Welcome to the home of the " Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido "

Please visit our new Facebook page at  " Henry Ellis Aikido ".

Both Derek Eastman and Henry Ellis are the last two of the original 1950s pioneering students of Traditional Aikido Training in Aikido,  as it was introduced and taught by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from 1955 - Yes ! - there was/is  kicking and punching in Abbe's style of true Traditional Aikido .

 Many of the early Aikido dan grades worked as doormen on London night clubs. anyone practicing ``Wokiodo ` couldn't do any of that. The Hut Dojo`wasn't called the Hell Dojo for nothing. 

Both Ellis and Eastman have spent much of their final years working to preserve the legacy left in our care by the legendary Kenshiro Abbe. 

There are some devious people in the world of Aikido,  ones that have attempted to change our proud documented lineage, it is with the aid of the internet - Teaching - writing books - articles - YT videos - we have been able to spread the truth for the future generations to follow.

Henry Ellis is the only UK student to have his dan grade diploma's signed by ` Kenshiro Abbe Sensei -` Morihei Ueshiba (1st &  2nd dan  - Moriteru Ueshiba ( shihan ) - Mutsuru Nakazono - Kazuo Chiba.

 

NEW BOOK by AMAZON - CLICK TITLE to VISIT AMAZON

 The Long and Winding Road of a Budoka ,  - Amazon £5-99p

Henry Ellis the last survivor of the original first group of five Aikido pioneering students and dan grades of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from the 1950s. 

Ellis Sensei tells many stories starting from the origins of the legendary Hut Dojo. Memories from his 70 years of travelling and spreading the word of Aikido and Budo.

The stories bring to life many of the people from those incredible times, the stories vary from serious to the hilarious .

  Ellis Sensei has spent his final years documenting in several           Amazon books the history of British Aikido, Including The life of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - 

Henry Ellis a student of K Williams - K Abbe - T Abe - M Nakazono - M Noro - K Chiba - N Tamura - M Harada - T Otani.

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  BELOW; The first comment on the new book " The Long and Winding Road of a Budoka,"

Jason White

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read

    Reviewed in the United States on 10 February 2024

    Verified Purchase

This is a short, easy to read book. It's interesting reading about Henry Ellis & his path through budo. I was originally just going to put it on a shelf with the rest of my collection but I decided to read the first page & couldn't put it down. I wasn't expecting it to keep my attention the way it did but I'm glad I ordered i

 Click  for Video  >Rik Ellis  -  AIKIDO - MMA     

British UK1 MMA  Light Heavyweight Champion title holder   2012

Rik Ellis ~ Aikido Shodan - Demonstrating.

Uke / Training Partner 

Nick ``Head-Hunter`` Chapman . UCMMA Champion

 The Mutsuro Nakazono Letter 1966

The Amazon books ` Kenshiro Abbe Sensei ` - `British Aikido History` - The Founding of Jujitsu - Judo - Aikido in the UK` The books are written by Henry Ellis - Derek Eastman two of the last of the surviving direct students of Kenshiro Abbe from the 1950s. - Co-author Abdul Rashid. 

If you have difficulty viewing the attached letter ? please scroll down to the bottom of this page for a typed copy.

The long lost Nakazono Letter from1966 `.

1955 - Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - introduced - demonstrated - and taught Aikido in the UK with permission to do so directly from Osensei Ueshiba. 

Once Aikido was established,  Abbe Sensei requested a Japanese teacher from the AikiKai to take control of UK Aikido. 

The `British Judo Council ` BJC - with some 38,000 members was growing, demanding Abbe Sensei's full and undivided attention. 

Osensei instructed Mutsuro Nakazono Sensei who was resident in Paris France to make frequent teaching visits to the UK.

Nakazono gave up his UK commitment upon the arrival of TK Chiba Sensei in 1966. 

Abbe Sensei had now asked Osensei to send a full time AikiKai representative, TK Chiba was the chosen one.

 

1966 -This letter has only recently re-surfaced, It reveals a time of significant upheaval concerning the future and the then present state of British Traditional Aikido at that time.

It was only ten years earlier that Kenshiro Abbe Sensei introduced Aikido to the UK public at the London Judo Society [ L J S ] National Judo Championships at the Royal Albert Hall in 1955.  

[KW] Ken Williams Sensei a highly respected L J S Judoka was so impressed by Abbe Sensei’s Aikido demonstration he became Abbe Sensei's first student, he would later become the `British Aikido Council `BAC National Coach`

KW was now teaching both Judo and Aikido at the `Hut Dojo` . This was the only dojo in the UK teaching Aikido from1955,.

It was in 1957 that I ( Henry `Harry`Ellis) moved on from Judo to Aikido, when I later received my 3^rd Kyu -  KW asked me to be his assistant, I eagerly agreed, I held that position for ten years.

