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

 Click here ->  British Aikido History Site  

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 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.

Read the recently resurfaced Mutsuro Nakazono letter from 1966. This letter was received by Ken Williams Sensei at a time of great upheaval in British Traditional Aikido, and the break up of the `British Aikido Council` BAC . This was just months before the arrival of TK Chiba Sensei. 

"British Aikido History" the Book.

 British Aikido History  -  From 1955 - Cardback £6-64p

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

Click Book Image for Amazon. - Book price £6 - 64p.

This book acknowledges the many British Aikidoka and Japanese Budoka that Ellis and Eastman met along their  journey to promote the little known martial art of Aikido. from a time when the Hut Dojo was the only Aikido dojo in the UK - There is now an Aikido dojo in almost every town and city.

Click image to enlarge or click image in R/H column to go straight to the Amazon book page for [Look Inside] a free preview. The book " British Aikido History " this is the story of the last of the original pioneers still involved in the promotion of the true history for future generations. There are many old photos from the 1950s/60s. There are 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 will remember 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.

KENSHIRO ABBE SENSEI  1915 - 1985 - The Forgotten Budoka 

Amazon page Click Image

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.

 New Books Available on Amazon.

Click Image

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.

Important new book by Amazon. Cardback £8-90p.

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

 . 

 

                   Excellent researched and documented video.

``The Founding of JuJutsu Judo Aikido in the UK``.

"Its discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty, and how few by deceit" ~ Noel Coward 

Martial Arts Books by Abdul Rashid & Henry Ellis - Derek Eastman

Click on Image to Enlarge

The books authors respectfully acknowledge the many `genuine` Budoka involved in the UK origins of Aikido and other inclusive  Martial Arts.

L to R: `British Aikido Board Controversy` - `Kenshiro Abbe Bio` - The Founding of JuJutsu - Judo - Aikido in the UK` - `Positive Aikido` - ` My Interviews with Henry Ellis ` - `British Aikido History`

The six books above are all factually honest books, documenting and protecting the legacy of UK Traditional Martial Arts from its UK origins. All the books are available on. Link> " Amazon Books ".

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

The website for " Book Authority " have named the 100 most important Aikido Books of all time, I am pleased to see " Positive Aikido " at number 25. 

 The British Aikido Board Controversy

The British Aikido Controversy is an incredibly factual documented

story of intrigue and fraudulent claims to mislead the BAB  membership and the public. The BAB went to extraordinary lengths to change the known and accepted history of British Aikido. 

Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman who are both survivors of the pioneering group from the 1950s with Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and Ken Williams Sensei from the once famed " Hut Dojo".

Ellis and Eastman also went to extraordinary lengths to protect our proud history for students of today and long in to the future.

Cover photo Ms Shirley Timms BAB secretary.

Henry Ellis

 

Click  " Is Aikido a Martial Art ? "

This book consists of a interview I conducted with Henry Ellis, a pioneer of Aikido in the UK since the 1950s. With over sixty years  of experience in Aikido he shares his views on the above topic, warm-ups with Karate style kicks and punches, daily runs,full contact training, read about what he went through under the direction of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and Ken Williams Sensei at the famous "Hut Dojo". You will have a different perception of Aikido after reading this book.

Author: Abdul Rashid. 

2022 Release - Amazon - £7-99p.

Cover photo Henry Ellis and son Rik.

h

100 Best Aikido Books of All Time - BookAuthority

https://bookauthority.org › Sports › Martial Arts

The 100 best aikido books, such as Aikido, Wind Songs, Ki Aikido on Maui, ... Book Cover of Dave Rogers, Henry Ellis, Derek Eastman - Positive Aikido: ...

 Rating: 4.2 · ‎100 votes

`Positive Aikido ` voted number 25 by the Book Authority.

 

The Kenshiro Abbe Era ~ Book Collection.

