Q: DW. Sensei, You have mentioned so many name of aikidoists from old days at HUT, do you know of those that are still involved in aikido? And are you still in contact with any of these people?

A: SE. As of this date 2003, There are only a few that are still involved and teaching Aikido and I am occasionally in touch with some of them. Sensei Ken Williams founder of HUT Judo dojo and chief instructor, who was first student to study Aikido in UK, and is now head of Ki Aikido Federation of Great Britain. Sensei Haydn Foster who is still at HUT and head of Institute of Aikido. Sensei Henry Ellis who is head of Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido. Sensei Ralph Reynolds who was a regular visitor to HUT in 50/60s, who is now head of Aikido Fellowship. Sensei George Stavro who is associated with several dojos and still linked to Chiba Sensei. Sensei Les White who is head of The Traditional Aikido Ryu. Time takes it's toll on those we knew and respected.

The British Aikido Board and The Martial Arts Commission.

Q: DW. Sensei, When did you become involved with British Aikido Board.

A: SE. I had spoken with Jim Elkin of large Tomiki group, who suggested that I join Martial Arts Commission within a traditional aikido member group. I agreed to this, but on contacting head of this group and submitting our credentials including copies of my dan grade certificates as signed by O'Sensei himself; My first impression was that I would be warmly received and I was informed that they would pay my dojo a visit, I happily agreed to this, and said it would be a pleasure to have them visit and train with me, only to be told they would not come on tatami (mats) , they said they would assess my standard while sitting away from mat. I refused offer, I told him that I may meet him one time on a mat but not as fellow practitioners.

I thanked Mr Elkin for his help and support , and said I would not be joining traditional group. I liked Jim Elkin and always found him and his associate Brian Eustace of Tomiki group very helpful during our membership of Martial Arts Commission (MAC). He also helped us to achieve full technical coaching standard of MAC.

On later relaying this story to Minoru Kenetsuka Sensei when I visited him at Cardiff Aiki-Kai. He asked me for copies of my certificates with O'Sensei's signature on them. I later found he had used what I had told him and certificates to leave British Aikido Board, at that time within MAC, saying that they did not recognise O'Sensei as founder of Aikido. Sensei Ken Williams had also left BAB/MAC for similar reasons.

A few years later I was approached by a BAB member of MAC, a Mr Ted Stratton, who I fondly remember as originator of 'elbow power' in Aikido which I still use. Sensei Stratton is sadly deceased and a most respected figure of Aikido. I then corresponded with Paula Mitchell of MAC and using criteria required at that time joined MAC/BAB. One of criteria was that we should have our own organisation and title. I recalled that many years earlier Sensei Williams had honoured his teacher by calling HUT dojo " The Abbe School of Judo" . I decided to approach Sensei Ellis and asked for his approval to use his name for our organisation, I am pleased to say that he agreed. We then called our organisation "The Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido". Sensei Ellis re-opened Bracknell dojo and we were again one!

http://www.EllisAikido.org http://www.geocities.com/britishaikido

I think we can safely assume that as these teachers were so hard and positive then this must have been style of Aikido that was being taught at Hombu dojo in Japan, this was Aikido of O'Sensei as a young man, Aikido being taught today is that of O'Sensei as an old man, there is no doubt that as people get older they lose spirit of their youth and become more philosophical in their approach to life.

My father who was once regarded as toughest man in town later in life found his peace taking his dog for long walks. I believe that we now have two aikido's, traditional aikido which if truly traditional (this word is much abused) is martial side of Aikido, soft fantasy and dancing style of Aikido should simply be categorized as an "Art".

Those who are true traditional Aikidoists will take no offence at this article, yet dancers will probably be offended and I care little for their feelings as I honestly believe that this soft Aikido has no more right to call itself a martial art than has synchronized swimming has a right to be in Olympics.

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PART 2

In my previous article, I attempted to establish hard style of Aikido that was first introduced to West in 1950's. I would like to emphasize fact that I get no satisfaction from publicly criticizing Aikido and I get a great deal less satisfaction when I see Aikido being brought into ridicule.

To continue from part one.....

Hard training

The training in and exercises in those early days were very hard and physical, with karate style kicking and punching a very integral part of our warm up, followed by 200 press ups on backs of wrists, with fingers pointing both inwards and outwards, very often while you were in raised position Abbe Sensei would instruct another student to sit on your back, as we were only group of five Dan grades in UK and all in same dojo then this was training in all Aikido dojos in UK and today we are only organization in Aikido still doing these press ups.

The purists say "these press ups are bad for you" what they really mean is they can't do them, this is all part of watering down of traditional Aikido.

Choreography

Aikidoists are often accused of practicing " Choreographed Aikido" and to be honest I must admit that these claims are very often justified, with Uke (attacker) preparing to break fall long before he makes his attack, and most of them attack off balance , therefore making any multiples of techniques possible with minimum of effort and of course this makes Tori (defender) look "fantastic".

What is really sad is that these people believe that this is good Aikido. Kenshiro Abbe Sensei would always say to us that "two" students are training at same time, one is Uke who is learning and improving his attacking techniques and his opponent Tori is also learning and improving his defensive techniques, whilst we were training with Abbe Sensei if Uke's foot or heel came off mat as he attacked Abbe Sensei would give offending leg a good whack with a shinai (bamboo sword) he would then say " My English is very bad but my shinai speaks fluently!".

If Uke attacks on balance then it is obvious that Tori's technique must be good and strong to throw him, and as Abbe Sensei said so many times " two students are training" . Mark Eastman a strong young Dan grade with me went on a seminar recently where there was a 6th Dan. The 6th Dan refused to use him as Uke stating " I can not use you as you do not harmonize with me", he was not being awkward or difficult just attacking on balance