The Hut had a strong Judo section, where as the Aikido started with just a handful of students, this would change to where eventually Aikido had full classes every night and Sundays.

As Aikido progressed at the Hut Dojo - We, the first dan grades, were now demonstrating and teaching Aikido  around the country, initially at Judo events associated with the British Judo Council [ B J C ] The only dan grades at that time for Aikido were all based at the Hut Dojo.

Aikido students such as Ralph Reynolds from Birmingham and William Coyle from Glasgow and Gwynne Jones from Wales and others would travel on weekends to train at the Hut Dojo. There were no motorways then and journeys were long and tiring. their commitment had to be admired.

By the date of the above letter 1966 - Aikido had spread rapidly all over the UK, up until this point in time the Aikido being taught was Abbe Sensei’s ``Traditional Style of Aikido `` very strong and powerful  and highly respected as a ``martial art `` .

Sadly,  many students around the country were finding the physical training hard to follow in the Traditional style, clubs started to breakaway forming their own small organisations teaching `their `aikido`.

 It wasn't long before the shameless began to grade themselves to various dan grade levels in what Bill Woods Sensei described as `` Aikido Yoga`. [Bill Woods personal assistant to Abbe Sensei - LJS Judo Champion 1953. ]

I recall many years ago talking at a BAB meeting to a guy who had never been officially graded to any dan grade in Aikido, he had graded himself to 7^th dan, he asked me what grade I was ?, I replied 3^rd dan ( Abbe – Nakazono – Chiba approved - my 1st &2nd dan counter signed by Osensei Ueshiba ) . the guy said “ Harry ( Henry) you should be 6^th dan by now, I can grade you to 6^th dan here and now as I am 7^th dan ", the shameless really have no shame at all, this guy was recognised / approved 7^th dan by the British Aikido Board, the home for so many of the self graded.. I should add, I declined his generous offer. I only had to wait 30 years to be promoted to 6th dan by TK Chiba and Moriteru Ueshiba,

If you are interested in the factual history of British Traditional Aikido as documented by a direct student of  Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and Ken Williams Sensei from 1955. Please visit the British Aikido History site, take a look at the Amazon book " British Aikido History "  a great book with many photos of past and present teachers both British and Japanese. ) 

1966 - At the time of receiving the letter from Nakazono Sensei, It was now too late to follow the advice of Nakazono Sensei, the British Aikido Council had all but broken up,  

Ken Williams moved to live and open a dojo in South Wales,  Haydn Foster remained at the Hut Dojo . Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman left the Hut and opened the first of the `Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido.

1992 - I was teaching Aikido in Alamogodo  New Mexico USA. I took this opportunity to visit Nakazono Sensei at his home in Sante-Fe, we spent a lot of time together, he asked about the state of Aikido in the UK, Sensei was openly shocked as I told of all the groups and self grading, It was sad to see the sadness in his eyes. Nakazono Sensei passed away in 1994.

Nakazono Letter 1966

Paris Feb 1966

M Nakazono

Representative from World Aikido 

Mr Williams and all members of the British Aikido Cultural Council 

We are getting a very bad situation now in British Aikido.

There is some kind of business minds trying to control for our Aikido, but I believe that you all the members of British Aikido can keep real Budo Spirit in your hearts.

Im here I will suggest to you that now our Aikido should be independent completely from `British Budo Council `  and for that purpose Ill ask to all of you to make more harmony together. I hope that you can now start new organisation of Aikido in England as soon as possible, and after Abbe Sensei comes back to London, you can go back to him all together, and you need not ask me anything to do for that. It is not really my wish to do such a matters, but now I must ask you to do it, because this is the only way which I can keep (page 2 )  my friendship and promises with Abbe Sensei, all the reason and situation you should know it well so I need not write it in here. Only thing I want to ask you in here again is that you should not lose your real Budo spirit and keep the right way.

All of you follow to Mr Williams and not to any other persons, and as you all know I am in constant contact with our headquarters Aiki Kai, so I will be responsible to them.

This is my final decision in answering to you.

Your Sincerely

M Nakazono 

 New Books Available on Amazon. In card-back £6-85p.

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Founding of JuJutsu-Judo-Aikido in the United Kingdom`

 

There are many books on Martial Arts - it is our intention to offer a selection of only the best researched books available.- Abdul Rashid the martial arts researcher has worked tirelessly to research the very origins of the evolution of martial arts in Britain from the 18th century prior to the arrival of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955 and the everlasting influence left by Abbe Sensei [1915 - 1985 ].

There are sadly now just a very small group of  direct students surviving to this day. Abdul Rashid has been fortunate to have the opportunity to work with two genuine pioneers from the incredible Kenshiro Abbe Era, Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman were students of Judo in the 1950s and shortly after they became a part of the very first group of Aikido dan grades in the UK.

There are two books available a black and white copy for £6-95p or the enhanced coloured copy at £29-00.

" British Aikido History " the Book.

British Aikido History  -  From 1955

"It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty, and how few by deceit "                                              Noel Coward

Click on the book icon to visit Amazon . Book price £6 - 64p.

Credits

This book documents the progress of ` Traditional Aikido ` from its introduction to the UK at the Royal Albert Hall in 1955 by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, also recognised are the many teachers that followed on from that incredible era - Tadashi Abe - Mutsuro Nakazono - Masamichi Noro - TK Chiba - Matsutaro Otani - Tomio Otani - Ken Wlliams - Haydn Foster - Gwynne Jones - William Coyle - Ralph Reynolds, and so many others who should never be forgotten.

Click Book Image to visit the Amazon Books page.

Click image to enlarge or click image in R/H column to go straight to the Amazon book page for [Look Inside] which offers a free preview. 

This is the only book detailing and documenting the true history of British Aikido from its inception in 1955, this fascinating book is co-authored by direct students of  Kenshiro Abbe and Ken Williams Sensei.  

The book " British Aikido History -This book acknowledges and credits the many British Aikidoka and Japanese Budoka that Ellis and Eastman met along their  journey to promote the then little known martial art of Aikido.

 

From a time when the Hut Dojo was the only Aikido dojo in the UK - incredibly there is now an Aikido dojo in almost every  village town and city in the UK.

This is the story told by two of the last of the original pioneers still involved in the protection - preservation and  promotion of the true history for future generations. There are many old photos from the 1950s/60s. There are many acknowledgments to those that have helped to protect and preserve our origins from the era of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from 1955.

The book is 311 pages of stories - interviews -anecdotes - history - and much more - Please visit the free preview to see what this book has to offer. Over the years I have been asked many times `what was it like to study directly under Kenshiro Abbe Sensei?`, this book will give the reader a taste of that era, a time when Aikido was a martial art and the people who trained were martial artists in the truest sense of the term. Sadly, so many of the Japanese and British early pioneers of Aikido are no longer with us, we remember them as we pay our respects to them, may they rest in peace. 

The book was published by Amazon on the 7th of March 2021 - Cost B/W £6-35p or colour version £27-00.

 New Amazon Book now Available.  In card-back £12-95p.

KENSHIRO ABBE SENSEI  1915 - 1985 - The Forgotten Budok

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Published by Amazon 20th - May - 2021
Compiled by the Martial Arts researcher Abdul Rashid.

This new book is a thoroughly researched and detailed, documented  history, including a personal interview with Henry Ellis one of the last surviving direct students of Abbe Sensei from the 1950s.

A new book published by Amazon Books -.  This book is  an in-depth look at the life and times of this legendry man of Budo, from his childhood to his time as a captain and Brigade Commander in the Imperial Japanese Army during WW2 - his time at the Busen - Butokukwai - His competition successes in front of the Japanese Emperor, his defeat of the great Judoka Kimura also his time in the UK and Europe. This will complete our `library` of British Martial Arts history as associated to the influence of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 8th dan Judo - 6th dan Kendo - 6th dan Aikido - 6th dan Ju-Kendo. 

The following Amazon Book  titles may be of interest to the student and teachers who value the true origins of British Martial Arts.  " The Founding of Ju-Jitsu - Judo - Aikido in the United Kingdom "  --- " British Aikido History " --- " Kenshiro Abbe Sensei the Forgotten Budoka " --- " Positive Aikido "  by Dave Rogers ---  " The Life - Giving Sword " the life of K Chiba by Leise Klein.

SCROLL DOWN

for 

 " British Aikido History "

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 Important new book released by Amazon. 

Click for free Amazon page view.

The British Budo Controversy

Past history is an important part of present day life, much of todays lessons of life are learned from the lessons of past events of history.

 In the past, and the life we lead today, the facts of history can be lost in time as the people that were an indelible part of any historic events become fewer and fewer, such is the case of the British Budo Controversies .

With the demise of the central figures to our budo history, such as Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - Tadashi Abe Sensei - Mutsutaro Otani Sensei - Mutsuro Nakazono, Kazuo Chiba Sensei . We must not forget the many English Budoka that were a part of the early development of British Budo, there are too many to mention here, I must add two of my greatest friends the late Bill Woods Sensei RIP -  Gerry Gyngell Sensei RIP. they both worked in the BJC London office with Abbe Sensei, they were a great source for information of those wonderful early days. 

As these legendary figures have now passed into history, there are the unscrupulous and shameless characters that will write their own versions of their associations and ``friendships `` with the past Budo masters, their imagination would be more fitting in a sequel of `Harry Potter`. 

This book documents two of the most shameless attempts to corrupt our proud heritage and lineage, it also sadly exposes individuals and organisations that to this day offer their full support of many more fraudulent claims . All fraudulent grades and titles are never questioned.

Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman are two of the last few survivors of the Kenshiro Abbe era from the 1950s, with the support of their co-author Abdul Rashid they intend to leave a documented history  in all their books of an amazing and historic time of which they were proud to be direct students of Kenshiro Abbe and so many other legendary Budoka  from that early era.

Quote;  " If you tell the truth - You don't need to remember anything." - Mark Twain.

Henry Ellis

The British Aikido History Site - 1955 - 2021

Excellent researched and documented video

The founding of Jujutsu - Judo - Aikido in the UK

CLICK Here  - Rare Photos Tribute Slide-Show to TK Chiba Sensei - 1940 - 2015

The British Aikido History Site 1955 - 2022

A true story of  Traditional `Positive Aikido`.

Left: My teacher Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 1915 - 1985. 
Abbe Sensei  introduced Aikido to the UK in 1955, Abbe Sensei taught Traditional Aikido = Positive Aikido = Effective Aikido. 
This is a True story:  
It was late evening as Abbe Sensei left the Sandwich Street,  Kings Cross dojo, alone,  he was  just ahead of us ( his students )  Kings Cross was a rough area of London, suddenly, several young thugs approached Sensei, the leader demanded  " hand over your wallet ! " -  without a word, Sensei removed his wallet from his inner coat pocket,  he then deliberately casually dropped the wallet between his feet, the thug shouted  " Oi, kick it over here " - Abbe Sensei didn't move,  as he calmly surveyed the thugs and quietly said  " I am prepared to die for my wallet, are you ! ? " - the thugs looked at each other as if in a mutual understanding that this wasn't just any old guy, just as thugs and cowards do, they retreated, stepping back and calling out some defiant abusive profanities as they went away empty handed.
How different to much of  what modern Aikido has become:  [" Aikido is love, You want my wallet ?  give me a cuddle and you can have it ". ]  
 

Henry Ellis co-author of  `Positive Aikido`

" It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty, and how few by deceit   " - Noel Coward

Tanto presentation to Henry Ellis at the ` Masahilo Nakazono Memorial Event ` 2007

To celebrate Henry Ellis Shihans 50th year of teaching and promoting Traditional Aikido ( now 60 years )

Scroll Down for ` British Aikido Historic Milestones`

Admin: Henry Ellis Aikikai Shihan and Derek Eastman Aikikai Shihan, 

Direct students of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and Ken Williams Sensei from the 1950s / 60s, 

Whilst we intend to offer our visitors a rare look back to the early days of UK Aikido 
 Its origins - legacy - factual history. It is worthwhile noting that there is also a great deal of BS out there  - whilst there are many instances of such BS - the mother of all of them is the notorious " British Aikido Board Collusion with Mr Jack Poole " this disgraceful episode is factually and fully documented below in the 

Click - " Martial Arts Encyclopedia Archives "   [ accessed over  125,000 times ]

" If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything " - Mark Twain

Shihonage - Henry Ellis & Dave Warne

Unique Achievements in Early Days of UK Aikido

Henry Ellis - personal assistant to TK Chiba Sensei 1967 to 1972 organised the Bracknell 1968 Summer School - Teachers  H Tada Sensei - N Tamura Sensei - T Ichamura Sensei - TK Chiba Sensei.

1 - Henry Ellis Shihan is the only Aikido student in the UK to have two diplomas signed by Osensei Morhiei Ueshiba and his Shihan promotion signed by Osensei Ueshiba's grandson Moritereu Ueshiba

  Additional grades by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - Masahilo Nakazono Sensei.- TK Chiba Shihan.

2 - H Ellis assistant to Ken Williams Sensei (1957 - 1967 )
 Taking part in the `` 1st UK Aikido seminar 1959 `` at the Devises Judo Club organised by the late respected Graham Burt Sensei.

3 - H Ellis took part in the very first ``UK TV`` promotion of Aikido in Cardiff `circa 1960 ` by Harlech TV.

4 - H Ellis, the first Aikido teacher to introduce Aikido to the UK Further Education System 1960 -

5 - H Ellis has promoted Aikido with TK Chiba Shihan on ``BBC World Radio and Granada TV`` - 1969.

6 - H Ellis took part in the great Budo demonstration at the ``1963 BJC National Championships at `The Royal Albert Hall`` London `` with Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

7 - H Ellis assistant to M Nakazono Sensei at the `` BBC `Lyme Grove Bath's Studios `. - and the famous ` York Hall`. London.

8 - H Ellis also promoted Aikido on New Mexico USA state radio and took part in a play ` A Book of Five Rings ` at the ` The New Mexico State Theater ` as the villain Sasaki Kojuro " presented by Dave Rogers Sensei.

Henry Ellis is also the co-author of the acclaimed book " Positive Aikido ".

Photos - Left: 1958 - Ken Williams Sensei with assistant Henry Ellis at the " Hut Dojo"

Site Admin - Henry Ellis  6th dan AikiKai Shihan & Derek Eastman 6th dan AikiKai Shihan.

Grade diploma's  signed by - OSensei M Ueshiba (2) - Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - Mutsuro Nakazono Sensei - Masamichi Noro Sensei - TK Chiba Sensei - Doshu M Ueshiba.

Aikido - 1955 - 2022 - For those that studied with Sensei's  Kenshiro Abbe - Tadashi Abe - Masahilo Nakazono - TK Chiba Sensei in those early days will remember their Aikido being true Budo, something that very few will ever see or feel again .

 Read " Aikido Then and Now - 1955 - 2022.

Aikido Dancing   -  Aikido Ribbon Dance  -  Nodding Aikido  - Fantasy Aikido - 

Visit -> Don Bayney Japanese Swords

1955  -  BRITISH  AIKIDO  HISTORY  - 2022

"  No matter your pretense, you are what you are, and nothing more " - Kenshiro Abbe Sensei

Visit -  Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.  1915 - 1985

Article: " Trying to Catch the Wind " - Kenshiro Abbe Sensei

1955 - Early British Traditional Aikido - a time when the only dancing in Aikido was after Kenshiro Abbe Sensei rapped a students ankles with a shinai,  flying uke drones were an unknown specie.  `Noddy Aikido` throwing with a nod of the head was unheard of -  Self grading was totally unacceptable and unknown, It would have brought shame on the sad shameless recipient and their dojo.  Aikido dancing with ribbons would have been considered a mockery, who would ever have thought that some modern UK teachers would elevate their grades  with the approval of the BAB above our legendary Japanese teachers, Kenshiro Abbe - M Nakazono - M Noro - TK Chiba. R.I.P.

Article - The Arrival of TK Chiba to the UK 1966
"There we were Two Handsome Young Men "

In Memory of a Great Teacher - TK Chiba Shihan 1940 - 2015

It is with great sadness that I report the peaceful passing of TK Chiba Shihan at his home in San Dieago USA, on the 5th - June - 2015

Visit the Kazuo Chiba Sensei Memorial Site -> "Kazuo Chiba Sensei"

It was in 1964 when Kenshiro Abbe Sensei returned to Japan for the ` Japan Olympics `
Abbe Sensei visited O'sensei M Ueshiba at the AikiKai, - Abbe Sensei asked O'sensei to send to the UK the first full time AikiKai representative.

Two years later in 1966, TK Chiba Sensei arrived in the UK, his arrival would cause a massive upheaval in British Aikido.

Henry Ellis had studied Judo and Aikido at the once famous Hut Dojo from 1957.

In 1967 Henry Ellis left the Hut Dojo to become assistant to TK Chiba Sensei - 1967 to 1972.
This piece of UK Aikido history is detailed in the right hand column with a link to ` Aikiweb `
Columns page seven - click -" There we were - Two Handsome Young 

Above Left: 1968 - Henry Ellis with TK Chiba Shihan.
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Site Admin - Henry Ellis  6th dan AikiKai Shihan & Derek Eastman 6th dan AikiKai Shihan.

Grades signed by - OSensei M Ueshiba - Kenshiro Abbe - Mutsuro Nakazono - Masamichi Noro - TK Chiba - Doshu M Ueshiba.

Co- authors with Dave Rogers Sensei of the book ` Positive Aikido `

If you are looking for dancing Aikido with perhaps a touch of the Tango, or maybe some flamboyant multicoloured  ribbon dancing - or some fantasy Ki Aikido ? then keep your money in your purse, this no nonsense book `Positive Aikido` is not for you.

BRITISH  AIKIDO  HISTORY

The ` Hut Dojo ` 1957

Front centre: K Abbe Sensei - left of Abbe Sensei is Haydn Foster junior - right of Sensei K William - Back row - second from right Henry Ellis - Back row second from left 14 yr old Robin Otani - fourth from left Haydn Foster Senior - Robin Otani is now the President of the `British Judo Council` ( BJC ) founded by his father Mutsutaro Otani 7th dan and Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

Scroll down for " Aikido Then and Now "

1955 - 2016

" You have to know the past, to understand the present " - Carl Sagan

Photo Below: 

Click - Ken Williams Sensei 


A senior Judoka with Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from 1955.

Williams Sensei became the first UK student of Aikido, chosen by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. 
Later, Abbe Sensei promoted Williams Sensei to National Coach of the `British Aikido Council`. [BAC] 
Sensei Williams was based at the once famous  `Abbe School of Budo`  [Hut Dojo] he was the first dan grade from the inception of Aikido to the UK, - Henry Ellis was the personal assistant to Williams sensei from 1957 to 1967.

Right: Mutsuro `Masahilo` Nakazono Sensei 1963 

Nakazono Sensei - first official teacher invited to the UK by K Abbe Sensei with the approval of OSensei Ueshiba - 1960.  