Visit ``Books on Martial Arts ``

Henry Ellis - Derek Eastman are now sadly amongst the last of a very small  group of

surviving direct pioneer students of the legendary Budo Master Kenshiro Abbe.[1915 -1985]

Anecdotes, stories, historic events are vividly brought to life from the incredible 1950s/60s.

With the encouragement of Martial Arts researcher - author - Abdul Rashid - Ellis and Eastman  were inspired to put their personal `documented true factual history recorded in to book form to memorialize  all those involved in the early days, never to be lost or forgotten. 

The books credit many other Judoka and Aikidoka that were involved from the Abbe Era, honourable people who played a role in the early days when Aikido was a Martial Art, there were so many others that are remembered who  later helped to promote and protect the legacy of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. 

The following titles are available from Amazon Martial Arts Books

" The Founding of Ju-Jutsu - Judo -Aikido in the UK " ------  " British Aikido History "

" Kenshiro Abbe the Forgotten Budoka" ----  " Positive Aikido ".    

CLICK - Tribute Slide-Show to TK Chiba Sensei - 1940 - 2015


POSITIVE AIKIDO the BOOK

Left: Front and Back Cover.

The book ` Positive Aikido ` - began life as a dojo information booklet a project by Dave Rogers Sensei of N M - USA,
Rogers Sensei a news media editor and 3rd dan USA representative of the ` Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido `. Rogers Sensei began collecting all the background knowledge - history and lineage of both Henry Ellis Shihan and Derek Eastman Shihan, who were both direct students of the legendary Budo Master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from the 1950s and the birth of UK Aikido with K Williams Sensei at the famous `Hut Dojo`.  Over a period of 15 years Rogers Sensei had collected so much information he asked Ellis and Eastman Sensei's for permission to turn all those pages in to a book - and ` Positive Aikido ` was born.

Ellis and Eastman's diploma's are signed by Aikido legends - Morihei Ueshiba - Moriteru Ueshiba - Kenshiro Abbe - Mutsuro Nakazono - Masamichi Noro - TK Chiba.

The book is a down to earth approach to Aikido as a Traditional Martial Art.
Take note of the  warning in the books introduction pages, advising student to keep their money in their purse if they are looking for fantasy Aikido, or floating around the universe. or other such bizarre modern Aikido Kidology this book is not for you.

Ellis and Eastman studied with many Aikido legends, such as Kenshiro Abbe - Tadashi Abe - M Nakazono - J Nakazono - M Noro - H Tada - N Tamura - T Ishimura - H Kobayashi - T Otani - M Harada - TK Chiba.

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei taught Aikido as Budo and so did Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman.
The book is available on Amazon UK £10-95 - Amazon US $ 15-45.

See below for the collection of books from 1905 and books by Minoru Mochizuki from 1956 - books by Tadashi Abe Sensei - ` My Past Way of Budo ` by Masahilo Nakazono Sensei, including his books on Kototama and Inochi.

AIKIDO BOOKS ~ AIKIDO BOOKS ~ BUDO ~ AIKIDO BOOKS ~ AIKIDO BOOKS

Scroll down for books by Minoru Mochizuki Sensei - Tadashi Abe Sensei - Masahilo Nakazono Sensei - Ju-Jitsu Combat 

Aikido Books

Aikido - 1955 - 2015 - 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 - 2015.

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

Visit - Don Bayney Japanese Swords

POSITIVE AIKIDO  the Book

This site displays many very old Aikido books owned by Henry Ellis - Books given to him by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and Masahilo Nakazono Sensei - Tadashi Abe Sensei.

Welcome to the Blog of the book ` Positive Aikido `

Available on Amazon

Please scroll down for a preview of the book and the authors.

Henry Ellis Shihan also shares his collection of rare Aikido Books.

Henry Ellis Shihan - Direct student of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei

British Aikido Pioneer.

Henry Ellis & Derek Eastman 6th dan AikiKai Hombu..Diplomas signed by Osensei Ueshiba - Kenshiro Abbe - Mikoto Nakazono - TK Chiba Shihan - Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba.. 

Visit the ` British Aikido History ` - Blog

Visit the ` Ellis Aikido ` - YouTube Video Channel 

  Positive Aikido the Book 

                                             Scroll Down for Rare Aikido Books 

Minoru Mochizuki - Masahilo Nakazono - Tadashi Abe

                                                                

                                                                   `Positive Aikido`

                                                      A True Traditional Aikido Story.

                                                       Traditional Techniques - History -     Lineage - Anecdotes covering 55 years of Traditional Aikido.

                                         Authors - Dave Rogers USA - Henry Ellis Shihan UK -               Derek Eastman Shihan UK - Rik Ellis UK - Anita Wilson UK.

Available from Amazon UK - Amazon USA - Budo Videos.

Techniques - History - Lineage - Anecdotes covering 55 years of Traditional Aikido.
Order a signed copy direct from Henry Ellis Sensei - Email - ellisaikido at hotmail dot com

Henry Ellis & Derek Eastman 6th dan AikiKai-diplomas signed by: Osensei Ueshiba (349) - Kenshiro Abbe - Masahilo Nakazono - TK Chiba - The Doshu Moriterue Ueshiba.

Positive Aikido Book - Front and back covers.
About the Authors:
Henry Ellis & Derek Eastman 6th dan AikiKai Hombu..Diplomas signed by Osensei Ueshiba - Kenshiro Abbe - Mikoto Nakazono - TK Chiba Shihan - Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba.. They are the last two pioneers of Kenshiro Abbe from the inception of British Aikido 1955..To purchase the book `Positive Aikido`. Order direct - please contact Dave Rogers Sensei (USA) the books main author. Please email Dave Rogers Email For price and postage.
Book also available on Amazon UK £10-95 free p&p & Amazon USA. $18.
Order a signed copy direct from Henry Ellis Sensei - Email - Henry Ellis Email

Read the in-depth review below of the book "POSITIVE AIKIDO"

Visit the "Aikido Articles Blog"->Aikido Articles



H Ellis 6th dan Int BiranKai-AikiKai Hombu ~ D Eastman 6th dan Int BiranKai -AikiKai Hombu. Diplomas signed by O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba cert number 349 ~ K Abbe ~ M Nakazono ~ M Noro ~ TK Chiba ~ Doshu M Ueshiba.

The logo of the "Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido". ``Grace ~ Power ~ Tradition ``

\The authors of ` Positive Aikido ` From L to R: Dave Rogers - Henry Ellis - Derek Eastman

Positive Aikido the Book ~ written by Dave Rogers of Albuquerque New Mexico USA in co-operation with his UK teachers Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman who are two of the last three British Aikido pioneers from the inception of Aikido to the UK by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955. Ellis and Eastman were both direct students of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.More about the Authors.

Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman are two of the last three pioneers of British Aikido from the 1950s. They were direct students of the legendary Budo Master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. They were the first teachers of Aikido to introduce Aikido to the UK Further Education System in 1963. They have studied with many great names of Aikido, such as, Kenshiro Abbe ~Tadashi Abe ~ Masahilo Nakazono ~ M Noro ~ TK Chiba.
They studied at the famous Hut Dojo, the birthplace of Aikido in the UK. Dave Rogers a USAF service man, began his Aikido at the ESTA dojo in Basingstoke UK in 1985. Rogers Sensei is the USA ESTA rep in the USA. He is a retired service veteran ~ News paper editor ~ reporter.

Scroll down for a few Amazon book reviews ~ Visit Amazon for more


POSITIVE AIKIDO

OUT NOW!

