| The Aikido Controversy is now a part of British | | | | until Mr. Poole came to join my "beginners class" in |
| Aikido History. It was a long and difficult fight to | | | | 1967/8 at my dojo in Slough, Berkshire. |
| protect the true history of British Aikido from the | | | | Take a look at the photos in both magazines, you |
| false claims of Mr Jack Poole and The British | | | | will see a man with a bald head and long beard, |
| Aikido Board. Sport England totally exonerated | | | | that is unmistakably Mr. Poole. Is it not conceivable |
| Henry Ellis. The BAB were instructed to give | | | | that as I was a 3rd dan at that time I would |
| Henry Ellis a full public apology after admitting that | | | | have noticed that this "beginner" had some 15 |
| Mr Poole had received an award to APPEASE him. | | | | years previous training, and the fact that Mr Poole |
| The BAB also admitted that Mr Poole could only | | | | was with my beginners for some three years, |
| substanciate his history from 1968. | | | | would he not have told me. |
| The Controversy | | | | I have a book in the final stages of preparation in |
| (Why such a controversy) | | | | the USA titled "Positive Aikido, 45 yrs of |
| Two years ago I received a circular, via the | | | | Traditional teachings ". Arthur Lockyear the most |
| British Aikido Board, inviting me to Mr Jack Poole's | | | | prominent writer on Aikido is also gathering |
| celebratory seminar of "47 years in Aikido". At | | | | information on the history of "Aikido in the UK". I |
| that time this would have placed Mr Poole as the | | | | also understand that Sensei Williams is also |
| first ever for Aikido in the UK in 1952. This is a | | | | preparing something on the same lines. |
| very serious statement and offensive to those | | | | Once a fellow Aikidoist has read the history of |
| like myself and others who took part in the birth | | | | our Aikido then perhaps you will realise why the |
| of British Aikido, and its subsequent promotion. So | | | | few of us that are left from the early days are |
| why the controversy? Mr Poole was an | | | | so protective of its origins. |
| immediate beginner in my Dojo at Slough, Berks, | | | | Prior to this claim of 47 years, Mr. Poole has |
| in 1968. One does not have to be a nuclear | | | | always chosen to totally ignore me and my |
| scientist to calculate that 1968 from 2000 is 32 | | | | existence when attending the British Aikido Board |
| years (not 47 years) However the British Aikido | | | | meetings. Maybe he feels that if he ignores me he |
| Board in its wisdom refused to answer my | | | | then can ignore his true history. |
| subsequent complaint, against Mr Pooles claim, and | | | | During the time Mr. Poole was in my beginner's |
| at the National Seminar 2000 awarded him a | | | | class, he was always a good student, and I can |
| bronze samurai statue to celebrate his "40 plus | | | | never recall any problems or concerns. I have no |
| years of Aikido". | | | | concerns either regarding Mr Poole's impersonation |
| The article that follows details these events and | | | | of O'Sensei on the poster I received, nor do I |
| has been built up as the events unfolded. | | | | envy the fact that he is the only person to my |
| Yours in Budo | | | | knowledge to ever have a grade in" Budo". |
| Sensi Henry Ellis | | | | However I do have grave concerns for the true |
| For the history of British Aikido, read Sensei Ellis's | | | | principals of Aikido, and just as importantly its |
| article "Positive Aikido" in "Fighting Arts | | | | survival as a creditable Martial Art. |
| International". | | | | The planned celebration by M Poole is to take |
| The Final Analysis | | | | place in April. I have written to Mrs. Shirley |
| On the 29th February 2000 Sensei Ellis sent an | | | | Timms, the secretary to the British Aikido Board, |
| official letter of complaint to the British Aikido | | | | to ask the British Aikido Board to authenticate Mr. |
| Board, the letter was addressed to the British | | | | Pooles claim. Mrs. Timms told me that this would |
| Aikido Board secretary Mrs S Timms, | | | | take some time. I suggested to her that now |
| subsequently Mrs Timms arranged a meeting at | | | | was the right time, before he commits himself to |
| "The Hut" with Sensei's Foster, Ellis, Eastman, and | | | | the "celebration". |
| Mrs Timms herself to discuss the matters detailed | | | | On Saturday the 11th of March 2000, I traveled |
| in the letter. It was agreed without doubt that no | | | | to Birmingham with Sensei Derek Eastman's (The |
| one had ever heard of Mr Poole prior to him being | | | | 4th survivor from the 1950's) son, Mark. This was |
| a beginner in Sensei Ellis's dojo in 1968. | | | | the first time he had attended a General Meeting |
| At the British Aikido Board meeting held on the | | | | of the British Aikido Board, he could not believe |
| 23rd September 2000, the British Aikido Board | | | | how the proceedings went. |
| executive denied having received the "official | | | | On arrival at the meeting Mrs. Timms hurried |
| complaint" when the matter was raised by Sensei | | | | ahead of everyone else, I can only assume to |
| Derek Eastman. If the British Aikido Board | | | | advise the Chairman Toni Davies that I was here |
| executive did not receive the letter, why? It was | | | | to speak at the Item 11 of the agenda, which |
| as a result of this letter that the above meeting | | | | was any other business. This is the only time that |
| took place, so I will ask the question again, why | | | | you can bring any other issues to the attention of |
| was this important official letter that directly | | | | the board). After sitting in the meeting for almost |
| affects the history of British Aikido not placed | | | | 3 hours we eventually reached Item 11, any other |
| before the whole of the executive committee? | | | | business, and as quickly as I stood up the |
| In brief the evidence against Mr Poole that was | | | | Chairman called the meeting closed. I asked to be |
| offered to the British Aikido Board: | | | | allowed to speak and Bill Smith Sensei one of the |
