looks much older. I remember when I was an assistant Chiba Sensei and visited a dojo in the north of England, the students talked a lot of terminology in Japanese, Sensei turned me and said, "Mr. Ellis, I have no idea what they say." The fact is that many dialects area are difficult to understand in their own country, to become 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 tail class, there was a loud chorus of students making a long speech of welcome in Japanese that I just may be the two words.
The first eight grades Dan UK

The first group Hut Dojo is completely dedicated and trained very hard at the end of the years 1950 to 1960 there are now a total of eight degrees Dan, Dan grades were now all the United Kingdom for the Aikido and all in a dojo.
It is common practice, every Sunday morning to block the dojo and allow only Dan grades and training special students. This was the moment of trial techniques and the actual fight itself. He had often shed blood, but then there was never any bitterness when session ended make us all Hut next to the pub and have a few pints of beer and one count of our songs.
Ki Aikido
In these early days of Aikido ki word rarely mentioned. Once I asked him about Kenshiro Abbe Ki as mentioned once or twice, said he was a master of techniques do not need Ki worry, said when speaking of Ki were ready, it's fun now have organizations that offer "Ki" for students in first lesson.
Aikido, I offered as Ki Aikido is pretty awful if I had only seen in those days, I never gave my bike away. Aikido I saw was probably a martial art real, it saddens me to see how people have changed something in Aikido that is now almost religious. Why are these Aikido wannbees become a kind of dance. Now I see Aikido others make music. Kazuo Chiba said and repeated in an article on Aikido Journal, said Aikido OSensie decided to make available to "all" including the elderly and people with disabilities or weaknesses that are not martial in nature, now, these people say, "My Aikido Aikido is true." Well, I I only hope that if one of these people are always attacked in the street, his opponent of their own dojo, because it is the only way of Aikido is useless to them. I recently attended a seminar where a professor of Ki Ikkyo Sankkyo shown, as it has palm on 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, leaving the mat, a Sunday morning, the challenge of "test of truth," he replied that he had arranged to go to her daughter's friends home for lunch on Sunday and was too late. I saw 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 though! "I said," This is going to be faster than you can imagine. "

Eric Dollimore left the room to change after removing the hakama, is mounted on the carpet as the rest of Dan grades have stopped to look at what is happening now. Eric and I squared each other that decided to finish soon for him with quick punch to the head as he hit me, and I went for pennies up high and I threw the wall of the office which was about dojo 2mt off the mat, I just hit the wall I went straight through it, I looked up in the middle of all the dust and debris sat Sensei Ken Williams at his desk, he looked at me and growled "Ellis! use the fucking door next time." As if that was not humiliating enough? Morning next Sunday, when all the Dan grades were in power and, later, everyone in the pub, I was repairing damaged walls Dojo office on my own.
Bewildered
I think the biggest "capital" never received when he had a young guy, well join us, who had lost a leg in an accident motorcycle, which had an artificial leg made of wood in those days were made of wood and strong, someone threw hard and high and there was a cry, hitting another student in the head with his wooden leg, I honestly thought he was dead, 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 beaten over the head with a wooden leg, he replied: "Damn!" It felt more like a tree "Then the guy with the wooden leg that had the carpet all the space she loved all over the world to stay away from him.

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The Real Thing
In some cases fall into two groups and headed for the nearby forest, a group will be led by Sensei K Williams and the other by his brother David. A group shuts down and waits on the lookout for the second group, jump down the branches and shrubs and some hard fighting took place. After all this, we proceed to a nearby bar and counting some of the other songs on a pint of beer, it seems pretty crazy now, but to be honest I loved it. In those days, we have trained very hard physically and Sunday is a great way to relax tomorrow.
Derek Eastman Sensei recalls his first visit with a friend for Dojo Hut in 1958, when he entered the dojo, it was not really aware of what judo and aikido went to see a man at the center of the carpet with a blind fold (Henry Ellis).
There were four guys to attack with shinai and bokken. Derek friend said: "Fill what I am" but Derek thinks he'd like to try, attempting lasted almost 50 years.