Now available from

Amazon. uk  - £10 - 95 incl free delivery

Amazon.com -  $18 - 95

BudoVideos.comBudoVideos.com

Published by

Trafford Publishing Limited

To Order this book from any other country including the USA and Canada: Trafford Publishing order desk
2333 Government Street, Suite 6E, Victoria, BC
Canada V8T 4P4
toll-free 1-888-232-4444, fax 250-383-6804
Email orders@trafford.com

This book, an in-depth look at Ellis Schools of Tradtional Aikido's special brand of technique, strategy, philosophy as well as unique history, has taken about 15 years to compile, is now offered in print by the world's leading publisher of martial arts material.

Trafford Holdings Ltd; is a privately-held corporation, registered in British Columbia, Canada. There are over 120 shareholders, including many authors and all the permanent employees. It was incorporated in 1991. In late 1995, Trafford opened it's doors and website. They are the first company in the world to offer an "on-demand publishing service," and they are the best.


< Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. - 1915 - 1985.

The production of Positive Aikido has gone through numerous stages. The hand-drawings describing each of the positive techniques in traditional Aikido were begun in 1987 with the intention of providing new students with a reference guide - at the time to be photocopied for students in the USA and later possibly for the UK students as well. That plan however, never took hold as more and more drawings were produced. The drawings of the first four groupings were finished in 1991 and in 1993, the second four groupings were added, along with some transcripts from a recorded conversation between Sensei Ellis and Rogers on a long road trip between Dallas, Texas and Alamogordo, New Mexico. Rogers made his 1st Dan during that trip, and Positive Aikido picked up a lot of its histories and background information. Still, it was no more than a bunch of papers cobbled together from various sources.


< Tadashi Abe Sensei. - 1926 - 1984.

In 1999 however, with the advent of digital photography, Sensei Rogers decided to augment the drawings with some digital photos and possibly put together a proper booklet for students in all the Ellis Schools. The photos however, required some supporting text - and there was a lot of other material which needed to be conveyed as well. The transcripts were re-written and cleaned up and the photos were digitally processed for the first four forms. During another visit to New Mexico, Sensei and his assistant Anita Wilson along with Sensei's son performed the demonstrations needed for the last four forms. Later, the first four forms were re-shot with Sensei Rogers and one of his first USA students, Jeff Glaze of New Mexico. By this time, Positive Aikido was being developed as a book.


< Masahilo Nakazono Sensei - 1918 - 1994

The agent and publishers we first contacted agreed, but the material was still fairly rough. More photos were shot and extensive digital work was done on them to clarify technique. Additional sections were added to describe combat strategy and the philosophy behind "Positive Aikido". Sections on ethics and morals within the arts were developed along with material dealing with the selection of a martial art for beginners, and of course, the history section was strengthened and sharpened.


Masamich Noro Sensei 1935 - 2013

Lastly, a complete re-organisation of the material was accomplished with an addition of a section on pins and control and weapons (jo and sword). The finished work is comprised of more than 1000 photos, 600 hand-drawings and complex explanations and tips to make the techniques of Aikido work properly. It includes detailed writing on the "Positive" mindset as well as complete sections geared to beginners, intermediate students and advanced practitioners.

Although several traditional publishers expressed interest in printing the book, and initial negotiations were entered into with one California-based company, the advent of "print-on-demand" technology and the resulting new publishing market, made for a better alternative.


< TK Chiba Shihan.

Of this book as it stands now, the authors say this - "There are a lot of books on Martial Arts out there, and this one fits into the crowd well - but it also stands alone in the sheer comprehensiveness of the work. It is a nearly complete representation of a single school's technique - it is a historical marker - a book of strategy - an ethical guide - a technical manual - and it is a chart, graph and manifest of all the things which make martial artists as a whole stand together as sisters and brothers with the same warrior spirit."


< Henry Ellis 1960

This letter of recommendation is from William (Bill) Woods Sensei. Sensei Woods was in the 1950's and 60's Aide and personal secretary to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. At that time Sensei Woods was considered the most influential and powerful figure in British Martial Arts. In 1955 he was the British Judo Champion. He was the first person to be graded by Abbe Sensei to 1st dan in Kendo, holding certificate No 1, he was a key figure in the creation of the British Judo Council ( BJC ) and the International Budo Council ( IBC ). There are too many credits to the name of Sensei Woods to be listed here. I am very proud to have known Sensei Woods for almost 50 years. signed: Henry Ellis.