| Sensei Ellis has not one photo of Mr Poole as a | | | | most respected men in Aikido, called out "Let the |
| beginner in 1968 but several. | | | | man speak" and again "Let the man speak". This |
| Both these photes clearly show Mr Poole as a | | | | is an abuse of privilege that we have never seen |
| beginner and were taken in 1968 | | | | before in the British Aikido Board. I was refused |
| A video taken in 1968, clearly showing Mr Poole | | | | permission to speak and raise the matter of Mr |
| as a beginner. | | | | Poole. I have been told that Mr Poole claims to |
| Witnesses to these dates: | | | | have trained in France and that he has a letter |
| Chiba Sensei | | | | from O'Sensei. In those early days we too trained |
| Ellis Sensei | | | | in France, we still have contacts in France, so it |
| Eastman Sensei | | | | would be possible to check out this claim. With |
| Goodwin Sensei | | | | reference to the letter from O'Sensei, I have no |
| Staverou Sensei | | | | comment. |
| Students from that time. | | | | In its hurry to dismiss item 11 from the agenda, |
| When Mr Poole was asked by a senior member | | | | the board also omitted the very last item on the |
| of the British Aikido Board "Jack, when and where | | | | agenda, which was the date of the next meeting. |
| did you actually start your Aikido", Mr Poole's reply | | | | By protecting Mr. Poole from what would have |
| was "errgh, I can't really remember when I | | | | been a simple question of authenticity the British |
| started". | | | | Aikido Board have actually accepted his claim to |
| On the strength of that brief statement the | | | | rewrite the history of British Aikido, and given him |
| British Aikido Board awarded Mr Poole with a fine | | | | their full approval. |
| samurai statue to celebrate our new leader. | | | | When I carry out a display of Aikido I always use |
| Once again I repeat that the only reason for the | | | | a couple of beginners to try to encourage other |
| controversy article being placed on our Internet | | | | people to join, I have a 8mm film converted to |
| site is not malicious but simply to protect the true | | | | video clearly showing Mr Poole in 1967/8 as a |
| history of Aikido in the UK. | | | | beginner. |
| As of today's date, 13th October 2000, we have | | | | Addition: |
| not yet received any advice from a lawyer as to | | | | AIKIDO in THE UK |
| any threatened action. We intend to keep the | | | | The origins and history of Aikido in the UK started |
| article on our website and if Mrs Timms and Mr | | | | with its introduction by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in |
| Poole wish to contest the truth then we patiently | | | | 1955 and his first student was Sensei Ken |
| await your legal response to change hard facts | | | | Williams. A small select group of dan grades |
| into fiction. | | | | developed around Sensei Williams at the Abbe |
| Jack Poole | | | | School of Budo, Hillingdon Middx. |
| And his forthcoming | | | | Apart from Sensei Williams there are only four |
| "Celebration of 47 years of Aikido" | | | | survivors from those early days, Sensei's Foster, |
| By Henry Ellis Sensei | | | | Ellis, Reynolds & Eastman. When Sensei |
| The Controversy | | | | Foster and I were training at the "HUT" in the |
| Recently, I received a letter from the British | | | | 1950s I am sure that neither of us ever thought |
| Aikido Board, enclosed were the usual documents | | | | that we would still be involved in Aikido 45 years |
| of a previous general meeting, amongst the | | | | later. Sensei Williams always had great faith in the |
| papers was a A4 size photo of Mr. Poole, inviting | | | | future of Aikido, and would often say to me that |
| everyone to the above celebration, including me. | | | | Aikido would grow to be the most popular martial |
| The content of the poster was of great concern | | | | art in the UK, and all the early dan grades would |
| to many others and me who shared in the birth | | | | one day be full time professional teachers. The |
| of Aikido in Britain. If you have not read my story | | | | promotion of Aikido in those early days was such |
| in "Fighting Arts International " No 93, and Aikido | | | | a struggle that although I felt just as passionately |
| Today Magazine No 36, they are to be found on | | | | about Aikido as Sensei Williams, I must admit I did |
| this web page. | | | | not share his vision. |
| Why all this concern? | | | | The early history of British Aikido is a colourful |
| As I have stated above, the history of Aikido in | | | | one with many anecdotes as we the early |
| the UK is very well documented. Kenshiro Abbe | | | | teachers tried to promote Aikido. Now after |
| Sensei introduced Aikido in 1955, his first student | | | | 45yrs those original four are still teaching and |
| was Ken Williams Sensei, (see Aikido Today | | | | promoting Aikido. |
| Magazine #43). From that early group of selected | | | | After all these years I (Henry Ellis) still feel as |
| students, the only ones to survive are Williams | | | | passionately and dedicated as I did in those early |
| sensei, Haydn Foster sensei, and myself Henry | | | | days. I have always had a strong and positive |
| (Harry) Ellis. Williams sensei was made the National | | | | approach to Aikido and I know that the other |
| coach for Aikido in the UK, and I was the | | | | teachers and I are all very proud of our history |
| assistant National coach. | | | | and our small part in the development of what |
| During those great early years, we traveled all | | | | was once only a vision of Sensei Williams. Today |
| over the British Isles, also to France and Belgium. | | | | that vision is now a reality. |
| If we are to believe Mr. Poole's claim to 47 years | | | | I trust that any true student of Aikido will know |
| of Aikido, then this would place him back in the | | | | that I care little for my own promotion but only |
| era of 1952/3, this is two years before the arrival | | | | for the Protection and Promotion of the Martial |
| of Kenshiro Abbe sensei to the UK. None of the | | | | Art of Aikido that I have devoted most of my |
| early teachers had ever heard of Mr. Poole, that is | | | | life to. |