Divers visiting Thislegorm would find World War II vehicles carrying motorbikes which look ready to be unloaded from trucks. Also railway water carriers, railway engines, trucks can be seen from close and giving a very impressive image. Besides this, there many different parts and spares can be seen while diving from one vehicle or main piece to other.

Due to fact that Thistlegorm has been constantly visited by people from all over world, it has lost part of its original appearance. Many elements and objects have been stolen and this wreck not only lack of some of its pieces but also show damage that many divers have caused it trying to take pieces of it with them.

The important thing I have not mentioned so far is vast difference in technique between Abbe Sensei's old style and Nakazono Sensei's new style, which was a far more flowing movement - it seemed so much softer and yet so strong. We quickly adapted to this new style, and it was then that Abbe dropped a 'bombshell'. We would all have to be re-graded to meet with present standards of Aikikai Hombu (Headquarters) in Tokyo.

The grading was physically and mentally demanding, and at end of it he lined-up all eight Dan grades and said he accepted all our grades with exception of one. He looked at this student for what seemed an eternity, then said: "Necessary sell you gi (uniform) while price is high".

Even after 37 years that sentence has not been forgotten. He took away that students grade.

In 1963 I was Nakazono Sensei's assistant at a national Martial Arts demonstration at Royal Albert Hall in London - that was a very proud moment for me as a young black belt, and also a proud moment for my parents, as this was first time they had ever seen me in an Aikido demonstration.

Abbe Sensei then brought over from Paris a young 5th Dan, Masamichi Noro Sensei. This was first time we had seen a Sensei (teacher) in a white hakama (traditional uniform), and Noro turned out to be perhaps most graceful of all teachers I have seen to date. There followed many other fine teachers, like Hiroshi Tada Sensei, Tadashi Abbe Sensei and Nobuyoshi Tamura Sensei.

For me most effective of all Japanese masters was, without doubt, Kazuo Chiba Sensei. I was with him for several years and once partnered him on television. At that time Chiba Sensei and I were teaching Aikido at our dojo, which was situated at 'The Times' newspaper in London, and were asked to take part in a 30-minute World Service broadcast on BBC World Radio. Sensei asked me to do talking, because at that time his English was not so good. A television producer heard broadcast and asked if we would do a demonstration on Anglia TV, to which we agreed. Whilst we were waiting for our 'slot', they took us to hospitality room, where bar was stocked with just about every drink you could imagine. The hostess asked if we would like a drink, and I thought a whisky would go down well. I asked "Sensei, can we have a drink?". He said we could, but before I could order, Sensei had asked for two orange juices.

Some Aikido I have seen in recent years depresses me because it can be carried out only by two Aikidoka who practice together on a regular basis, like a couple of dancers who know each other's movements. I honestly think that majority of students take up Aikido for self defence, so if I wanted Yoga I would study Yoga, and if I wanted to dance I would take dancing lessons.

I believe Aikido not only has to look good, but also has to be effective.

Abbe Sensei not only taught Tori (performer of technique) to have good posture and balance, but Uke (receiver of technique) had to attack on balance also, since it is easy to throw when he comes in off balance. He used to teach with a Shinai (bamboo sword), with which he would hit and say: "My English is not very good, but my shinai speaks fluent English".

You can tell a student twenty times what he is doing wrong before he gets it right, but shinai speaks only once, with incredible results. I still occasionally teach high grades with a shinai.

In early 1960's I was asked to carry out an Aikido demonstration at British Judo Council's National Championships in London.

It was to be most important Aikido demonstration to date. The VIPs were Japanese Ambassador and Lady Baden-Powell, wife of Lord Baden-Powell, who was then head of World Organisation of Boy Scouts. Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and Masutaro Otani Sensei, 8th Dan, another Japanese Judo Master, emphasised how important this evening was, and wanted an impressive display from Aikido people. Whilst we were waiting to go on, a Judo Dan grade approached Otani, who was speaking to he Japanese Ambassador, and said: "Hey, Smiler". I couldn't believe disrespect and took him to one side. We were in a confrontational situation when Derek Eastman, who had been outside smoking a cigarette, called me to inform me that we were due on stage immediately. We rushed on to stage and as I performed first technique, Mr Eastman's cigarettes and matches fell from his gi, on to stage. I was already upset from previous incident, and now this embarrassment was final straw. I smashed Mr Eastman all over tatami (mat) and back again. When demonstrating knife defence, knife went through my gi and I felt blade against my stomach and thought: "My God, it's in me!". I dropped on to my knees with Mr. Eastman in immobilisation as I withdrew knife from hole in my gi. I expected blood to flow but... nothing! It turned out to be just a graze. I looked at front row, and staring at me with shock and horror was her Ladyship, and I knew by her face that any hopes we had entertained of securing her sponsorship for Aikido had disappeared. In fact, Her Ladyship was quoted as saying: "That was most horrific display of violence I have ever witnessed".

The Japanese Ambassador, on other hand, congratulated us on an excellent display.

In those days, style we practiced was hard and positive, as well as being defensive. If I had only known then some of things I was later to acquire from Nakazono Sensei's teachings, this could have given Aikido a major boost in UK

Could you talk about your own philosophy of Aikido and feeling on Budo (the 'Way')?

I still practice old, original Aikido, which appeals to my positive nature and attitude.

The early traditional style of Aikido is that of O'Sensei as a young man - a fighting man. My own understanding of O'Sensei's life of Aikido was that he developed Aikido as a fighting art as well as a positive form of self-defence. His life changed as he became older and so did his Aikido - he became more involved in he philosophy of his art. I have heard and read of other Sensei who were close to him, who said they could understand maybe 10% of what O'Sensei taught. If that is true, then what chance have we of understanding depths of his mind?

I have met many Western Sensei who have delved so deep they almost think they are Japanese. I always tell my students that we are practising a Japanese Martial Art, but remember, we are Westerners, and therefore we must reach a happy compromise between East and West. I teach some Japanese words, but I don't go 'over top'.

Cont: in Positive Aikido Part Two www.EllisAikido.org www.geocities.com/britishaikido