This article originally appeared in 3 parts on Cyberkwoon website. It is here published in its entirety.

PART 1

At first sight of above title I am sure that a lot of Aikidoist's will be angry, they will assume that this is yet another attack on credibility of Aikido by other martial artist's. On this occasion they are totally wrong, I have been a student of Aikido since 1956, In those early days I first started Judo in 1955 at Kenshiro Abbe School of Budo, I studied Karate with Harada Sensei and Kendo with Tomio O'Tani Sensei, so with my background I feel that I have something to offer to this debate.

First Impressions

The Aikido that I first saw being demonstrated by Abbe Sensei in 1956 was without doubt a positive martial art. I was immediately impressed by its positive techniques and power, and in those days my fellow martial artists and I were in no doubt that we were witnessing a devastating new form of self-defence as demonstrated by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. Abbe Sensei had begun his martial arts career at age of five and became a legend in his own lifetime. At eighteen he was youngest ever all Japan Judo champion and also youngest ever 5th Dan at world renowned Kodokan. He later became oldest ever all Japan Judo champion at age of thirty three.

When Abbe Sensei arrived in UK in 1955 he was 8th Dan Judo, 6th Dan Karate, 6th Dan Kendo, 6th Dan Kyudo, 6th Dan Aikido, question must be asked; would this Budo master have studied Aikido if he did not believe it to be a martial art?

It is my opinion that Abbe Sensei would not have studied Aikido as it is today.

Please break my finger

As a direct student of Abbe Sensei I asked one day whilst we were traveling to a seminar "Sensei, how did you first become a student of O'Sensei and Aikido"? He smiled as he reminisced for a few moments; then told me following story:

He said that he was a young man at time and Judo champion of all Japan and traveling on a crowded train across Japan to yet another Judo competion. Sitting opposite him in same carriage was an old man who was trying to make some conversation with him, Abbe had his eyes closed as he tried to sleep. The old man said to him " I know who you are" Abbe Sensei replied rather modestly " everyone knows who I am, I am Kenshiro Abbe champion of all Japan" he politely asked old man who he was, old man replied "I am Morihei Ueshiba founder of Aikido" Abbe Sensei nodded politely and suggested that they now try to get some sleep, old man suddenly stuck his hand forward and offered smallest digit to this powerfully built young man, Abbe was stunned as old man said " please break my finger" Abbe thought I will break his neck if he doesn't go to sleep, he was now becoming irritated by this old man, he immediately grasped old mans finger in an attempt to shut him up, he freely admitted that in his frustration it was his intention to break offending digit. To his total amazement he was suddenly slammed onto carriage floor. As he lay prostrate and unable to move he knew he had to study with this master. He asked O'Sensei if he could study with him, O'Sensei agreed and Abbe stayed with O'Sensei for ten years.

O'Sensei had spent many years studying various martial arts, I believe that art of Daito-ryu and Ju-jitsu had more influence on development of Aikido than anything else he had studied, and we know he went to Mongolia to fight and this would be perfect opportunity to test his many skills in a real situation, so we can be in no doubt that this incredible man was a true warrior and modern Samurai.

A knife for my enemy

It was this early positive style of Aikido that Abbe Sensei brought to UK in 1955, at this time there was also first Japanese master to Europe, this was Tadashi Abe Sensei 6th Dan who was based in France, he was a small man even by Japanese standards, but to my mind he was hardest man I have ever met.

Q-DW: With all years of hard training and instruction going up through kyu grades what was final path to your first dan ?

A-SE: I was always fortunate that not only did I receive personal instruction and guidance directly from Sensei Williams and my own Sensei, and all dan grades previously mentioned. I also think that being assistant instructor to beginners class from 7th to 4th kyu, I was able to form a good practicing relationship with a small select group of students who all later became second generation of " HUT" dan grades. The group was made up of people like Ron James at 6ft 5ins tall and about 250 lbs seemed like a giant to me as a boy. He never took that into account and never gave me any leeway at all so it was very hard but good to train with this giant of a man. He would not "go" for anyone so he was always a challenge for me. Ron was a good friend and brother In law to another dan grade Andy Allen, who was assistant to Sensei Foster. Sensei Ellis and I would often bring young ladies to dojo visitors area. Andy who was oldest student of us all was a very dry and dour kind of man. I would say to him "Andy, she is nice isn't she" and as long as I knew him I always received same grim reply; " Huh! They are all nice until you marry them!!". Andy was one of my regular training partners.

Trevor Jones who was junior assistant to Sensei Williams was probably one I trained with most and we became inseparable not only as aikidoists but also as friends and we helped each other to prepare for dan grade. I guess that's how I eventually got to that point of my preparation for dan grade.

I received my first dan grade just before I became 21 yrs of age. At same time I had just completed my apprenticeship as an engineer. It was then that Sensei Williams asked Sensei Ellis and I to travel and spread 'gospel' of Aikido. We were early 'disciples' as he put it. Although aikido had started to spread a little, there were areas that had no knowledge of this new martial art.

My beloved "Isetta" bubble car, which I had pushed to it's limits, had finally BURST ! It had to be dumped. Luckily at same time, Sensei Ellis had just bought a one year old Mini car which was in those days "business". So looking at car and prospects of aikido and travel and some amorous adventures I readily agreed to go along.

Rat Attack.

Q-DW: I have read and enjoyed Sensei's stories of your travels from his perspective is there anything that you would like to add as you were also a part of that experience.

A-SE: At this point Henry and I had become good friends outside of dojo, yet on tatami I would still give deference, and that is how it has always been even today.

The first dojo we visited was in Nottinghamshire and run by George Cotterell, where we were employed for a short while. Mr Cotterell bred Chihuahua dogs of which there must have been about 50 or 60 of what Henry called overgrown rats. These dogs were all in paved back yard. The only toilet was situated at rear of yard, next to funeral parlour. At night gate would be locked so only way to toilet was through this dog filled yard. One night we had just got back from a good night at local pub and Henry went straight to bed whilst I stayed up for a cup of tea and a chat with Mrs Cotterell. After about one hour, Henry came out of bedroom wearing just his jeans with no socks or shoes, and he ran across yard to toilet ( that is some strong ale they drink up North). He made it before dogs could snap at his ankles. We heard a lot of commotion and looked out of window to see all these dogs yapping outside toilet door and in their excitement were doing their "business". Henry was now trying to open door, and seeing all dogs and mess he then realised he had no shoes on. Mrs Cotterell and me were in total hysterics at what was going on. Henry was shouting for me to bring out his shoes but with that northern ale inside of me I felt brave and ignored him and enjoyed fun. Watching him running across that minefield was just like a scene from a Jerry Lewis film. As he ran he was shouting threats of gross physical abuse at me. Shortly after that we had problems with boss over photos we had taken with coffins as related in "Fighting Arts International" magazine. We lost our jobs as undertakers assistants and we were now on road again to more adventures. Visiting dojos and martial arts clubs, schools, and anywhere that we were allowed to just show a little of our Aikido in hope that they would ask us for more. In those days in North there was not much work to be had at any time, so we would take any job that was offered to us and I mean ANY job. These included general labourer and building labourer , also working as labourers on Britains first motorway M1. Undertakers, Road sweepers, cesspit cleaning, steel mill worker, deckchair attendants, beach front photographers, painters. The worst job of all was "Railway", that was slave labour and we hated it, that only lasted a few days. That is how we spent days. In evenings we would very seriously spend that time promoting Aikido including Saturday and Sunday, In what we considered were successful attempts to extend and build ever expanding " Abbe Schools of Budo".

The HUT market!