A serious problem
After one of these sessions and later in a pint of beer, said David Williams Sensei "Ellis, you think I can take is not it?" I replied, "No Sensei, I never think about it, "continued for some time. Finally he said:" Sensei, this question never crossed my mind, but it seems to bother you more than me "that made him furious, and he challenged me to go in the parking lot.
David Williams has been something of a vicious man, we were surrounded by other students and other drinkers. He has taught Aikido – karate and judo, I knew that a difficult challenge for me.
He has made several posts in search of an opening, so I was so relaxed as I could make small steps to avoid various attacks, I've always been a very positive person and this time made a positive attack punched in the head knocking him to the ground, I fell on him and immobilized unable to move, he asked: "Master, is it enough?" He answered "yes!" And I let go, as it is released, it hit me in the nose, rest, had a lot of blood later. He lost a lot of respect and then left the Hut Dojo.
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Derek Eastman Sensei

At the end of 1958 was a new student of 16 years, joined the section in which a native of Aikido and Aikido ukemi. Tome after a 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 cold winter sweep out the mat, there was no heating in the Hut Dojo, which was like a refrigerator large, the heat was one of three paraffin heaters in the locker room, all students who leave their IM suspended from the rafters. On the morning of Sunday Derek has been sweeping through a thick gelatin Mast night I offered to light three paraffin heaters, I do not know who first had to clean the wick.
Soon dojo was filled with thick black smoke, and thought the place was in flames. Derek quickly heating and when the smoke clears all fungi were suspended deck of black soot. Mr. Williams soon arrived and went crazy (which is worse than that) asked me who was to blame? I made a gesture in the direction of Derek, who Flack has taken all as a good assistant in case you still complains about it a day. All Dan grades hammer him and worse, demanding new gi. Life is difficult to be a magician (ukedeshi)

Ssshhh! Do not talk about hemorrhoids
When Derek Eastman Sensei became my assistant in 1959, allowed routines have very, very hot and exercise, it was a blow to the inside of the mat and touch every corner. Remember, Derek is just sixteen years and during one of these Holiday sessions a student break Derek Derek box over and whispers, "I can not do the strokes as they are very painful" Derek asks aloud: " Why painful? "The student whispers to Derek" I have bad batteries (hemorrhoids), so Derek apologized, and then changed the year. To the next day he takes the exercises again and said: "Align holiday break and ready for everyone with batteries (piles) Just Stand aside" all were in the bunny hop position, including the student who had asked yesterday to be excused, Derek called and said, "Why not take a step back when he apologized person with batteries? .
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Derek adult student looked incredulous and said: "Derek, no one will admit they have batteries! "It's Derek went on to explain that the batteries in question, which Derek had never heard before.

Merry Christmas Harada Sensei
"It was Christmas 1963 and Noro Sensei was visiting the Hut Dojo. Noro Sensei said the pretty girls often had me in the dojo before leaving the city. We have discussed with Noro Sensei celebrate our Christmas party. Noro Snsei Ellis said, "Sir, you have many friends, good woman, good woman is required Harada sense for the game" tomorrow night, said: "Sensei it is too late to organize something like" Noro said: "He must give his friend."
I quickly called telephoned my friend and asked if she could bring another friend, said that everyone had already made plans, I said that if she did not bring a friend, so it was better stay at home, which was of course very angry, phoned later to say he had found someone. On the night of the party was in the room with all grades and sense Noro Dan, who immediately asked, "Where is the Virgin Harada" I asked my friend who had just come to me: "Where is your friend Harada? Then she became a woman sitting on the other side of the room leaning on his elbows on his knees as if he 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 over Tutankamoun. I could not believe my eyes when I looked Noro Sensei, who seemed shocked as she was, Noro said: "Mr. Ellis, Harada see if this woman, who died on the spot and I'll join us. In anger, I turned and asked my girlfriend "When you do that?" she said in desperation she called the office cleaning lady who said that he 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 and sit with her, which ruined his Christmas. Then he Harada Sensei told Derek really liked and had a fetish for ugly women, were more ugly than this.

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Tadashi Abe Sensei
I think it was in 1959 that Tadashi Abe came the sense of France also has taught and participated in an event with Kenshiro Abbe Sense, who had a fearsome reputation, which we soon learned, well deserved. Abe Sensei was formed during the war as a pilot suicide of a man in a one man submarine. Chiba Sensei Tadashi Abe Sensei said that it has never recovered since the war ended before he had the chance to die for their country and emperor. Tadashi Abe Sensei Aikikai last visit in 1967 where he demanded the attention of all those present, who took his degree when he apologized to all the ladies present and said: "This is not Aikido, Aikido is reserved for the ladies" Then threw his diplomas on the carpet and left, but never came back. Sensei Abe carrying a knife with him and must not be sought because he was always problems when threatened, produced the knife and offered it to his opponent by saying "please for you." He said a man with only his fists was a real challenge, a man with a knife that was good for the mind.

