| Final Part Four: | | | | hate each other and did not communicate. |
| Relocating and Leaving the HUT. | | | | I did like one dojo though which was run by |
| Q: DW. | | | | Sensei C Van Parys who had assisted the most |
| Sensei, You told me earlier that this was around | | | | dynamic swordsman ever to teach Aikido, |
| the time you got married and moved away from | | | | Murashagi Sensei, who very sadly was later killed |
| the HUT and the locality. Could you expand on this | | | | in a car accident. |
| time. | | | | This dojo was very traditional with strong links to |
| A: SE. Yes, After I married I moved to | | | | Tadashi Abe Sensei who was still visiting the area. |
| Basingstoke in Hampshire. | | | | Q: DW. Sensei, You have mentioned so many |
| My work involved a lot of traveling as I was | | | | name of the aikidoists from the old days at the |
| working on the drilling rigs, drilling for Gas in the | | | | HUT, do you know of those that are still involved |
| English Channel just off the River Humber. | | | | in aikido? And are you still in contact with any of |
| I would also take the opportunity to visit local | | | | these people? |
| Aikido clubs and train whenever possible. | | | | A: SE. As of this date 2003, There are only a few |
| I later found work nearer home in 1969, I | | | | that are still involved and teaching Aikido and I am |
| renewed my contact and friendship with Trevor | | | | occasionally in touch with some of them. |
| Jones who had also married and now lived in | | | | Sensei Ken Williams founder of the HUT Judo dojo |
| Camberley Surrey only 10 miles from my home. | | | | and chief instructor, who was the first student to |
| He told me he had recently opened a new dojo | | | | study Aikido in the UK, and is now the head of |
| at the Hawley Hotel. He was now working as an | | | | the Ki Aikido Federation of Great Britain. |
| Airline steward and asked me to look after his | | | | Sensei Haydn Foster who is still at the HUT and |
| dojo and teach when he was on long haul flights, I | | | | head of the Institute of Aikido. |
| agreed. | | | | Sensei Henry Ellis who is head of the Ellis Schools |
| I found that Trevor's Aikido had definitely moved | | | | of Traditional Aikido. |
| up a gear, although the training and technique was | | | | Sensei Ralph Reynolds who was a regular visitor |
| still fairly traditional, he had by far the most | | | | to the HUT in the 50/60s, who is now the head |
| powerful aiki movement of any person I had | | | | of the Aikido Fellowship. |
| ever met including the Japanese. | | | | Sensei George Stavro who is associated with |
| The dojo later moved from the Hawley Hotel to | | | | several dojos and still linked to Chiba Sensei. |
| Brookwood, with two good students Mike | | | | Sensei Les White who is the head of The |
| Cashmore and Colin Relph as assistants , I also | | | | Traditional Aikido Ryu. Time takes it's toll on those |
| remember Wasil Kolenkisov training there as a | | | | we knew and respected. |
| beginner, he later joined Sensei Ken Williams as an | | | | The British Aikido Board and The Martial Arts |
| assistant. At The beginning of 1969 I opened " | | | | Commission. |
| The Basingstoke Aikido Club" I would still | | | | Q: DW. Sensei, When did you become involved |
| occasionally help Trevor who had now moved to | | | | with the British Aikido Board. |
| a purpose built dojo at the "Frimley Budokan". | | | | A: SE. I had spoken with Jim Elkin of the large |
| Unfortunately, Trevor Later had some health | | | | Tomiki group, who suggested that I join the |
| problems and the dojo was then run by my old | | | | Martial Arts Commission within a traditional aikido |
| friend Andy Allen from the HUT With the | | | | member group. |
| assistance of John Harding who still practices | | | | I agreed to this, but on contacting the head of |
| today and who we are still in contact with. With | | | | this group and submitting our credentials including |
| Trevor I re-visited many dojos including Sensei K | | | | copies of my dan grade certificates as signed by |
| Williams who had left the HUT and was now in | | | | O'Sensei himself; My first impression was that I |
| the Rhonnda Valley in Wales. I also visited the | | | | would be warmly received and I was informed |
| HUT which was now being run by Sensei Haydn | | | | that they would pay my dojo a visit, I happily |
