I did not earn much money being an apprentice engineer, George was older than me and soon took me under his wing and quickly embroiled me in his nefarious activities which included a very profitable enterprise of delivering black market hooch to all Indian restaurants in West London. Harry was angry over my involvement until he also got involved, and he also got all decorating contracts for restaurants. We worked on door of some of restaurants and from that day on we always had as many curries as we could eat and we never had to pay.

George became a favourite of Kazuo Chiba Sensei and is now a third dan, George was a brown belt when he left HUT to join Sensei Ellis at Slough dojo in 1968, and can be seen in some photos with Mr Jack Poole who was a beginner at that time. George remembers him well and was one who actually signed him in when he joined.

We could write a book on escapades we had together. George was at my wedding and did full Zorba dance with glass of water on his head, my family still talk about it now.

Relocating and Leaving HUT.

Q: DW.

Sensei, You told me earlier that this was around time you got married and moved away from HUT and locality. Could you expand on this time.

A: SE. Yes, After I married I moved to Basingstoke in Hampshire. My work involved a lot of traveling as I was working on drilling rigs, drilling for Gas in English Channel just off River Humber. I would also take opportunity to visit local Aikido clubs and train whenever possible. I later found work nearer home in 1969, I renewed my contact and friendship with Trevor Jones who had also married and now lived in Camberley Surrey only 10 miles from my home. He told me he had recently opened a new dojo at Hawley Hotel. He was now working as an Airline steward and asked me to look after his dojo and teach when he was on long haul flights, I agreed. I found that Trevor's Aikido had definitely moved up a gear, although training and technique was still fairly traditional, he had by far most powerful aiki movement of any person I had ever met including Japanese.

The dojo later moved from Hawley Hotel to Brookwood, with two good students Mike Cashmore and Colin Relph as assistants , I also remember Wasil Kolenkisov training there as a beginner, he later joined Sensei Ken Williams as an assistant. At The beginning of 1969 I opened " The Basingstoke Aikido Club" I would still occasionally help Trevor who had now moved to a purpose built dojo at "Frimley Budokan". Unfortunately, Trevor Later had some health problems and dojo was then run by my old friend Andy Allen from HUT With assistance of John Harding who still practices today and who we are still in contact with. With Trevor I re-visited many dojos including Sensei K Williams who had left HUT and was now in Rhonnda Valley in Wales. I also visited HUT which was now being run by Sensei Haydn Foster who always made me very welcome.

Aikido visits to Europe .

Q: DW. Sensei, could you tell me about your visits to Europe at this time ?

A: SE. Sure, these were good day's. Trevor and I would visit Noro Sensei at Paris Aiki-Kai. Noro Sensei was really pleased to see us, and on my first visit he surprised me by awarding me 2nd dan which was unusual as I was not a regular student, he never ever charged me for gradings or lessons. Noro Sensei reminded me of time I was at HUT on one of his visits, where he recommended to Sensei Williams that I should only do backward ukemi (break falling) until his next visit in two weeks time, Sensei Williams said he would punish me with a shinai if he caught me doing forward ukemi, however Noro did not visit in two weeks but 4 months later, I had by this time adapted to some amazing breakfalls from all angles except forward. Noro asked Sensei Williams in astonishment, "why is Mr Eastman breakfalling in this odd way". When informed it was as a result of his instruction, he just roared with laughter. He then said this was very similar to an experience he had with Osensei and then said experience would do me no harm anyway.

Q: DW. Were you still in contact with Sensei Ellis at this time

A: SE. Yes, I had always kept in regular contact with Harry Ellis, visiting his Bracknell dojos whenever possible and his Slough dojo, we would also meet socially with our families. It was at this time that Harry's business was expanding and he could not maintain all of his dojos. He gave his London dojos to Chiba Sensei, and his Slough dojo to George Stavro who later was to give mats to a student who had helped him, a man called Jack Poole. My own work was now taking me back to Europe. When in Belgium I would visit Sensei Pierre Nassens dojo. I would visit Leiage often where there were 6 different Aikido clubs, and in true spirit and harmony of Aikido they seemed to hate each other and did not communicate. I did like one dojo though which was run by Sensei C Van Parys who had assisted most dynamic swordsman ever to teach Aikido, Murashagi Sensei, who very sadly was later killed in a car accident. This dojo was very traditional with strong links to Tadashi Abe Sensei who was still visiting area.