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

Mint was the first seminar of Aikido and now became much experience with most having small seminars Dan grades where required. Aikido owes much to its rapid progress in support of judo clubs Teachers allows us to use part of their tatami to teach a small class. I should add that although the judoka is very useful in helping the promotion of Aikido, it could also be one of the most difficult to teach, test our skills at every opportunity. If it had not been so strong and positive, would not have time for us.

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Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and The British Judo Council

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei was very happy with their situation in the OJA. He said some of Judoka dan grades did not meet. On the carpet, lined up 31 Judoka once high, down the line to tell to all who would use the technology to launch each He then told everyone to know if the technique is a technique for left hand or right, he did exactly that, and beat just as Dan 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 (ALC) and "British Kendo Council (BKC).
Kenshiro Abbe sense living in large family house in Acton London Otani. I want to go to either collect or take somewhere Sensei part. When I went in his room, still have the window open all year round.
There would be various types of wild birds on the window and the room were so familiar, while walking in which he ignored me, if Abbe Sensei left the room, immediately all fly.

Father visited the sense one day and my looked surprised and disappointed the World Series of total cricket "on television. I do not like cricket, I was disappointed to see my master clock, a stupid game. He was very quiet so I left "Sensei, do you like cricket?
He quickly replied: "NO! Stupid game" I was surprised Today while watching television with attention, I stepped back and asked "Sensei, why then watch the cricket?" He said something deep that he had never thought of before, as he said "They call this the World Series, not the world, only the countries that colonized British game of cricket, playing stupid said: "I hope stupid game every day and I will never understand stupid game, then TV and never mentioned again …

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The BJC with different organizations organized the Summer School National Sports Centre Grange Farm Chigwell, Essex. These summer schools are a set of links to all different martial arts to be together during the training week, we had students attend from all over the UK. This meeting of all teachers has been very good Aikido as for people who had never seen or heard before were now Aikido Aikido see and understand, they were invited now to turn to visit all the instructors in the United Kingdom. These summer schools gave students the opportunity to try Judo – Kendo – Karate – Aikido. Students make friends with students from other disciplines like me, friends who even today.
I attended the first summer school, there were only three students of the Aikido Dojo Hut Eric Dollimore, Henry Foster and Ellis Haydyn (Me). Aikido has been virtually ignored during the first week of priority, all martial arts have been in the area rug. Aikido instructor was not 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 spreads quickly Aikido calm and summer schools have been following very different with the 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 giving or appointment to any technology unless it is fully implemented, do the opposite would be considered a lack of respect for Nakazono Sensei. Sensei had a real bad time to teach and had to use his power to lead, which he did, but with damage This would inevitably entail. Sensei does not understand why we were so strong and resilient when, after all, he was there to help later Abbe Sensei explained why it is understood that we were now and Sensei, he explained the thorough study of Aikido and have learned a lot from him this way. Nakazono Sensei Dan had all grades in the table for 10 hours a day. In those days the pubs in England closed at 10 hours and 30 Sensei was on the table up to 22 hours. Ken Williams who was the national coach told me one evening exhausting "Ellis, my assistant who is up to you to ask permission Nakazono Sensei to leave the carpet at 9 am-30 for we can get one of the last two pints of beer, Sensei reluctantly went to a non-drinker.
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I asked if he could finish a little before going to the pub, I was so angry with me said: "I travel many miles to teach Aikido and some all you want to do is go to the pub … … I felt like if it had been broken with a bokken between the eyes, I took the answer as an absolute NO !!………………….. ………….