| Foster who always made me very welcome. | | | | agreed to this, and said it would be a pleasure to |
| Aikido visits to Europe . | | | | have them visit and train with me, only to be told |
| Q: DW. Sensei, could you tell me about your visits | | | | they would not come on the tatami (mats) , they |
| to Europe at this time ? | | | | said they would assess my standard while sitting |
| A: SE. Sure, these were good day's. Trevor and I | | | | away from the mat. |
| would visit Noro Sensei at the Paris Aiki-Kai. Noro | | | | I refused the offer, I told him that I may meet |
| Sensei was really pleased to see us, and on my | | | | him one time on a mat but not as fellow |
| first visit he surprised me by awarding me 2nd | | | | practitioners. |
| dan which was unusual as I was not a regular | | | | I thanked Mr Elkin for his help and support , and |
| student, he never ever charged me for gradings | | | | said I would not be joining the traditional group. I |
| or lessons. | | | | liked Jim Elkin and always found him and his |
| Noro Sensei reminded me of the time I was at | | | | associate Brian Eustace of the Tomiki group very |
| the HUT on one of his visits, where he | | | | helpful during our membership of the Martial Arts |
| recommended to Sensei Williams that I should | | | | Commission (MAC). |
| only do backward ukemi (break falling) until his | | | | He also helped us to achieve full technical coaching |
| next visit in two weeks time, Sensei Williams said | | | | standard of the MAC. |
| he would punish me with a shinai if he caught me | | | | On later relaying this story to Minoru Kenetsuka |
| doing forward ukemi, however Noro did not visit | | | | Sensei when I visited him at the Cardiff Aiki-Kai. |
| in two weeks but 4 months later, I had by this | | | | He asked me for copies of my certificates with |
| time adapted to some amazing breakfalls from all | | | | O'Sensei's signature on them. I later found he had |
| angles except forward. | | | | used what I had told him and the certificates to |
| Noro asked Sensei Williams in astonishment, "why | | | | leave the British Aikido Board, at that time within |
| is Mr Eastman breakfalling in this odd way". | | | | the MAC, saying that they did not recognise |
| When informed it was as a result of his | | | | O'Sensei as the founder of Aikido. |
| instruction, he just roared with laughter. He then | | | | Sensei Ken Williams had also left the BAB/MAC |
| said this was very similar to an experience he had | | | | for similar reasons. |
| with Osensei and then said the experience would | | | | A few years later I was approached by a BAB |
| do me no harm anyway. | | | | member of the MAC, a Mr Ted Stratton, who I |
| Q: DW. Were you still in contact with Sensei Ellis | | | | fondly remember as the originator of 'elbow |
| at this time | | | | power' in Aikido which I still use. |
| A: SE. Yes, I had always kept in regular contact | | | | Sensei Stratton is sadly deceased and a most |
| with Harry Ellis, visiting his Bracknell dojos | | | | respected figure of Aikido. |
| whenever possible and his Slough dojo, we would | | | | I then corresponded with Paula Mitchell of the |
| also meet socially with our families. | | | | MAC and using the criteria required at that time |
| It was at this time that Harry's business was | | | | joined the MAC/BAB. |
| expanding and he could not maintain all of his | | | | One of the criteria was that we should have our |
| dojos. He gave his London dojos to Chiba Sensei, | | | | own organisation and title. I recalled that many |
| and his Slough dojo to George Stavro who later | | | | years earlier Sensei Williams had honoured his |
| was to give the mats to a student who had | | | | teacher by calling the HUT dojo " The Abbe |
| helped him, a man called Jack Poole. | | | | School of Judo" . |
| My own work was now taking me back to | | | | I decided to approach Sensei Ellis and asked for |
| Europe. When in Belgium I would visit Sensei Pierre | | | | his approval to use his name for the our |
| Nassens dojo. I would visit Leiage often where | | | | organisation, I am pleased to say that he agreed. |
| there were 6 different Aikido clubs, and in the | | | | We then called our organisation "The Ellis Schools |
| true spirit and harmony of Aikido they seemed to | | | | of Traditional Aikido". |