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 next 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 buddy Bill Woods Sensei. These names alone meant that this 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 true history of British Aikido during 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 combined with the beer. Once we spoke of our memories of the legendary master, Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, I said "Do you realize that it's 50 years next year since Abbe Sensei found its way to Britain!" We all discussed the importance of this date, Then i suggested that, once we all belonged to the Essex Aikido Forum ( EAF ), which is a band of like minded people interested only in Aikido without its politics, we agreed that we should organise a celebration of this important date. Mr MacDonald called over Mr Davies who, with out a moments hesitation, gave the event his full support and financial backing.

The Organising Committee

Prior to the evening was over we realised that event would be bigger than anything ever previously organised by the EAF or any Aikido organisation for example. We decided there and 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 extremely popular website the "National Aikido Communication DataBase". Mr Humm had also been involved with our efforts to protect the annals of British Aikido. He also became a willing committee member. Mr Rob Peck decided to be the secretary We have now had a complete committee of seven members who have been now totally committed and focused on putting together the best Aikido seminar ever in britain. I don't think that any one folks on this night could actually grasp the enormity of the task we had pledged to undertake.

The Venue

Because the word spread throughout the Aikido and MartialArts communities and, from the interest that has been now being generated, we now knew that we would want a prestigious venue After much deliberation and carrying out a visit to Crystal Palace Sports Centre, we soon realised that this was to function as final venue. This is to be a wise decision as, with its great hall and facilities together with the accommodation blocks and restaurants, It would later prove to be capable of hosting the planned event comfortably. read more attracted 430 students. 60 guests, 370 spectators and visitors totalling almost one thousand people on your day With students from all around the UK - USA - France - Holland - Germany, Czechoslvakia.

The Teachers of the Day

As this day was to celebrate the arrival in the UK of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955, and the subsequent inception of Aikido. It had been made a decision 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 had to decline due to prior commitments. He did however provided a letter of dedication to be read aloud at the event. Then i approached Sensei Bill Smith Shihan MBE, who sadly had to decline due to health issues. His son Phillip attended to represent his father and the AikiKai. Now we'd 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 ..

How to Avoid Type 2 Diabetes was a who's who of the Martial-Arts world in the UK. There have been 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 own guest. - Ms Jenny Earle, World Judo champion.

Mr Ken Cottier Shihan, an associate 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 rest for the students while the Budo demonstrations were carried out by some of the very best exponents of the various arts on display. This was a distinctive 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 The 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 round the mat area plus a lot more queuing at the door to join up. I walked onto the concourse floor to see all of the various stalls set out. Mr Don Baney a specialist in Japanese works of art had an excellent display of Samurai armour and swords, to find out more visit: http://www.geocities.com/britishaikido/japanese_swords.htm The atmosphere was fantastic, an indication of the fantastic day ahead. I met a lot of people that I had not seen for so a long time.

There was a raffle by the end of the 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 many commemorative T-Shirts.

This was indeed an extremely 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 would ever see another event to equal that one. On this day of celebration and commemoration of the life of Abbe Sensei, I believe I saw the event to eclipse all 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 had articles published in several International Martial Arts 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 facts 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 could be 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 from it inception in 1955.
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