The new book is published by Trafford Publishing and available from all good book shops and on line with Amazon, priced around $18.95 or £10.00. 156 pages : ISBN number 1-4120-4668-8.

There are price differences between Amazon UK and Amazon USA..Due to international economics Trafford have closed their UK office. It is our intention to also make the book available in the near future direct from the authors. date will be advised ASAP.

Henry Ellis Aikido - Life and Times - Click here > Ellis Aikido


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Visit My Aikido & Judo Video Site ~ Click -> Henry Ellis Aikido & Judo Videos A growing collection of early and modern Aikido and Judo videos..H Ellis - D Eastman - H Foster - K Chiba - M Nakazono - K Abbe - T Abe.

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British Aikido Origins from 1955 - Narration & Movie Slide-Show by Henry Ellis ~ Arrival of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955 to the UK ~ Development of British Budo.



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Aikido - Then and Now - 1955 - 2014

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 all 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, not like today, often given as a Christmas present by your own students, or ordered online from the inept British Aikido Boards website for a modest fee.

Students never handed out titles to their own teachers, such as Shihan - Grandmaster - Soke - Hanshi - Doctor - Professor and any others you can think of.  - Just imagine being at school and the kids 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 in my school days.





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 attack with uke being overly compliant and acrobatic. 

If you attack 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, sadly, many students show as much resistance as an unattached piece of string.

Importantly, it was a time when students did not grade their own teachers as so many do today.
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.  

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 a 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 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 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 like ordering a doctorate online.

Aikido training In those early days by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and with alittle encouragement of a Shinai, the traing was very physical, building fitness, fighting spirit, and physical and mental strength, after the warm up, there was always a 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 of push-ups on the back of the wrists. 

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.

In later years we would see the creation of the so-called governing body for Aikido, the ` British Aikido Board` [BAB] - a body that started with good heart and honest intentions, only to become a 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.

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, the established organisations such as the JAC and the BAA, which are creditable organisations who are all associated with 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/   

My book Collection ( New & Updating soon with Photos )

Jiu~Jitsu Combat Tricks published 1905.

1992 - Henry Ellis visited his teacher Mikoto `Masahilo` Nakazono Sensei at his home in Sante Fe New Mexico USA.Nakazono Sensei kindly gave Henry Ellis signed copies of several books he had written.


Henry Ellis is proud to own the following books which were personal gifts from Mikoto Nakazono Sensei. " Inochi " by Mikoto Nakazono Sensei. - "Kototama" by Mikoto Nakazono Sensei - "Kototama"(yellow book) by Mikoto Nakazono Sensei "The Source of the Present Civilization" by Mikoto Nakazono Sensei - "Kototama Principals" by Mikoto Nakazono Sensei "The Real Sense of Natural Therapy" by Mikoto Nakazono Sensei - "Kototama" (red book) by Mikoto Nakazono Sensei.


















 "Aikido" (green book) Tadashi Abe Sensei - Books one and two have identical green hard back covers 1950s."L'Aikido" by Tadashi Abe 1950s. Two paper back books given to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei by Tadashi Abe Sensei. Kenshiro Abbe Sensei later gave these two books to Henry Ellis.






The green books are also by Tadashi Abe 1955. Books one and two.

"Yoseikan - My Methode D' Aikido Jiu-Jitsu" - Minoru Mochizuki 10th dan.

(blue book 1950s)"Manuel Complet de Aikido" 1956 - Minoru Mochizuki.
















Masahilo Nakazono Sensei was one of the most revered teachers of Aikido ever to visit Britain.

Blue book: Kototama Principal by Masahilo
Nakazono Sensei.

Book right: My Past Way of Budo. by Masahilo Nakazono.