The British Aikido Board Disastrous National Nepotism Seminar 2004 – 99 Students By Henry Ellis ( BAB Founder member - now resigned ) For many years The British Aikido Board ( BAB ) have shown no interest whatsoever in
true history of British Aikido, to be fair to BAB, they have shown a great deal of interest and support for false history of British Aikido for which they have now publicly apologised, apology to Henry Ellis by chairman Mr Vincent Sumpter can be viewed on www.geocities.com/britishaikido.
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei
When Kenshiro Abbe Sensei first stepped on British soil in 1955 he brought with him knowledge of many Budo arts, Aikido being one of them. Abbe Sensei also brought his Aikido based philosophy of Kyu-Shin-Do. This was inception of British Aikido. Yet no where in BAB literature will you find any reference to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei or origins of Aikido within UK. In year 2000 BAB were happy to help promote Mr Pooles proven fraudulent claims to 47 yrs of Aikido, The BAB have now taken this claim by Mr Poole from BAB Associations information website. I personally received my invitation from BAB to attend Mr Poole’s event, that was start of long running British Aikido Board Controversy, yet sadly, BAB have never ever promoted true history of British Aikido or its founder Kenshiro Abbe Sensei..
It should be pointed out that spate of attacks on credibilty of British Aikido History - Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and Henry Ellis have all come from prominent members of British Aikido Board.
The BAB chairman supports claims of Mr Poole by stating " We have no formal records to prove or disprove either claim " DUH < There were four of Abbe Senseis students within BAB >
Mr John Burn. BAB Executive - BAB Communications Officer - Very Serious libel attack on name of Henry Ellis.
Jim Johnston. The then BAB Press Officer. Promoting frudulent claims of Mr Poole
Mr Dominick Foster. BAB Executive- Attends Kenshiro Abbe Celebrations and states " What is this Celebration all about " he then tells my personal guest that next year is true celebration of British Aikido.
Mr Jack Poole. Senior Principal Coach. The Jack Poole Biography...
The KenShinKai. Prominent BAB Association. Gave 100% Support for JP Bio..
Mr Gwynne Jones. Prominent BAB member. Dis-credits early dan grades in MartialArts Illustrated article " Bends Branch..Issue June 05.
British Aikido Board Statement Damned Forever The BAB Chairman Toni Davis stated in year 2000 “We British Aikido Board are not custodians of British Aikido History and therefore have no interest in same“
Sadly with arrival of new BAB chairman Mr Vincent Sumpter nothing changed, he made statement below despite factual information available to him and his executive, lets not forget that Mr Sumpter had only four surviving students of Abbe Sensei for Aikido within BAB.
On 17th April 2002 The BAB Chairman Mr Vincent Sumpter wrote to Henry Ellis with reference to history of British Aikido. He then made following crass statement in his support for BAB stance on Mr Jack Poole.
“The period in question predates creation of BAB by a significant amount of time and therefore we have no formal records to prove or disprove either claim.”
The Kenshiro Abbe 50th Celebration Seminar May 14th Crystal Palace London 720 Participants –Guests – Spectators
At Sport England / BAB / Ellis mediation meeting 6th July 2004 where BAB were reprimanded by Sport England and instructed to give Henry Ellis a full public apology.
At end of meeting ( The minutes for this meeting can be viewed on www.geocities.com/britishaikido ), Henry Ellis appraised Ms Sadie Mason of Sport England of proposed plans for Kenshiro Abbe event, Ms Mason suggested that we should involve BAB in our plans as part of reconciliation of British Aikido, Henry Ellis agreed.
Henry Ellis offered Ms Masons suggestion to Abbe Event Committee, suggestion was unanimously accepted 100%. The BAB executive were then approached and invited to send a representative ( any member ) of BAB to attend our meetings and report back on our progress, this offer was rejected out of hand.
Mr Vincent Sumpter “No matter your Pretence, You are what YOU are and nothing more!“ Kenshiro Abbe Sensei
Not deterred, we then invited BAB chairman Mr Vincent Sumpter to attend The Kenshiro Abbe 50th Celebration as a VIP guest, to pay respects of BAB membership of which he represents . There were many BAB members attending, proving that this event was not about personal differences – styles or what organisation you belong to, I was pleased to see students from Mr Poole’s organisation who were also made very welcome. This event was about one thing and one thing only “ Kenshiro Abbe Sensie “ with demonstrations of early aikido and its proud standards, with Sensei Eastman showing various techniques to show influences that different early teachers brought to UK in those early days.
Students trained with other students of other styles and association with a friendliness not often seen in modern Aikido circles. this event went a long way to promote all that is good in Aikido. I believe that spirit of Abbe Sensei would be very proud of this special day to his memory.
Another crass statement from Mr Vincent Sumpter 27th March 2004, In an unwarranted attack on genuine aikidoka who supported British Aikido Controversy debate in its defence of true history of British Aikido and Aikido history of Abbe Sensei and his disciples.