 Photo Left: Nakazono Sensei with Uke Henry Ellis at Grange Farm Summer Budo Course 1963 with Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - Back row standing in white top - Ken Williams Sensei - Right of photo in black Lenny Ballard (L)  Eric Dollimore (R)


When Nakazono Sensei arrived in the UK there were only 8 dan grades for Aikido in the UK, they were all based at the ` Hut Dojo `.

The 8 dan grades were proud to have been graded by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, 
It came as a shock when Abbe Sensei informed all the dan grades they were all to be regraded by Nakazono Sensei, this  to make sure they all met with the then AikiKai standards - we all passed. Now we had our shodan and ni dan diploma's signed twice by two great teachers.

Nakazono Sensei stated   " you could all visit the AikiKai and train equally with anyone there of similar grade."

Jiro Nakazono Sensei told Henry Ellis, when he was a schoolboy in France age 13/14, he would wait excitedly for his father to return from his visits to Britain and tell the stories of the tough Aikidoka of Britain. who his father described as " The British are the toughest Budoka in all Europe ".
Right: M Nakazono Sensei with Henry Ellis at Sensei's home in Sante Fe New Mexico USA   1992.

.
Sensei Williams initially selected a small hard core group of seven dedicated hard training students, these students survive the rigorous training to one day be graded to dan grade by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and later re-graded by Masahilo Nakazono Sensei  at the request of Abbe Sensei.

These were the first and only Aikido dan grades in the whole of the UK.
D Williams - E Dollimore - H Foster - H Ellis - L Ballard - P Dowden - D Eastman - J Caldwell.
Williams Sensei and the team of eight were the true pioneers of British Aikido.

K Williams Sensei is now the president of the `Ki Federation GB `.

Left:  The `Hut Dojo ` circa 1957.

Letter dated 19th May 2000 from the Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba to Henry Ellis Shihan.

Extract:- 

"Aikidoists who were awarded dan grades by the founder are becoming fewer year by year. I believe that a person like you is very precious. It is my earnest hope that you will take very good care of yourself and contribute to the development of Aikido long for the future.  
Doshu M Ueshiba.
Photo: Doshu - H Ellis [ Co-author of the book ` Positive Aikido `]

`You may know one thousand techniques on the mat - do you have the fighting spirit to apply just one in the street ` ? - Henry Ellis

Below: Letter dated 3rd November 2008 from TK Chiba Shihan to Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman Shihan

Extract: -  

"The reason for this invitation is in recognition of and respect for your sincere devotion, commitment and persistence in the cause of British Aikido for over half a century, to begin as pioneers and being the first black belt students in Great Britain recognized by Hombu.  Most importantly to preserve the lasting friendship between ourselves." 

Right; TK Chiba Shihan - Henry Ellis - Summer School 1967.


Names on Board - A = Aikido - J = Judo.
D Eastman (A) - HD Foster jnr (J) - R Twitchen (J) - D Williams (A) - K Williams (A) -E Dollimore (A) - P Garbutt (J) - H Foster snr  (A) -  H Ellis (A) - P Dowden (A) - L.Ballard (A) - H McFarlane (A) - J Caldwell (A) - T Jones (A) - R Brandon (j) - R Reynolds (A) - A Allan (A) C Farr (J).

The original `Hut Dojo ` Dan Grading board  ( dart board ) from 1955 with names of both Judo and Aikido dan grades - all the original dan grades are there. Students name tags would hang on a hook on the colour of their grade - when they reached dan grade they would be sign written on the top of the board.

 If your name, or the name of your teacher is not on this historic lineage board - then, you were never there. 
There are so many these days making claims they, or their teacher, trained at the `Hut Dojo` ( in the early days ) sadly, most of them are full of compacted bull shit. 

There is a big difference between having trained at the Hut Dojo as a part of the original small pioneering group and being an occasional or one off visitor. - Standing in a garage doesn't make you a car.

 It is accepted someone visited the Hut Dojo occasionally and cleaned the outside windows on a rare weekend, maybe that was their teacher contribution ? 

Below:  K Williams Sensei with K Abbe Sensei.

The ` Hut Dojo ` 
Initially a Judo Dojo - When Ken Williams Sensei joined with Kenshiro Abbe Sensei he renamed the dojo ` The Abbe School of Budo ` even though to this day the dojo was and still is affectionately known as the " Hut Dojo " .

When Sensei Williams left the Hut Dojo in 1967 he left it in the capable hands of Haydn Foster Sensei - I honestly feel that when our old friend Haydn left us, so did the character and atmosphere of the original Hut Dojo.

I first started Judo at the Hut Dojo - in 1957 I joined the Aikido section with Haydn Foster who had joined some 2 or 3 months earlier.


Above:  Original grading book from the 1950s.  




