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Written by Henry Ellis
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Henry Ellis is one of the very first British Aikido practicioners, one of the few who go the chance to train at the Hut Dojo under Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. He has participated greatly in the spread and development of the Aikido practice all accross Britain and as such, he makes a point in making sure that the true story of the birth of British Aikido stays accessible to the younger generations. In this article, he describes the early years of Aikido in Britain.
The following article is based around what I personally consider the most interesting and formative years in the development of Aikido within the UK, from 1955, with the arrival of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei to the UK, and my four years as assistant to Kazuo Chiba Sensei from 1967 and ending in 1971. After this time, Aikido became very fragmented with everyone wanting to start their own organisations, which resulted in masses of self-grading and silly undeserved titles. I do find the conduct of some of these self delusional and egotistical people extremely sad. These are people who would attempt to change our true and proud history and lineage to suit their own devious ends, which to my utter disgust would also include the full collusion of the once respected British Aikido Board (BAB). The BAB is the government’s officially recognised governing body for Aikido within the UK. However, it has shown no recognition or respect for the true history of Aikido in the UK. The previous chairman stated in the year 2000 “We, the British Aikido Board are not the custodians of British Aikido history, and therefore have no interest in the same!!” Kenshiro Abbe Sensei would often say “No matter your pretence, you are what you are and nothing more”. So very true. I have been one of the early actors of this history and I think that my duty is to set the record strait once and for all, so the legacy of the early pioneers does not disappear into nothingness.
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