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.
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 3rd 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 7th dan, he asked me what grade I was ?, I replied 3rd dan ( Abbe – Nakazono – Chiba approved - my 1st &2nd dan counter signed by Osensei Ueshiba ) . the guy said “ Harry ( Henry) you should be 6th dan by now, I can grade you to 6th dan here and now as I am 7th dan ", the shameless really have no shame at all, this guy was recognised / approved 7th 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