  Henry Ellis - Haydn Foster - Derek Eastman.->

`` Mr Foster  ``
To this day, many students and teachers refer to Haydn Foster Sensei as ``Mr Foster `` without understanding why ?
At the Hut Dojo in the 1950s Although Mr Foster was not senior to us in grade, he was  approx 10 years older than Derek Eastman and Henry Ellis, as teens in those early days young people were taught to respect their elders, so, we, Ellis and Eastman simply and fondly called Hayden ` Mr Foster `, other students followed, and so it carries on, even to this day.


Henry Ellis - Harada Sensei - Derek Eastman


We were all guests at TK Chiba's 40th UK celebration dinner 2006.

Harada Sensei was teaching in Brazil where he was a bodyguard to the Japanese Emperor during a visit to that country. Harada Sensei was invited to the UK by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1963 - Henry Ellis gave up some mat space on his evening class at the Hut Dojo to Harada Sensei, as there were no students to begin with, Ellis and Eastman were the first students of Harada - in turn they taught him some Aikido which can be seen today in his `Shotokai ` karate movements and style. - Harada Sensei later took an outstanding young student named Ken Waight as his first ever UK assistant.

The `Hut Dojo ` Hillingdon London.

In the 1950s / 60s the Hut was a place of pilgrimage for many students of Aikido and other martial arts from across the UK and Europe, it had a powerful atmosphere that many visitors claimed you could grab by the handful as you entered, I looked on the Hut in those early days as my second home. With the sad passing in 2011 of Haydn Foster Sensei, - for me now the Hut no longer has that special feeling, it was gone forever, on our last visit to the Hut Dojo after we met with TK Chiba Shihan.  Derek Eastman and I jointly declared that this would be our last ever visit to the Hut Dojo. it held nothing more in our hearts, although the old Hut is no more, our memories are alive and strong. - The original building has been refurbished and bears little resemblance to the original dojo, sadly you can't refurbish the atmosphere or bring back those very special people that created the once famous `Hut Dojo` from its origins as an old Scouts Hall.

BJC - Grange Farm Summer Schools 1959 – 1966 - Judo - Aikido - Karate - Kendo.

Left: 1961 - Nakazono Sensei with uke Henry Ellis.- Grange Farm.

Right: Tada Sensei with uke Henry Ellis.

Grange Farm.
One of the great events of those early days was the summer courses held at Grange Farm Sports Centre – Chigwell – Essex. - Kenshiro Abbe Sensei would invite many great Budoka to attend ^th dan – Shoji Hamano 9^th dan – Haku Michigami 7^th dan – Mitsusuke Harada 5^th dan -  Mutsuro Nakazono 7^th dan – Masamichi Noro 6^th dan – TK Chiba 6^th dan - Tomio Otani Kendo National Coach.
– Mutsutaro Otani 7th dan Judo.

____________________________________________________________________________

                                                                            Visit - Don Bayney Japanese Swords

Aikido ~ Then and Now ~ 1955 ~ 2016

ikido Dancing   -  Aikido Ribbon Dance  -  Nodding Aikido  - Fantasy Aikido - 

Henry Ellis - I am often asked the following question.

 " What is the difference between the Aikido of the 1950s and the Aikido of today ?"

1950s - This was a time when kyu and dan grades were highly respected, simply because everyone knew that even the lowest grade had been honestly earned through blood sweat and tears, unlike today, when often grades are given as a Christmas present by your fellow  students, grading certificates can be ordered online from the inept British Aikido Boards website for a modest fee, thus the now common claim " British Aikido Board Approved " Unfortunately for  those that know no difference, this claim would appear to add the appearance of some form of credibility and legitimacy,  yet, for those that know the truth, they know it is nothing but crusty unadulterated BS .

In those early days students never handed out titles to their own teachers, such as Shihan - Grand master - Soke - Hanshi - Doctor - Professor, or any other grand title  you can think of..
Just imagine being back at school and the kids collectively informing the teacher that the class had jointly awarded him/her a PhD,  now that would be worth six strokes of the cane on both hands and time in a small cupboard for their stupidity in my war time school days.

My teacher - The legendary humble Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 8th dan - only ever used the title of `Sensei ` - yet, since his death in 1985,  I often see him referred to as Shihan - Professor  - and even Doctor - Abbe Sensei is now referred to as 10th dan - why ?  

One Aikido teacher claimed in a newspaper article posted on the internet 

" Sensei Blogsworth  was so surprised and proud when his senior students promoted him to 7th dan - he is now one of the highest graded professional  Aikido teachers in the world ".

As I type this, I am thinking to myself  that by now his students will have probably graded him to 8th dan.  Its enough to make an old man cry.

1960 - Photo Left: Kenshiro Abbe teaching - Henry Ellis centre.

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei taught that uke should always attack on balance - today it is more often a ukemi flying attack with uke being overly compliant and acrobatic and the attack is a combination of 50% attack and 50% ukemi  ( break falling ) which contributes the mockery of Aikido.

