Posted on January 11, 2010.
Aikido UK - Top Aikido in the UK ~ The Beginning
By Henry Ellis
In 1951, at the age of 15 years I have just left school. I had already started a career at the age of 14 years as a time trial cycling race, before becoming a club first team rider. 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 Abbe School of Budo" the only reason I went was to encourage then my friends younger brother to join. I was immediately attracted to judo and I joined the same evening, the boy lasted about a month.
It was during the following year in 1957 I saw the new Aikido class was taught by Ken Williams Sensei, which I found next to the first Aikido student in the United Kingdom legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, who is now resident in the UK and teaching at the Dojo Hut.
The class was very low and the training and discipline was extreme. I was raised by a strict Victorian father so that discipline and hard regime does not discourage me, in fact, was probably the challenge which 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 in 1955 with the arrival of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in the United Kingdom. Up to 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 everyone wanting to start their own organization, which has 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 lineage and proud to meet their own purposes diverted.
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Which, to my profound disgust which also includes the full collusion of the "once" respected British Aikido Board (BAB). The disgrace BAB unfortunately governments have officially recognized the Board of Aikido in the United Kingdom.
BAB show no recognition or respect for the true history of Aikido in France. 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 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. The youngest ever 5th Dan Judo Japanese history, the youngest champion at the All Japan Judo at age 18, some 15 years later he would become the oldest All Japan Judo Champion at age 33. It was also ranked in several other martial arts. 6th Dan Aikido - Karate 6th Dan - 6th Dan Kendo - 6th Dan Ju-Kendo - 6th Dan Kyudo. It has also been achieved both Yari and Naginata spears. During the Second World War Abbe Sensei was an officer and responsible for developing and intstruction the imperial army of "Ju-kendo" the art of bayonet fighting.
Abbe Sensei introduced Aikido to Britain for the first time in 1955, first at the LJS and 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 19.
