A meeting with Sensei Tatsuo Suzuki.

Q -DW: You said there were two occasions?

A -SE: We did a really big display at Crystal Palace in a Budo and Judo Championships, we always started with a display but with Sensei having a short fuse we always ended up having a battle of some sort, this one was no different. The great Karate teacher Tatsuo Suzuki who had just been on was now watching us, as we finished he walked over to us and he looked very stern, I was glad Sensei was in front of me.. As Sensei was about to step off mat Suzuki Sensei walked up to him and said,. "Thank you, That is best display of Aikido I have ever seen", he then bowed and walked away.

Impressions of early HUT teachers.

Q -DW: You said you were an assistant to Sensei Ellis and only junior at that time and that you were also general dojo assistant so you would have been in close contact with many if not all of old teachers, what were your impressions of ones you came into contact with ?.

A -SE: I will mention them from highest grade down.

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

I would see Abbe Sensei occasionally on aikido mat, he would step onto mat to make a point or teach. He didn't often bother to change into his gi, he would come on mat in this old brown de-mob suit; (after war soldiers were given a brown suit when leaving army, and it was called a de-mob suit, I am sure that this was one). Sensei Williams would sometimes ask me to take Abbe Sensei home to Acton in my three wheeled "Isetta" bubble car, Sensei Williams told me if I had an accident with Sensei in car I would have to leave country and never be seen again, I believed him. Abbe Sensei sat in Bubble car for first time. He looked around little car, then at me, he gave me a very puzzled look and asked " How many wheels" I replied " 3 Sensei ". He replied " Necessary, where are wheels?" I said "2 in front and one at back Sensei". He thought for a moment and then he said " Ahhhh! Strong triangle". He did not speak another word during journey, which was normal for Abbe Sensei. Unlike some of his so called "FRIENDS" who claim to have had long and meaningful philosophical /psychological conversations with him, his English was poor and he did not waste it.

Ken Williams Sensei.

Sensei K Williams head of dojo did not use me as much as others. He was in total control of dojo and all who were in it. He was not only aikido but 3rd dan judo and a very good one at that. He would officiate as a referee at American Air Base at Ruislip, once he was a referee at USAF international Judo Championships. We would get a lot of American students come to train at Hut in our beginners classes.

David Williams Sensei.

David was in charge of Karate section before arrival of Harada Sensei, I enjoyed my regular practice with Ken Griffiths, and later Ken Waite who was to become first European assistant to Harada Sensei. However, David Williams in my opinion had a very cruel streak to his character. Williams and Ellis and others would teach as Abbe Sensei did with a shinai. It was used a gentle form of intimidation to help motivate you with a little whack on backside to get your attention. This would be done with a smile and humour and no one ever objected to this light hearted form of discipline. Now with David Williams, he meant it!, and appeared to enjoy it. I will leave it at that as I don't want to expand on this subject. Closed!.

Eric Dollimore Sensei.

Eric was only 5ft 5in tall and most dynamic exponent of aikido in Hut dojo. What I remember most of Eric was one Sunday morning when I was practicing at bottom of dojo with some of high kyu grades. There was quite a bit of action taking place at top end of mat with dan grades, Eric did a very hard technique on Ellis slamming him deep into mat. He then excused himself saying " Sorry! I have to go, I have to be at my girlfriends for lunch at 12-00 noon". Ellis got up from mat and I could see he was not happy, Eric had now left mat. Ellis called out to him "Eric you want to fight for real?" Eric replied "Sorry Harry, I really don't have time". Ellis walked back to other dan grades, probably satisfied with Eric's excuse. It was then that I saw Eric come back out of changing room minus his hakama and called out "OK Harry!! But we have got to be quick". They both immediately squared up to each other in posture, after a few seconds Ellis made what looked like a fearful blow at Eric's head, Eric turned under Ellis with best Koshi waza technique I have ever seen launching Ellis into and through plaster board office partition. Sensei Williams was sitting in office when Ellis joined him as he went straight through wall. As Ellis sat there covered in plaster board dust, Eric call out " See ya, Ive got to go I am late for dinner". I have always said it was like something out of movies.

Haydn Foster Sensei.

He was a little older than rest of us and was regarded with respect and affection. His favourite technique was Irimi nage as he put you down hard he always gave that well know throaty laugh of his after leaving you stunned.

Henry (Harry)Ellis Sensei.

Henry Ellis was my teacher and is continually referred to in this interview.

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