Tomiki Aikido

Him this time we have heard a new group of Aikido in London.
Tomiki Aikido was introduced in the UK by Senta Yamada Sensei in the 1960s. Yamada Sensei 6th Dan Judo Judo was highly respected, was also friends with Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. We learned that this new Aikido School opened its doors in north London. It was decided that K Williams and her eight Dan grades and make a visit.
Our visit was unannounced and we have not received an overwhelming response. Sensei Williams politely asked if she could training with them, the coach said emphatically "NO", Sensei Williams asked "WHY?" The instructor said he could not Tomiki training and hakama wore as they did, Sensei Williams replied that we had no problem training without our hakama's. We were then informed that we were a different organization, said that organizations were in role and Aikido is Aikido. There was no way this teacher is going to have in its class. If he had assaulted Abbe Sensei carpet was very upset. We saw the class for a few minutes and we could see why they do not want us to join them. We went to a pub near the road, we were somewhat surprised later to see the Tomiki group entering the bar, the students came and talked and 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, a technique called Nikkyo called, tried applying the technique on me, nothing! (Hanmi gyaku Katata Tori) I've done on him and shouted as he went down, I had no intention of harming thought that was stronger than that, he said that my technique was incredible and I had more to his teacher who was in a conversation with Sensei Williams. The first one asked his kyu (insisted) that your teacher trying Nykkyo me, his teacher tried to apply the technique, nothing!, the professor told his students that was the arm stone and applies the spirit stone broke my arm. I asked him to break his arm, tried and spirit of the stone was not different to what is state of mind before. to try to break the arm of my friends make a pint of beer at the bar next to me, picked up the pint and purpose of a sudden, something he had never done before or since. You could say that was a sign of arrogance and I guess you're right, it was just the way it was in the early days.

The attack on flexible rubber knife
The following year, I made a presentation 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 a real knife and when the other group makes its screen that used a soft rubber knife.

As the uke attacked with hard rubber knife, I began to count the times he had been stabbed with a knife in soft rubber, possibly Tori disarmed his ukulele and took the knife from him the puck. He then declared the winner. When Tori left the carpet, I asked "What was that?"
He said the aim was to disarm his attacker had told me "You can not disarm a man who stabbed eight times just because you're dead" ..

Has Hakama Travel

Sensei Ken Williams suggested that Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman take a year to work and travel in the UK to spread word of Aikido to a wider audience. Sensei Williams asked, "Where shall we go?" I looked like I was stupid and replied "When there is a course in Aikido" … It was a challenge and after discussion it was agreed to. In 1963 I had a little Austin Mini car and went without a plan or a sense of real direction. We had in our hands the sum of £ 20 Gran common. Times were hard in real time. We headed north and entered a large circle Britain for a period of 12 months. We knew that some judo dojo to call the other clubs who just stopped and introduced ourselves. Some of us want to welcome and some were not really interested. Nobody has been able to pay for education.

If lucky we would get a bed and a meal with a teacher or a student. Quickly we ran out of money and would work for a few days to earn some money to get ahead. As we came to a city or town that tries to flirt with the girls in the place where we often take us back home to eat, and if we were lucky a night sleeping on the couch, we also talk to the girls who like girls mothers liked to hear the accent of London, who became very good at it and became an asset, are times of despair and often slept in the car was a very unpleasant experience in the cold north of England. We adopted different tasks as "builders – Painters – Photographers in a coastline – Wizards a funeral director, where picking up bodies from the morgue and take them to the chapel of rest. Then I took in the chapel of rest with the directors daughter was I, at rest, although it was full of life, and the contractor we had to put a coffin on the roof an old gallery to pose for a mini photo.
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His daughter in the chapel of rest and the elderly in the coffin was too much for the boss, that was the end of this work, we were on the road. We worked in factories North of the street sweepers – and bowler hats Colombia adds to the pleasure. There were many others as well. We also worked on an old railway, which was a horrible, we call the death "" The railroad, which did not stay there long.

In an area that we were introduced to the head of a university which allowed us to demonstrate our Aikido and there, Aikido is accepted into the training system in the United Kingdom. It was an incredible breakthrough for the promotion and future of Aikido.
In an area was not a student whose father had worked in the development of the M1 (first in Britain) Her father and his crew had found several large urns of Roman coins and gave me a handful of these pieces of brass that are deformed to one of the girls we met, I would say that the room had been in the family for hundreds of years and would like to have, it would often get a bed and food for a couple of nights.
Matsutaro Masahilo Nakazono Sensei

In early 1960 Kenshiro Abbe Sensei invited Nakazono Sensei to visit the UK Matsutaro. Sensei came to the now famous Hut Dojo with Sensei Peter Chassang. Nakazono Sensei made many visits to Spain, and to date is the teacher who fondly remembers with great respect by all ranks of the old clan time. I was in the Nakazono Sensei stage with the BJC National Championships 1963. This event was at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This case, I have always believed, did more to promote and develop martial arts in the UK than any other before or since. With so many big names to follow the Master Kenshiro – Abbe – Otani Matsutaro – Nakazono Matsutaro – Michigami M – M Harada – M Noro. The thrill and excitement of being part of this event and on the big stage at the Royal Albert Hall is with me today.

