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

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: