In every sailor's life lurks inevitability of an eventual grounding. If you're a sailor and you haven't yet run aground, chances are very good that one day you will.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU RUN AGROUND DON'T PANIC -- doing wrong thing can put you on harder.

Now that you're on bottom, take a minute to evaluate situation. Check bilge to be sure that you haven't holed boat and aren't taking on water. What is nature of bottom? If it's soft sand or grass, chances are good that boat is undamaged, and that if you need to motor or kedge off you won't grind a hole in boat.Your objective is to get safely into deeper water.

Motoring off -- If you have a motor or engine your first inclination will be to start it up and try to back out. This may work, but be careful. In sandy or muddy bottoms you are likely to suck sand up into cooling system and render motor useless. A powerful engine in shallow water can actually push sand from stern to under keel, making situation worse. If you're on rocks and you reverse hard, you may drag hull along rocks and damage or even hole boat.

Set out an anchor. One of first things to do is to set out an anchor to keep your boat from being pushed even farther onto shoal. If you have a dingy you can use it to carry out an anchor. If you don't have a dingy, and if conditions are calm, maybe someone wearing buoyant flotation gear can swim an anchor out. Be aware that this is not an easy task and a person can become totally exhausted very quickly. If your boat is a small one, your anchor is also probably small enough and light enough for you to be able to throw it far enough for it to work, but be careful if you do this. You don't want to go overboard with it. Keep as much tension on anchor line as you can. This alone may help free you up, especially if you have a rising tide, or if passing boats create enough of a wake to raise you up momentarily.

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.