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

M Nakazono Sensei came to visit the Hut Dojo, where an unexpected visitor in 1965 / 6 (?) A formidable H Koybayashi looking Sensei, who had been sent by the K Ueshiba Doshu to visit and report to the Aikikai in the standard and progress of Aikido in Europe. He sat on the carpet and never spoke or smiled, gave each of Dan grades piercing view before moving along the line. Nakazono Sense sat, as if the viewing distance. As I have written, we knew that one way to attack an opponent and that was hard and always center, Kobayashi Sensei stood up and glared at grades and suddenly Dan did anyone in particular and gave him a bokken and then reported to attack the head "shomen" … .. The student did just that and cut the center and our shock and horror went straight to the head Kobayashi Sensei, he blinked when, like any other man would have collapsed, Nakazono immediately looked at me and to my surprise Sense, shock did not like us, I'm sure there was a faint smile, as he was proud of his students in the UK, I often wondered if Kobayashi Sensei had already warned our positive approach to Aikido. Kobayashi Sensei I would add no more mistakes after that.

In the first Nakazono Sensei Dojo visit barracks suddenly we were informed all the Dan grades had been classified by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei now re-classified to ensure they meet modern standards of the Aikikai.
We have experienced a significant re-grading, where a student has been declassified and add Shoden humiliation, Nakazono said "Necessary sell your gi while prices are high."
Sensei Nakazono said the eight Dan grades his level was very good and able to practice all in one foot equality with students in the Aikikai.
The Hut Dojo has been the core of all the UK Aikido. There were no other Dan grades outside the hut. Aikido is spreading across the United Kingdom, Dan grades were absent most weekends throughout the country teaching courses – seminars and demonstrations. Had certainly not a shortage of titles degrees Dan Dan, but the level of the cab drove the men from a certain size and a long time.

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Sensei Ken Williams decided would be a good idea to give honorary degrees throughout the United Kingdom. I did not like that idea at all, people were attracted by the strong Aikido dan grades Hut origin, what would they think if they saw people who were not of the standard "Act" as the grades given. I've always been faithful to Williams Sensei, but I could not accept that. I complained bitterly, my complaints were ignored, I was assured that these "new grades are" submit monthly reports on progress Hut, although Of course the first report came at the end of the month, the central idea of Williams Sensei on my face and said "! What I'm saying" looked at the report and, of course, which contained some details of people's progress and signed Billy Bloggs Shodan, Sensei handed me the report and asked Williams: "Where is the honor signing this document, "that does not sit well with everyone.
I think this was the beginning of the breakdown of this great camaraderie that existed in the cabin for years.

Chiba Kazuo Sensei arrived in 1966 in the UK.
Kenshiro Abbe was returned to Japan for the Olympics, while there was a visit to Osensei see, he had not discussed the planned visit with Sensei Williams or someone else, then we can imagine it was a surprise when he arrived in Chiba Sensei Hut Dojo. Now is a severe test of loyalty not only shed Dan grades had to make serious decisions. A few months later I joined Chiba sense. Haydn Foster Sensei decided to stay in the cabin and when Williams later moved the meaning of Wales, took over the old Hut dojo, some notes were so disappointed that Dan totally aikido abandoned.
Derek Eastman Sensei went away for a year to work on oil rigs in the North Sea, when he returned he started his own dojo, later, he asked if he could start the Ellis Aikido school 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 were to appear on television and radio BBC World, seminars and demonstrations.

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I decided in 1971 due to pressure of work and family to take a step back from the busy schedule of courses in Chiba Sensei. I'm still in contact with Kazuo Chiba Shihan I personally invited to the celebration of its 40th year in the UK in London in October 2006.

Dan Ellis Henry fifth
Co-author of Positive Aikido
Traditional schools of Aikido Ellis
www.british-aikido.com

Henry Ellis a direct student of sense legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe, 1957. Ellis began judo in 1956 in the now-famous "But Dojo" where he became one of the first students of Aikido in the UK and is now a pioneer of British Aikido. Ellis is a writer passionate about the true history of Aikido in the UK and a constant thorn in the side of those who seek to corrupt the proud history of the lineage and the legacy left us by the teachers at the beginning 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