| rst sight of the above title I am sure that a lot of | | | | break his neck if he doesn't go to sleep, he was |
| Aikidoist's will be angry, they will assume that this | | | | now becoming irritated by this old man, he |
| is yet another attack on the credibility of Aikido | | | | immediately grasped the old mans finger in an |
| by other martial artist's. On this occasion they are | | | | attempt to shut him up, he freely admitted that in |
| totally wrong, I have been a student of Aikido | | | | his frustration it was his intention to break the |
| since 1956, In those early days I first started | | | | offending digit. To his total amazement he was |
| Judo in 1955 at the Kenshiro Abbe School of | | | | suddenly slammed onto the carriage floor. As he |
| Budo, I studied Karate with Harada Sensei and | | | | lay prostrate and unable to move he knew he |
| Kendo with Tomio O'Tani Sensei, so with my | | | | had to study with this master. He asked O'Sensei |
| background I feel that I have something to offer | | | | if he could study with him, O'Sensei agreed and |
| to this debate. | | | | Abbe stayed with O'Sensei for ten years. |
| First Impressions | | | | O'Sensei had spent many years studying various |
| The Aikido that I first saw being demonstrated | | | | martial arts, I believe that the art of Daito-ryu |
| by Abbe Sensei in 1956 was without doubt a | | | | and Ju-jitsu had more influence on the |
| positive martial art. I was immediately impressed | | | | development of Aikido than anything else he had |
| by its positive techniques and power, and in those | | | | studied, and we know he went to Mongolia to |
| days my fellow martial artists and I were in no | | | | fight and this would be the perfect opportunity to |
| doubt that we were witnessing a devastating new | | | | test his many skills in a real situation, so we can |
| form of self-defence as demonstrated by | | | | be in no doubt that this incredible man was a true |
| Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. Abbe Sensei had begun his | | | | warrior and modern Samurai. |
| martial arts career at the age of five and became | | | | A knife for my enemy |
| a legend in his own lifetime. At eighteen he was | | | | It was this early positive style of Aikido that |
| the youngest ever all Japan Judo champion and | | | | Abbe Sensei brought to the UK in 1955, at this |
| also the youngest ever 5th Dan at the world | | | | time there was also the first Japanese master to |
| renowned Kodokan. He later became the oldest | | | | Europe, this was Tadashi Abe Sensei 6th Dan |
| ever all Japan Judo champion at the age of thirty | | | | who was based in France, he was a small man |
| three. | | | | even by Japanese standards, but to my mind he |
| When Abbe Sensei arrived in the UK in 1955 he | | | | was the hardest man I have ever met. |
| was 8th Dan Judo, 6th Dan Karate, 6th Dan | | | | He was very similar to Kazuo Chiba Sensei who I |
| Kendo, 6th Dan Kyudo, 6th Dan Aikido, the | | | | met with in London's West End last week, When |
| question must be asked; would this Budo master | | | | he traveled he always carried a knife with him, |
| have studied Aikido if he did not believe it to be a | | | | this was not for his own protection but to hand |
| martial art? | | | | to his shocked opponent, he would say "please, |
| It is my opinion that Abbe Sensei would not have | | | | this is for you". He said that an opponent with his |
| studied Aikido as it is today. | | | | bare fists was no challenge, but a man with a |
| Please break my finger | | | | knife was "very interesting". |
| As a direct student of Abbe Sensei I asked one | | | | I think we can safely assume that as these |
| day whilst we were traveling to a seminar | | | | teachers were so hard and positive then this |
| "Sensei, how did you first become a student of | | | | must have been the style of Aikido that was |
| O'Sensei and Aikido"? He smiled as he reminisced | | | | being taught at the Hombu dojo in Japan, this was |
| for a few moments; then told me the following | | | | the Aikido of O'Sensei as a young man, the Aikido |
| story: | | | | being taught today is that of O'Sensei as an old |
| He said that he was a young man at the time and | | | | man, there is no doubt that as people get older |
| the Judo champion of all Japan and traveling on a | | | | they lose the spirit of their youth and become |
| crowded train across Japan to yet another Judo | | | | more philosophical in their approach to life. |
| competion. Sitting opposite him in the same | | | | My father who was once regarded as the |
| carriage was an old man who was trying to make | | | | toughest man in town later in life found his peace |
| some conversation with him, Abbe had his eyes | | | | taking his dog for long walks. I believe that we |
| closed as he tried to sleep. The old man said to | | | | now have two aikido's, traditional aikido which if |
| him " I know who you are" Abbe Sensei replied | | | | truly traditional (this word is much abused) is the |
| rather modestly " everyone knows who I am, I | | | | martial side of Aikido, the soft fantasy and |
| am Kenshiro Abbe champion of all Japan" he | | | | dancing style of Aikido should simply be |
| politely asked the old man who he was, the old | | | | categorized as an "Art". |
| man replied "I am Morihei Ueshiba founder of | | | | Those who are true traditional Aikidoists will take |
| Aikido" Abbe Sensei nodded politely and | | | | no offence at this article, yet the dancers will |
| suggested that they now try to get some sleep, | | | | probably be offended and I care little for their |
| the old man suddenly stuck his hand forward and | | | | feelings as I honestly believe that this soft Aikido |
| offered the smallest digit to this powerfully built | | | | has no more right to call itself a martial art than |
| young man, Abbe was stunned as the old man | | | | has synchronized swimming has a right to be in |
| said " please break my finger" Abbe thought I will | | | | the Olympics. |