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. Continued in Part Four:

Q -DW: What were your responsibilities or duties as an assistant ?

A -SE: I was only junior assistant at that time. I was also used by all other instructors which was hard for me but also gave me a wider experience. I didn't like being used by David Williams who was Sensei Ken Williams brother. David didn't have same understanding of Budo as his brother, and I always felt that he had a very cruel streak to his nature that went beyond strict discipline. It was also my responsibility to open dojo on Sunday mornings ready for all high grades. In winter I would have to light three paraffin heaters, two of which were in changing room. While they were warming up I would then sweep frost off tatami. I recall one winters Sunday morning I arrived early and a few minutes later Sensei Ellis arrived. He said " Derek, you sweep mat and I will light fires for you" I was pleased about that, after a little while Sensei Ellis came out of changing room shutting door behind him and said " keep that door shut Derek it will help to warm those damp gi's" (training suits). Well, all students and teachers left their gi's hanging from ceiling beams. It was freezing so Sensei and I started to practice to try to warm up, then about 30 min later John Caldwell and some students arrived. As they opened changing room door smoke just billowed out. Everyone was coughing and choking, we thought place was on fire. It wasn't a fire, but Sensei Ellis had not trimmed heater wicks. This then caused fire to billow out all smoke and smuts, gi's were ruined. Sensei Williams then arrived and demanded to know who was responsible; he looked straight at Sensei Ellis who without a word looked at me and pointed his finger in my direction. After a few harsh words Sensei Williams made me do 200 press ups on backs of my wrists as punishment. Some were demanding new gi's and others wanted to take their own punishment. It was a while before I was forgiven.

Q -DW: It sounds tough being an assistant, surely there must have been some advantages to be had?

A -SE: As an assistant I did not have to pay a mat fee and trained almost every day. This was a big advantage as I was an apprentice engineer and did not earn much money. I also went on with Judo and Karate classes. I also trained with Sensei Tomio Otani and I would be uke for all dan grades at HUT.

I Don't Like Walking!

Q -DW: Were there any other assistants or were you only one?

A-DE: For about 9 months I was only one, and then Ken Waite became assistant to Karate teachers. Harada Sensei was impressed with Ken and later made him his own personal assistant. Then a very young judoka called Trevor Jones joined Aikido section, he was a most talented student with immense natural ability, he was soon promoted to junior assistant to Sensei K Williams and Trevor and I shared dojo responsibilities together and we became very good friends. Trevor had a big problem , he had a bad habit of upsetting Sensei Ellis, and there were many times that Sensei had to sort him out and on several occasions when Trevor complained about Sensei Ellis's driving. Sensei would stop car and throw him out no matter where we were. He did drive too fast but I never complained as I don't like walking.

Lady Baden Powell almost Faints.

Q -DW: I know Sensei Ellis and Sensei Foster travelled a great deal with Sensei Williams, did you get to travel and visit other dojos ?

A -SE: I did get to travel but not on scale of Sensei Ellis and Williams. Sensei Williams had just made Sensei Ellis responsible for carrying out displays on his own and I took part in first one at West Drayton. We did so many over years yet there are two that are most memorable, I know this story is told in Sensei Ellis article in "Fighting Arts International" magazine. Abbe Sensei told us that this display was so very important as Lady Baden Powell and Japanese ambassador were in audience, and it was hoped that Lady Baden Powell would promote martial arts within her youth foundation groups internationally. Sensei Ellis was standing back stage near Japanese ambassador and Sensei Otani when he thought that a Judo man had insulted Sensei Otani. There was an altercation between Judo man and Sensei Ellis, I am not sure what happened out of site but Judo man did not go on stage next as he should have. Suddenly we heard announcement and introduction of " Sensei Harry Ellis assistant National Coach" being called out. We rushed onto stage and as I was thrown in first technique my cigarettes and matches fell from folds of my gi. Sensei went mad and immediately smashed me into, and around mat. His aggression demanded a response, I also got angry and fought back, every attack was for real. I tried real hard to get him with club without success. Then when it came to knife, I really thought I had him when knife went deep into folds of his gi. Sensei gasped but still took me down in immobilization, as he released me and I lifted my head off mat Lady Baden Powell was looking straight at me with horror all over her face. I just knew there and then that we had blown it. Lady Baden Powell said to Abbe Sensei " That was most horrific display of violence I have ever witnessed, and not for my girls".. Continued in Part Two: