| 14th May 2005 Crystal Palace Sports Centre London. | | | | Czechoslvakia. |
| UK | | | | The Teachers of the Day |
| Henry Ellis, a direct student of the legendary Budo | | | | As this day was to celebrate the arrival in the UK of |
| master Kenshiro Abbe Sense, from 1957 describes | | | | Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955, and the subsequent |
| the great event at the Crystal Palace Sports Centre, | | | | inception of Aikido. It was decided to invite the five |
| London, to celebrate this great teacher and his arrival | | | | surviving direct students of Abbe Sensei from the |
| to Great Britain in 1955 and the subsequent inception | | | | 1950's/60's mentioned below. |
| of Aikido. Tribute website to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei | | | | I, Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman had already agreed, |
| at . . . | | | | now I had to approach my old friends, Sensei Ralph |
| The Bushido ZaZen International Society Annual | | | | Reynolds and Sensei Hayden Foster, who willingly |
| Dinner | | | | offered their support. |
| In February 2004 Derek Eastman and I were invited | | | | Sensei Ken Williams, first student of Abbe Sensei, |
| as guests at the annual dinner of The Bushido Za Zen | | | | was also approached. He had to decline due to prior |
| International Society by its Chairman Mr Arnold | | | | commitments. He did however provided a letter of |
| Davies Hanshi an old student of Kenshiro Abbe | | | | dedication to be read out at the event. I then |
| Sensei and a close friend of my own good friend Bill | | | | approached Sensei Bill Smith Shihan MBE, who sadly |
| Woods Sensei. These names alone meant that this | | | | had to decline due to health issues. His son Phillip |
| evening was to be something special with so much | | | | attended to represent his father and the AikiKai. Now |
| history and martial arts background between us. | | | | we had a full Aikido teaching team. The event was |
| As we arrived we were met by Mr Clive MacDonald, | | | | officially under-way. We also received a letter of |
| a member of the Bushido ZaZen. Mr MacDonald and | | | | tribute to the memory of Abbe Sensei from the |
| Mr Davies had been instrumental in putting together | | | | Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba .. |
| many of the facts to help with the protection of the | | | | The Guests |
| true history of British Aikido during the great British | | | | The guest list was a who's who of the Martial-Arts |
| Aikido Board Controversy. | | | | world in the UK. There were 60 guests and, with |
| Memories of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei | | | | respect, I am unable to mention them all but, the |
| Mr MacDonald immediately brought several pints of | | | | following will give some insight. |
| beer to our table and from then on the conversation | | | | Mr F Motai of the Japanese Embassy - Sensei Bill |
| flowed along with the beer. As we spoke of our | | | | Woods Aide / Secretary to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei |
| memories of the legendary master, Kenshiro Abbe | | | | 1955 - Sensei Bill Stopps, Personal Aide to Matsutaro |
| Sensei, I said "Do you realize that it is 50 years next | | | | Otani Sensei from 1947. - Sensei Robin Otani, |
| year since Abbe Sensei arrived in Britain!" We all | | | | Pesident of the British Judo Council. - Mr P, Don of |
| discussed the importance of this date, I then | | | | Sport England. - Sensei N Jones, my personal guest. - |
| suggested that, as we all belonged to the Essex | | | | Ms Jenny Earle, World Judo champion. |
| Aikido Forum ( EAF ), which is a group of like minded | | | | Mr Ken Cottier Shihan, a member of the Aiki-Kai |
| people interested only in Aikido without its politics, | | | | World Council. Mr Gigs Shouten, a special guest from |
| we agreed that we should organise a celebration of | | | | Holland. Joe Curran Sensei who read a letter of |
| such an important date. Mr MacDonald called over Mr | | | | tribute to Abbe Sensei from Kazuo Chiba Shihan. |
| Davies who, without a moments hesitation, gave the | | | | The Budo Demonstrations |
| event his full support and financial backing. | | | | During the mid day part of the event there was a |
| The Organising Committee | | | | break for the students while the Budo |
| Before the evening was over we realised that this | | | | demonstrations were carried out by some of the |
| event would be bigger than anything ever previously | | | | very best exponents of the various arts on display. |
| organised by the EAF or any other Aikido | | | | This was a unique event where students were now |
| organisation for that matter. We decided there and | | | | able to witness many of the Budo arts that they had |
| then that we would need a working committee if we | | | | never seen before. |
| were to put this very special event together. Mr | | | | Aikido -Judo - Karate - Iaido - Kyudo - Kendo - |
| MacDonald approached two other senior EAF | | | | JuJutsu - Ju Kendo |
| member, Mr Mike Leavy and Mr Eric Gillett, who | | | | The Event and The Day |
| agreed to join our organising committee. I then | | | | This was a very wonderful and special day for me |
| approached Mr David Humm the administrator of the | | | | after almost 50 years of practicing Aikido. On the |
| very popular website the "National Aikido | | | | morning of the event as I entered the great hall at |
| Communication DataBase". Mr Humm had also been | | | | Crystal Palace Sports Centre to the electrifying sound |
| involved in our efforts to protect the history of | | | | of the Taiko Drummers and masses of students |
| British Aikido. He also became a willing committee | | | | around the mat area plus many more queuing at the |
| member. Mr Rob Peck agreed to be the secretary | | | | door to register. I walked onto the concourse floor |
| We now had a full committee of seven members | | | | to see all the various stalls set out. Mr Don Baney a |
| who were now totally committed and dedicated to | | | | specialist in Japanese works of art had a fine display |
| putting together the greatest Aikido seminar ever in | | | | of Samurai armour and swords, for more information |
| the United Kingdom. I don't believe that any one of | | | | visit: The atmosphere was fantastic, an indication of |
| us on this night were able to grasp the enormity of | | | | the great day ahead. I met so many people that I |
| the task we had pledged to undertake. | | | | had not seen for so many years. |
| The Venue | | | | There was a raffle at the end of the day with a |
| As the word spread throughout the Aikido and | | | | prized valuable ShinKen sword, presented by Nine |
| MartialArts communities and, from the interest that | | | | Circles Budo Equipment Supplies. A hand made Tanto |
| was now being generated, we now knew that we | | | | presented by Sensei Dave Rogers of New Mexic,o |
| would need a prestigious venue After much | | | | USA. Other prizes included the book "Positive Aikido", |
| deliberation and following a visit to Crystal Palace | | | | Gi's, bokkens, shinai's and many commemorative |
| Sports Centre, we soon realised that this was to be | | | | T-Shirts. |
| the final venue. This was to be a wise decision as, | | | | This was indeed a very special day. |
| with its great hall and facilities along with the | | | | I was privileged to be at the great event in 1963 held |
| accommodation blocks and restaurants, It would later | | | | by Abbe Sensei at the Royal Albert Hall in London |
| prove to be capable of hosting the planned event | | | | where I was assistant to Mikoto Nakazono Sensei. I |
| comfortably. The event attracted 430 students. 60 | | | | never thought that I would ever see another event |
| guests, 370 spectators and visitors totalling almost | | | | to equal that one. On this day of celebration and |
| one thousand people on the day With students from | | | | commemoration of the life of Abbe Sensei, I believe |
| all over the UK - USA - France - Holland - Germany, | | | | I saw the event to eclipse all others. |