| The Origins of Martial Arts in the UK | | | | Kenshiro Abbe and Kyu Shin Do |
| By Mr Nigel Porter. | | | | In 1955 and as a result of the LJS decision, a man, |
| Submitted by Henry Ellis. | | | | who's credentials were incredible by Japanese |
| The following article offers those students, who are | | | | standards let alone British ones, arrived in Britain. The |
| interested in the true history of British Judo and | | | | man was Kenshiro Abbe (1915 - 1985) and he was |
| Aikido, a more comprehensive view of the profound | | | | single handedly to have more of an impact on British |
| effect that Kenshiro Abe sensei had on British Martial | | | | Martial Arts than anyone who had gone before or, |
| Arts. ESTA are most grateful to Mr Nigel Porter of | | | | for that matter, after. |
| the "Tokushima Budo Council International (Judo)" and | | | | Abbe Sensei was born in Tokushima province, Japan |
| also the "Traditional Aikido Iwama Ryu GB", for | | | | and was first introduced to Martial Arts by his father, |
| allowing us to place this article on our website. | | | | a Kendo teacher,at the age of 3. Abbe Sensei learnt |
| Jujutsu Arrives | | | | Sumo wrestling at school and became the regional |
| On the 26th of September 1899 a British engineer, | | | | school champion. In 1931 Abbe Sensei began Judo |
| called Barton Wright, returned to England after an | | | | and one year later, when only 15 years old, was |
| extended period of living and working in Japan. He | | | | graded 2nd Dan. His Judo prowess grew from there, |
| brought with him an eighteen year old Japanese man | | | | becoming the Tokushima High schools champion at 16 |
| whom he had developed a friendship with, and who | | | | and receiving his 3rd Dan from the national Martial |
| he believed had something special to give to the | | | | Arts governing body, the Butokukai. |
| British people. The Japanese youth was Yukio Tani | | | | In 1933 he enrolled at the Butokukai's special teacher |
| (1881 - 1950) and he was an exponent of the | | | | training college and later was graded 5th Dan, |
| Japanese art of Jujutsu. The combination ofBarton | | | | graduated and retained as an instructor. In 1935, aged |
| Wright, as entrepreneur /manager and Yukio Tani, a | | | | only 18, Abbe Sensei won both the All Japan East |
| natural showman, led the two men into touring the | | | | West Tournament and the 5th Dan championships, a |
| Music Hall circuit, where Tani would challenge anyone | | | | pinnacle in competitive Judo. It was around this time |
| willing to wrestle with him. With the temptation of | | | | that Abbe Sensei began a 10 year study of Morihei |
| winning £1 for lasting each minute, overan initial | | | | Ueshiba's Martial Art - Aikido and formulated his own |
| 5 minutes, or £50 for winning, there was never | | | | Budo philosophy of Kyu Shin Do. Abbe Sensei |
| a shortage of challengers. However, at a diminutive 5 | | | | received his 6th Dan in 1938 and during the war |
| feet 6 inches (1.67Mts) Tani allegedly lost only one | | | | years ran a military training company, where he |
| music hall match and that was to a fellow Japanese | | | | studied and mastered Jukendo, the way of the |
| national. | | | | Bayonet. |
| In 1900 S.K. Uyenishi joined the circuit, but soon after | | | | In 1945 the Butokukai graded Abbe Sensei 7th Dan |
| began teaching self defence and physical education at | | | | Judo and 6th Dan Kendo and in 1949 he took up the |
| the Army Gymnastic HQ in Aldershot. In the May of | | | | position of chief instructor to the Kyoto Police and |
| 1906 the feet of arguably one of the most famous | | | | the Doshisha University. Six years later Abbe Sensei |
| Judoka, in British history, touched our shores. His | | | | was teaching in Britain. |
| name was Gunji Koizumi (1885 - 1965), a Chinese | | | | Although initially invited by the LJS to be their chief |
| lacquer expert by trade and master of Tenshin | | | | instructor, a series of disagreements resulted in Abbe |
| Shinyo Jujutsu, Kenjutsu, Akishima Ryu Jujutsu and | | | | Sensei parting company with them. The stage was |
| Katsu. He was only to stay for a year, training and | | | | set for Abbe Sensei to teach pure Kyu Shin Do to |
| instructing his martial Arts around the country, | | | | the British and in order to achieve this Abbe Sensei |
| notably at the Kara Ashikaga Jujutsu school, the | | | | formed a number of martial Arts Councils, including |
| Piccadilly School of Jujutsu, the RNVR, etc. until he | | | | the British Judo Council (BJC), the British Kendo |
| decided to journey to the United States. He did, | | | | Council, the British Karate Council, etc. as well as an |
| however return in 1910 and eventually founded the | | | | overall governing body - the International Budo |
| London Budokwai, in1918, offering Jujutsu, Kendo and | | | | Council (IBC). It was through these various councils |
| other Japanese arts to the British public. A year later | | | | that, by 1957, Abbe Sensei had introduced Kendo |
| Koizumi asked Tani to join him as an instructor at his | | | | (the way of the sword), Aikido (the way of |
| school of Martial Ways and Tani accepted, retiring | | | | spiritualharmony), Kyudo (the way of the bow), |
| from his Music Hall bouts. | | | | Jukendo (the way of the bayonet), Iaido (the way |
| In 1919 another, yet to be famous, Martial Artist | | | | of sword drawing), Yarido (theway of the spear) and |
| arrived in Britain. This time it was a Japanese | | | | Naginatado (the way of the halberd) to Europe. |
| gentleman by the name of Masutaro O'Tani (1899 - | | | | Around this time (1956) OTani, by then a 5th Dan, |
| 1977), who had worked his passage on a merchant | | | | made contact with Abbe Sensei and very soon |
| vessel. He was a Jujutsu man, having trainedin Japan | | | | began training under him. By 1958 O'Tani had been |
| as well as Ceylon, where he had lived during his | | | | given the position of national coach to the BJC. The |
| passage. | | | | early 60's were to prove very exciting for British |
| Judo Is Accepted | | | | Martial Artists and Abbe Sensei was instrumental in |
| Koizumi and Tani were teaching their Jujutsu method | | | | inviting leading Budo teachers to Great Britain, |
| at the Budokwai until 1920, when a delegation | | | | including Nakazono Sensei - 6th Dan Aikido and |
| formed by Jigoro Kano,the founder of Kodokan Judo, | | | | Harada Sensei - 6th Dan Shotokai Karatedo. |
| Hikoichi Aida and E.J.Harrison, both Kodokan Dan | | | | In 1964 Abbe Sensei returned to Japan in order to |
| grades and members of the Budokwai,influenced | | | | see the Olympics hosted in his home land and Judo |
| them to covert to Judo. This was achieved and the | | | | represented for the first time. It was 5 years later |
| Jujutsu men were awarded their Judo 2nd Dans, in | | | | that he finally returned, his delay being caused by an |
| recognition of their technique and status. From there | | | | old injury to his neck, that had gradually got worse |
| on Judo was formally taught at the Budokwai and | | | | since the car accident that caused it, back in 1960. |
| this can be recognised as the starting point of British | | | | What he returned to was a near dormant IBC and a |
| Judo. Meanwhile Masutaro O'Tani had been looking to | | | | BJC that had changed course in his absence. He felt |
| continue his Martial Arts training and subsequently | | | | that, instead of studying the truth of Budo, most BJC |
| joined the budokwai in 1921. Within 5 years he had | | | | members only wanted the physical instruction, |
| risen to the position of assistant instruct to Yukio | | | | misunderstanding the origins of the teaching and |
| Tani and become close friends with this character. In | | | | consequently corrupting the essence of Abbe |
| 1948 the British Judo Association (BJA) was formed, | | | | Sensei's KyuShin Do philosophy. |
| uniting the majority of Judo clubs in Great Britain and | | | | Subsequently Abbe Sensei set about redressing the |
| installing GunjiKoizumi as President. Two years later | | | | situation, virtually dismantling the BJC and leaving in |
| Yukio Tani passed away, having previously suffered | | | | place only those worthy to help in the reconstruction. |
| a debilitating stroke. Over the next few years O'Tani | | | | O'Tani was made president of the BJC and graded |
| became disenchanted with the Judo that was being | | | | 8th Dan. O'Tani was also left incharge of the IBC, |
| promoted by the BJA and it's anglicising of the | | | | with a number of other loyal students. In 1970 Abbe |
| Japanese sport he loved. He was also said to be | | | | Sensei returned to Japan and in the same year O'Tani |
| unhappy with the level of support and care that had | | | | merged the MOSJ into the BJC. During the early and |
| been extended to his old friend Tani. Consequently,in | | | | mid 70's the management of both the BJC and IBC |
| 1954 O'Tani severed his links with the BJA and | | | | became difficult for O'Tani and those that had been |
| formed his own organisation - the Masutaro O'Tani | | | | left to continue Abbe Sensei's teachings. In 1978 the |
| Society of Judo (MOSJ). | | | | BJC severed it's links with the now 'all but'redundant |
| Around that time the London Judo Society (LJS), a | | | | IBC. Since then many organisations have sprung up, |
| BJA group co-founded by George Chew and Eric | | | | promoting the Kyu Shin Do philosophy, but few truly |
| Dominy, decided to invite a high ranking Japanese | | | | grasp what Abbe Sensei meant. |
| Judo player/teacher to their society, to become their | | | | Abbe Sensei sadly passed away on December 1st |
| chief instructor. | | | | 1985. |