| Henry Ellis co-author of Positive Aikido and a | | | | — Germany, Czechoslvakia. |
| direct student of the legendary Budo master | | | | The Teachers of the Day |
| Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from 1957 describes this | | | | As this day was to celebrate the arrival in the UK |
| tribute to a Martial Arts legend. | | | | of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955, and the |
| Henry Ellis, a direct student of the legendary Budo | | | | subsequent inception of Aikido. It was decided to |
| master Kenshiro Abbe Sense, from 1957 | | | | invite the five surviving direct students of Abbe |
| describes the great event at the Crystal Palace | | | | Sensei from the 1950’s/60’s |
| Sports Centre, London, to celebrate this great | | | | mentioned below. |
| teacher and his arrival to Great Britain in 1955 and | | | | I, Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman had already |
| the subsequent inception of Aikido. Tribute | | | | agreed, now I had to approach my old friends, |
| website to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei at . . . | | | | Sensei Ralph Reynolds and Sensei Hayden Foster, |
| The Bushido ZaZen International Society Annual | | | | who willingly offered their support. |
| Dinner | | | | Sensei Ken Williams, first student of Abbe Sensei, |
| In February 2004 Derek Eastman and I were | | | | was also approached. He had to decline due to |
| invited as guests at the annual dinner of The | | | | prior commitments. He did however provided a |
| Bushido Za Zen International Society by its | | | | letter of dedication to be read out at the event. I |
| Chairman Mr Arnold Davies Hanshi an old student | | | | then approached Sensei Bill Smith Shihan MBE, |
| of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and a close friend of my | | | | who sadly had to decline due to health issues. His |
| own good friend Bill Woods Sensei. These names | | | | son Phillip attended to represent his father and the |
| alone meant that this evening was to be | | | | AikiKai. Now we had a full Aikido teaching team. |
| something special with so much history and | | | | The event was officially under-way. We also |
| martial arts background between us. | | | | received a letter of tribute to the memory of |
| As we arrived we were met by Mr Clive | | | | Abbe Sensei from the Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba .. |
| MacDonald, a member of the Bushido ZaZen. Mr | | | | The Guests |
| MacDonald and Mr Davies had been instrumental in | | | | The guest list was a who’s who of the |
| putting together many of the facts to help with | | | | Martial-Arts world in the UK. There were 60 |
| the protection of the true history of British Aikido | | | | guests and, with respect, I am unable to mention |
| during the great British Aikido Board Controversy. | | | | them all but, the following will give some insight. |
| Memories of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei | | | | Mr F Motai of the Japanese Embassy — |
| Mr MacDonald immediately brought several pints | | | | Sensei Bill Woods Aide / Secretary to Kenshiro |
| of beer to our table and from then on the | | | | Abbe Sensei 1955 - Sensei Bill Stopps, Personal |
| conversation flowed along with the beer. As we | | | | Aide to Matsutaro Otani Sensei from 1947. - |
| spoke of our memories of the legendary master, | | | | Sensei Robin Otani, Pesident of the British Judo |
| Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, I said Do you realize | | | | Council. - Mr P, Don of Sport England. - Sensei N |
| that it is 50 years next year since Abbe Sensei | | | | Jones, my personal guest. - Ms Jenny Earle, World |
| arrived in Britain ! . We all discussed the | | | | Judo champion. |
| importance of this date, I then suggested that, as | | | | Mr Ken Cottier Shihan, a member of the Aiki-Kai |
| we all belonged to the Essex Aikido Forum ( EAF | | | | World Council. Mr Gigs Shouten, a special guest |
| ), which is a group of like minded people | | | | from Holland. Joe Curran Sensei who read a letter |
| interested only in Aikido without its politics, we | | | | of tribute to Abbe Sensei from Kazuo Chiba |
| agreed that we should organise a celebration of | | | | Shihan. |
| such an important date. Mr MacDonald called over | | | | The Budo Demonstrations |
| Mr Davies who, without a moments hesitation, | | | | During the mid day part of the event there was |
| gave the event his full support and financial | | | | a break for the students while the Budo |
| backing. | | | | demonstrations were carried out by some of the |
| The Organising Committee | | | | very best exponents of the various arts on |
| Before the evening was over we realised that | | | | display. This was a unique event where students |
| this event would be bigger than anything ever | | | | were now able to witness many of the Budo arts |
| previously organised by the EAF or any other | | | | that they had never seen before. |
| Aikido organisation for that matter. We decided | | | | Aikido -Judo — Karate — Iaido |
| there and then that we would need a working | | | | — Kyudo — Kendo — JuJutsu |
| committee if we were to put this very special | | | | — Ju Kendo |
| event together. Mr MacDonald approached two | | | | The Event and The Day |
| other senior EAF member, Mr Mike Leavy and Mr | | | | This was a very wonderful and special day for |
| Eric Gillett, who agreed to join our organising | | | | me after almost 50 years of practicing Aikido. On |
| committee. I then approached Mr David Humm | | | | the morning of the event as I entered the great |
| the administrator of the very popular website the | | | | hall at Crystal Palace Sports Centre to the |
| National Aikido Communication DataBase . | | | | electrifying sound of the Taiko Drummers and |
| Mr Humm had also been involved in our efforts to | | | | masses of students around the mat area plus |
| protect the history of British Aikido. He also | | | | many more queuing at the door to register. I |
| became a willing committee member. Mr Rob | | | | walked onto the concourse floor to see all the |
| Peck agreed to be the secretary We now had a | | | | various stalls set out. Mr Don Baney a specialist in |
| full committee of seven members who were now | | | | Japanese works of art had a fine display of |
| totally committed and dedicated to putting | | | | Samurai armour and swords, for more |
| together the greatest Aikido seminar ever in the | | | | information visit: The atmosphere was fantastic, |
| United Kingdom. I don’t believe that any | | | | an indication of the great day ahead. I met so |
| one of us on this night were able to grasp the | | | | many people that I had not seen for so many |
| enormity of the task we had pledged to | | | | years. |
| undertake. | | | | There was a raffle at the end of the day with a |
| The Venue | | | | prized valuable ShinKen sword, presented by Nine |
| As the word spread throughout the Aikido and | | | | Circles Budo Equipment Supplies. A hand made |
| MartialArts communities and, from the interest | | | | Tanto presented by Sensei Dave Rogers of New |
| that was now being generated, we now knew | | | | Mexic,o USA. Other prizes included the book |
| that we would need a prestigious venue After | | | | Positive Aikido, Gi’s, bokkens, |
| much deliberation and following a visit to Crystal | | | | shinai’s and many commemorative |
| Palace Sports Centre, we soon realised that this | | | | T-Shirts. |
| was to be the final venue. This was to be a wise | | | | This was indeed a very special day. |
| decision as, with its great hall and facilities along | | | | I was privileged to be at the great event in 1963 |
| with the accommodation blocks and restaurants, | | | | held by Abbe Sensei at the Royal Albert Hall in |
| It would later prove to be capable of hosting the | | | | London where I was assistant to Mikoto |
| planned event comfortably. The event attracted | | | | Nakazono Sensei. I never thought that I would |
| 430 students. 60 guests, 370 spectators and | | | | ever see another event to equal that one. On this |
| visitors totalling almost one thousand people on | | | | day of celebration and commemoration of the life |
| the day With students from all over the UK | | | | of Abbe Sensei, I believe I saw the event to |
| — USA — France — Holland | | | | eclipse all others. |