Abbe Sensei's teaching - If  one attacks on balance, then the techniques have to be good to control the attacker - the nod of the head, and no touch throws would then be comical and ridiculed, sadly, many students show as much resistance as an unattached piece of string.

Importantly, 

It was also a time when there was no Aikido with ribbons, if anyone had been daft enough to come into the dojo with a bundle of coloured ribbons ?  they would have been found hanging by them from the Hut Dojo roof beams or directed to the nearest ` Morris Dancing ` club.
There was never ever Aikido to music in the dojo, I will admit there was often a hum from sweaty feet.

It was a time when Aikido was a respected martial art, respected by all the other m/a.

If Abbe Sensei thought his teaching wasn't getting through - no words were spoken - Sensei would `tap` the offending body part with the light crack of a Shiinai - this was a very successful method of teaching, it gained immediate attention, it would be a reminder, and an indicator to the student what their problem was, no one ever complained - The Ki people would be in tears today.

It was a time when students would train hard, and the techniques would be strong and effective, everyone attacks a little different, therefore you cannot plan what your defense would be, the attacker makes your defense ( or not ) It was a time when people trained hard to understand the techniques - if, as so many do today, trying to scientifically analyze Aikido with engineering and physics, Aikido is natural feeling and movement, not for some,  for example, if a student asked Kenshiro Abbe or Mutsuro Nakazono anything of a technical nature, they were told to practice with an ` empty mind ` only a clear mind will adsorb the  knowledge.

Left: The 4th dan certificate presented to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei by Emperor Hirohito of Japan in the 1930s.

1955

This was a time when Kenshiro Abbe sensei was the only 8th dan in the UK .

We now live in a different age, a crazy age, where 7th and 8th dans and now 9th dans are like post-boxes, with at least one in almost every town and village in the UK,  thanks to the inept - " BAB   -  you can grade yourself, or ask your students to grade you - and simply add ``British Aikido Board Approved ``. It is as creditable as ordering a doctorate online.

Aikido training In those early days with Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and a little encouragement of a Shinai, the training  was very physical, building fitness, fighting spirit, and physical and mental strength and a positive attitude towards your training and daily life, 

I was an dan grade in Aikido before many of of the so-called modern Aikidoka were born - yet, they state  " There is no kicking or punching in Aikido " - they should say ` there is no kicking and punching in their tree hugging Aikido `.
With Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, after the warm up session, there was always a 30 min session of kicking and punching techniques, this was followed with push-ups, depending on grade, with between 20 for beginners and two hundred for dan grades, the push-ups were on the back of the wrists with fingers pointing inwards followed by fingers pointing  outwards.

It was also a time when all Aikido came under the respected `British Aikido Council` [BAC] overseen by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and Ken Williams Sensei the BAC national coach.

In later years we would see the creation of the so-called governing body for Aikido, the ` British Aikido Board` [BAB] 
This was a group that started with good heart and honest intentions, only to become  an overly bureaucratic body that would recognize its own grandmother as an ` approved ` Hanshi or dan grade,  an organisation that would later offer online dan grades for money. an organisation that would support the corruption of the true proud history and lineage of British Aikido from 1955, a support that failed miserably, which brought the British Aikido Board in to disrepute  slow decline.

The BAB would knowingly recognize well known fraudulent practitioners grades, publicly promote the offenders profile to its membership and the genral public. 

The BAB allow the endless use and abuse of `` BAB Approved `` for the promotion of self appointed titles of Shihan - Hanshi - Grandmaster - Professor - Doctor - Soke .

The British Aikido Board has now become a home for the homeless Aikidoka, the established organisations such as the JAC and the BAA, which are creditable organisations who are all associated with their Japan HQ - these organisations have resigned from the BAB.

Aikido Dancing   -  Aikido Ribbon Dance  -  Nodding Aikido  - Fantasy Aikido - 

Times change, people change, and Aikido will change - but sadly it is not always for the better.

`The Aikido Controversy`

Admin - Henry Ellis

Co-author of Positive Aikido`

http://britishaikido.blogspot.com/   

Click - Tadashi Abe Sensei - 1926 - 1984.

" The Aikido I knew and learned with Osensei was Budo. Since my return to Japan, I realize that what we teach today has nothing to do with this martial art.
What remains of this art inherited from Samurai, which was formed by the founder for men. Today, it is a sport of women ! "  Tadashi Abe Sensei student of OSensei from 1942.

Aikido Dancing   -  Aikido Ribbon Dance  -  Nodding Aikido  - Fantasy Aikido - 

Times change, people change, and Aikido will change - but sadly it is not always for the better.

`The Aikido Controversy`

Admin - Henry Ellis

Co-author of Positive Aikido`

http://britishaikido.blogspot.com/