Notes

The Kenshiro Abbe 50th Celebrations
14th May 2005 Crystal Palace Sports Centre London. UK

Henry Ellis, a direct student of the legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sense, from 1957 describes the fantastic event at the Crystal Palace Sports Centre, London, to celebrate this great teacher and his arrival to Great Britain in 1955 and the subsequent inception of Aikido. Tribute website to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei at [http://www.KenshiroAbbe.com] . . .

The Bushido ZaZen International Society Annual Dinner

In February 2004 Derek Eastman and I were invited as guests at the annual dinner of The Bushido Za Zen International Society by its Chairman Mr Arnold Davies Hanshi a vintage student of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and a close friend of my own good friend Bill Woods Sensei. These names alone meant that evening was to be something special with so much history and martial arts background between us.

As we arrived we were met by Mr Clive MacDonald, a member of the Bushido ZaZen. Mr MacDonald and Mr Davies had been instrumental in putting together a lot of the facts to help with the protection of the real history of British Aikido through the great British Aikido Board Controversy.

Memories of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei

Mr MacDonald immediately brought several pints of beer to our table and from then on the conversation flowed along with the beer. As we spoke of our memories of the legendary master, Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, I said "Do you realize that it is 50 years next year since Abbe Sensei found its way to Britain!" We all discussed the importance of the date, Then i suggested that, once we all belonged to the Essex Aikido Forum ( EAF ), that is a group of like minded people interested only in Aikido without its politics, we agreed that people should organise a celebration of this important date. Mr MacDonald called over Mr Davies who, without a moments hesitation, gave the function his full support and financial backing.

The Organising Committee

Prior to the evening was over we realised that event would be larger than anything ever previously organised by the EAF or any Aikido organisation for that matter. We decided there and then that we would need a working committee if we were to put this very special event together. Mr MacDonald approached two other senior EAF member, Mr Mike Leavy and Mr Eric Gillett, who decided to join our organising committee. I then approached Mr David Humm the administrator of the very popular website the "National Aikido Communication DataBase". Mr Humm had been involved in our efforts to safeguard the history of British Aikido. He also became a willing committee member. Mr Rob Peck agreed to be the secretary We now had a full committee of seven members who were now totally committed and dedicated to putting together the best Aikido seminar ever in britain. I don't believe that any one of us on this night could actually grasp the enormity of the duty we had pledged to attempt.

The Venue

Because the word spread through the entire Aikido and MartialArts communities and, from the interest that has been now being generated, we now knew that we would need a prestigious venue After much deliberation and carrying out a stop by at Crystal Palace Sports Centre, we soon realised that was to function as final venue. This is to be a wise decision as, using its great hall and facilities together with the accommodation blocks and restaurants, It could later end up being with the capacity of hosting the planned event comfortably. The function attracted 430 students. 60 guests, 370 spectators and visitors totalling almost one thousand people on the day With students from all over the UK - USA - France - Holland - Germany, Czechoslvakia.

The Teachers of the Day

As today was to celebrate the arrival in the UK of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955, and the subsequent inception of Aikido. It had been decided to invite the five surviving direct students of Abbe Sensei from the 1950's/60's mentioned below.

I, Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman had already agreed, now I had to approach my old friends, Sensei Ralph Reynolds and Sensei Hayden Foster, who willingly offered their support.

Sensei Ken Williams, first student of Abbe Sensei, was also approached. He previously to decline because of prior commitments. He did however provided a letter of dedication to be read out at the event. I then approached Sensei Bill Smith Shihan MBE, who sadly had to decline due to health issues. How to Avoid Type 2 Diabetes attended to represent his father and the AikiKai. Now we had a complete Aikido teaching team. The event was officially under-way. We also received a letter of tribute to the memory of Abbe Sensei from the Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba ..

The Guests

The guest list was a who's who of the Martial-Arts world in the united kingdom. There were 60 guests and, with respect, I'm unable to mention them all but, the following gives some insight.

Mr F Motai of japan Embassy - Sensei Bill Woods Aide / Secretary to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 1955 - Sensei Bill Stopps, Personal Aide to Matsutaro Otani Sensei from 1947. - Sensei Robin Otani, Pesident of the British Judo Council. - Mr P, Don of Sport England. - Sensei N Jones, my personal guest. - Ms Jenny Earle, World Judo champion.

Mr Ken Cottier Shihan, a member of the Aiki-Kai World Council. Mr Gigs Shouten, a particular guest from Holland. Joe Curran Sensei who read a letter of tribute to Abbe Sensei from Kazuo Chiba Shihan.

The Budo Demonstrations

During the mid day the main event there was a break for the students as the Budo demonstrations were carried out by a number of the absolute best exponents of the various arts on display. This is a unique event where students were now in a position to witness many of the Budo arts they had never seen before.

Aikido -Judo - Karate - Iaido - Kyudo - Kendo - JuJutsu - Ju Kendo

The Event and YOUR DAY

This was an extremely wonderful and wedding day for me after almost 50 years of practicing Aikido. On the morning of the function as I entered the great hall at Crystal Palace Sports Centre to the electrifying sound of the Taiko Drummers and masses of students around the mat area plus a lot more queuing at the door to register. I walked onto the concourse floor to see all the various stalls set out. Mr Don Baney a specialist in Japanese works of art had a fine display of Samurai armour and swords, for more information visit: http://www.geocities.com/britishaikido/japanese_swords.htm The atmosphere was fantastic, a sign of the great day ahead. I met a lot of people that I hadn't seen for so many years.

There is a raffle at the end of your day with a prized valuable ShinKen sword, presented by Nine Circles Budo Equipment Supplies. A made by hand Tanto presented by Sensei Dave Rogers of New Mexic,o USA. Other prizes included the book "Positive Aikido", Gi's, bokkens, shinai's and several commemorative T-Shirts.

This was indeed a very special day.

I was privileged to be at the fantastic event in 1963 held by Abbe Sensei at the Royal Albert Hall in London where I was assistant to Mikoto Nakazono Sensei. I never thought that I'd ever see another event to equal that one. With this day of celebration and commemoration of the life span of Abbe Sensei, I really believe I saw the function to eclipse others.

Henry Ellis Event Liasion Officer

Co-Author of Positive Aikido

Principal Coach Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido

http://www.EllisAikido.org

http://www.geocities.com/britishAikido

Henry Ellis born 1936. Co -author of Positive Aikido. A direct student of the legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from 1957. Ellis has already established articles published in several International FIGHTING TECHINQUES magazines, he's got written several articles on the proud history and lineage of British Aikido. Protecting the legacy left by Abbe Sensei from people with attempted to alter the reality to advance their insatiable ego's.

Henry Ellis co-author of Positive Aikido was a primary student of the legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from 1957. He is the main Coach of the Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido UK - USA. Ellis has written several articles on the proud history and lineage of British Aikido as a result inception in 1955.
Homepage: http://b3.zcubes.com/v.aspx?mid=11130327