| 1st Lady Assistant to Sensei Henry Ellis | | | | amazing to see all these black belts |
| | | | struggling. Later I had a little crowd around |
| Ellis Schools of Traditional AikidoI was | | | | me wanting to inspect my wrists, I explained |
| born in West London in 1963, my father was | | | | that this exercise is standard for both |
| very involved in the martial arts and a dan | | | | seniors and juniors in our schools.I was now |
| grade in Karate he was also a dealer in | | | | feeling a little more confident when Sensei |
| ancient Japanese arms and armour, although my | | | | pointed out that there were six young dan |
| father has an antiques shop in London's Bond | | | | grades who had arrived late and were |
| Street, my home was more like a samurai | | | | respectfully waiting for permission to come |
| warriors dressing room, with original suits | | | | onto the mat. Sensei asked me to show them |
| of Japanese armour complete with very | | | | what we had been teaching so far, they were |
| frighting face masks that would frighten the | | | | all wearing black gi's and when I approached |
| life out of my friends when ever they came to | | | | and invited them on the mat, they scowled as |
| visit, there were also very many valuable | | | | if to say "hey, we have not traveled all the |
| swords yari and naginata spears.The MastersMy | | | | way from London to be taught by a women" as I |
| father would travel around the world | | | | showed the first technique "nikkyo" a wrist |
| searching for the best quality weapons, what | | | | locking action, the first guy tried to resist |
| intrigued me the most as a child was all | | | | me, I applied the technique as shown to me so |
| these strange visitors that would come to my | | | | many times by Sensei and almost put him |
| home, the famous Otani family were regular | | | | through the mat. I thought he would be upset |
| visitors with Sensei Matsuro Otani 7th dan | | | | with me, but as he got up he asked "How did |
| Judo the UK National Coach, Kenshiro Abbe | | | | you do that?". He then wanted me to do the |
| Sensei, Tomio Otani Sensei the UK National | | | | technique on all the others, now I had their |
| Coach for Kendo, his visitors were like the | | | | attention and they were a great bunch of |
| who's who of martial arts, as recently as two | | | | guy's. I really enjoyed teaching them. At the |
| weeks ago I was pleased to meet with Sensei | | | | end of the seminar, as we were leaving the |
| Kazuo Chiba 8th dan when he came to see my | | | | hall to head for the car park, these six |
| father.Introduction to AikidoAs a child I did | | | | guy's were waiting in a line and bowed to me |
| a little Karate with my father but nothing | | | | simultaneously with a smile and said to |
| serious until 1992 when I went to the local | | | | Sensei Ellis " You have a strong lady |
| Aikido dojo in Bracknell, Berkshire, UK. All | | | | assistant there ,sensei" Sensei replied " |
| those years with my father and his Japanese | | | | That is why she is my assistant". That was my |
| weapons must have had a latent but profound | | | | first seminar and one that I will never |
| effect on me, as I watched Sensei Ellis | | | | forget.I have been involved in many other |
| teaching his Positive Style of Traditional | | | | seminars with my Sensei and they were always |
| Aikido I knew there and then that this was | | | | good, but I was never so overawed as I was at |
| the martial art for me.The Hard Training | | | | my first one, or so I thought. Then Sensei |
| BeginsWhen I started Aikido I made a point of | | | | Ellis asked if I would like to visit New |
| training with the men and they treated me as | | | | Mexico in the USA for a seminar. The seminar |
| one of them. With regular practice I | | | | was to be held in Alamogordo NM, where |
| progressed. I had now developed the hard | | | | Sensei's USA representative in the US lives |
| training bug and started courses in physical | | | | and works at the Space Museum. Sensei visits |
| training and amateur weight lifting, after a | | | | New Mexico every year and we have another |
| few years of hard work I became a fully | | | | Ellis dan grade in Texas, Al Montemar. I had |
| qualified fitness instructor-personal trainer | | | | always wanted to visit the US and jumped at |
| and amateur weight lifting coach, the high | | | | the opportunity. We made the trip into a |
| light of all this effort was when Sensei | | | | vacation for friends and family. We taught |
| Ellis promoted me to assistant coach of the | | | | members of the USAF and German Air Force at |
| Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido (ESTA) | | | | Holloman AFB, which included a guided tour of |
| two years later he promoted me to first lady | | | | the base and various fighter aircraft, |
| assistant to himself, there had never ever | | | | including the Stealth bomber. Sensei Rogers |
| been a lady assistant in all the long history | | | | is an instructor who teaches students from |
| of the ESTA, Sensei put me on a three month | | | | the USAF, Highway Patrol, police and some |
| trial and 8 year on I am still here.In 1994 I | | | | members of the United States Marshals.While |
| received my coaching certificate from the | | | | in the US, I also visited the Grand Canyon |
| British Aikido Board (BAB) which is the | | | | and Phoenix. I intend to move to Phoenix to |
| governing body for Aikido in the UK. Once I | | | | live within the next two to three years. |
| became assistant to Sensei Ellis I became | | | | Sensei Ellis has a book on aikido coming out |
| involved in assisting in teaching both men | | | | next spring in the US titled "Positive |
| and women and also helping with the | | | | Aikido" which I am pleased to be featured in, |
| children's classes.The First SeminarSensei | | | | Sensei Rogers is a journalist by profession |
| Ellis asked if I would like to take part in a | | | | and has worked on this book for the past two |
| very large and important seminar in Liverpool | | | | years and it will be published in the US. |
| in the North of England, Sensei Ellis is not | | | | There are several publishers interested in |
| one of those teachers who has a pet uke | | | | the book so we are all very excited about |
| follow him around to fly all over the mat at | | | | this latest project. I hope to be visiting |
| a touch or a glance, he prefers to try to | | | | the US again next year and I hope to be there |
| involve all the students who attend his | | | | for the launching of the book.For the martial |
| seminars if possible, knowing this I felt | | | | artists out there I would like to add one |
| very privileged but nervous when Sensei told | | | | more comment about the proposed book. Where |
| me there would be about 700 students from | | | | as most Aikido books spend a great deal of |
| various martial arts, I think the phrase | | | | time harmonizing with the planets and the |
| "Being thrown in at the deep end" is | | | | universe, there will be none of that in this |
| applicable here.On arrival at the venue I was | | | | book, Sensei always tells students to come |
| amazed to see so many students from so many | | | | out of the clouds and get back on the tatami |
| countries, | | | | because "This is where it all happens" and he |
| UK-France-Germany-Italy-India-Austria are | | | | also often says "leave the dancing to Fred |
| just some that I can recall. Sensei Ellis was | | | | Astair" (who is Fred Astair?).Anita Wilson |
| asked to take the first class of | | | | |
| approximately 50 dan grades from various | | | | Assistant to Sensei Ellis |
| martial arts. Sensei had me demonstrate 100 | | | | |
| press-ups on the backs of my wrists with | | | | |
| fingers pointing both inwards and outwards. | | | | |
| When I had finished and was in the raised | | | | Wilson has been involved in the martial |
| position Sensei sat on my back (he did not | | | | arts from childhood she is now a very highly |
| warn me of this) and carried on with his | | | | qualified personal fitness training |
| lecture. Sensei suggested that those who | | | | instructor, qualified BALA weightlifting |
| wanted to should try this exercise. It was | | | | coach, Aikido assistant coach. |