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.