Tuesday 29 September 2015

Early 1960s Aikido Newspaper Cuttings

Early 1960s Newspaper Cutting - Henry Ellis & Derek Eastman.

Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman made what was in the early 1960s a major breakthrough for Aikido - it was accepted by the `UK Further Education System`.This class was the first such class.Many of the ladies in the class were school teachers, they thought that Ellis Sensei was hard and cruel for throwing Derek Eastman around the mat. After class there was a tea room where I would be standing on my own. Derek would have all the ladies fussing around him,he was getting more fancy cakes than any man could eat.I was never even offered a broken biscuit. This went on for several weeks until I learned that Derek was telling these ladies that I was not only cruel to him at their class, but also back at the Hut Dojo and everywhere else.He was loving all the fussing care and attention.

Henry Ellis

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

1963 - Opening of the first `Bracknell Aikido Dojo` - Bracknell News.

Henry Ellis a pioneer of UK Aikido was the first dan grade to open his own dojo outside of the famous `Hut Dojo`. In 1963 Ellis opened the first Bracknell Aikido Dojo almost 50 years later there is still a `Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido` in Bracknell.
The photo in the newspaper is Ken Williams Sensei the first UK student of Aikido with Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. Williams Sensei was the national coach for UK Aikido - Henry Ellis was Sensei Williams personal assistant.

Henry Ellis






__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

1963 - Opening of the first `Bracknell Aikido Dojo` - Bracknell Standard.

Ken Williams Sensei throwing Henry Ellis and BIG Ron James who is the one sprawled on the mat.We were very fortunate to get a lot of publicity for the new dojo which became an instant success and continues to be so today some 50 years later.

Henry Ellis






__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

1963 Opening of the Bracknell Dojo - Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido.

Ken Williams Sensei throwing Big Ron James in a public demonstration at the new Bracknell dojo.

Henry Ellis












__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

TK Chiba Sensei 1968 Summer School Bracknell - Geoff Goodwin a favourite student of Chiba Sensei.

Geoff Goodwin 2nd dan was a favourite uke of Chiba Sensei - Geoff was one of the toughest guys you will ever meet - a natural and devastating street fighter. Chiba Sensei described him as one of the most dangerous men he had ever met.
Geoff was my personal assistant for several years.

Henry Ellis




_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

Rik Ellis and his Planned Visit to the USA

Rik Ellis and his father Henry Ellis had been invited to visit New Mexico USA in 2011 - This visited had to be re-scheduled for later in 2012.

Henry Ellis









___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Early Aikido in Glasgow Scotland - 1960?


Early Aikido in Glasgow Scotland - 1960?

Henry Ellis with lady student Ms Fay Laurie. I believe this photo was of a seminar at Tom Weir Sensei's dojo in Glasgow Scotland. Weir Sensei was the first Aikido dan grade in Scotland and became the official Aikido representative to Ken Williams Sensei and the British Aikido Council - BAC - under the direction of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.


Henry Ellis





___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________


Monday 28 September 2015






                         FOR SALE                               


                                " Aikido Today Magazines "

                             To be sold shortly on EBAY UK


           Aikido Today Magazines 36 magazines from 1993 to 2000


Sadly due to the impact of internet, the excellent magazine "Aikido Today" is no more. This was a great informative magazine for all international Aikidoka, complete with great interviews and stories.

Aiki.com is the residual business of Aikido Today Magazine, Aikido’s premier magazine for 19 years. Aikido Today Magazine was an international non-partisan magazine dedicated to opening the Aikido world. It began in 1987 and finished its run with the 100th issue covering July/ Aug 2005.


To be sold as one item - offers - Henry Ellis  ellisaikido@hotmail.com

Buyer to pay postage - or collect.


ATM # 31; Vol. 7 No 5; Dec 93 / Jan 94 ` Aikido and Morality ` - Interview `Henry Kono Sensei` and others. ( as new )

ATM # 32; Vol. 7 No 6 ; Feb / March 94 ` Being Thrown` - Interview ` Fred Donaldson ` and others. ( slight wear )

ATM # 33; Vol. 8, No 1; April / May 1994 ` Aikido & the Martial Arts ` Interviews `Koichi Tohei ` - Hiroshi Ikeda` and others. ( as new )

ATM # 34; Vol. 8, No 2; June / July 1994 ` Aikido & the Gentle Ways` - Interviews ` Mitsugi Saotome` and Yoshio Kuroiwa ` - and others ( excellent condition )

ATM # 35; Vol. 8, No 3; August / September 1994 - ` Aikido and Health` - Interview ` Mary Bond ` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 36; Vol. No 4; October / November 1994 `Aikido Around the World` - Interviews ` Takeshi Kimeda ` and `Henry Ellis` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 37; 8, No 5; Dec 94 / Jan 1995 - ` Coming to be and Passing Away ` - Interviews ` Moriteru Ueshiba and Yoshimitsu Yamada and others. ( good condition )

ATM # 38; Vol. 8, No 6; Feb / March 1995 - ` Aikido and Management ` - Interviews ` Mitsugi Saotome ` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 39; Vol. 9, No. 1; April / May 1995 - ` Aikido and Self- Defence ` - Interview ` Nedko Panayotov ` and others. ( condition good )


ATM # 40; Vol. 9, No. 2; June / July 1995 – Aikido and Self
– Defence ` - Interviews ` Iwao Yamaguchi ` - ` Patty Saotome` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 42; Vol. 9, No, 4; October / November 1995 - ` Community Responsibility ` - Interviews ` John Stevens ` and others ( good condition ).

ATM # 44; Vol. 9, No, 6; February / March 1996. – Interviews ` Dennis Hooker ` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 45; Vol. 10, No. 1; April / May 1996. – “ Surroundings “ – Interviews ` Peter Goldsbury ` and others ( good condition)

ATM # 46; Vol. 10, No, 2; June / July 1996. - “ Conflict Resolution “ – Interviews ` Mitsugi Saotome ` and others ( condition good )

Page 2
ATM # 49; Vol. 10, No, 5; December 1996 / Jauary 1997. – “ Remembering Japan “ – Interviews ` Kaz Tanahashi` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 47; Vol. 10. No. 3; August / September 1996. – Interviews `Morihiro Saito` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 48; Vol. 10. No. 4; October / November 1996. – “ Health “ – Interviews ` Peter Benarth ` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 50; Vol. 10. No. 6; February / March 1997. – “ The Shihan Problem “ – Interviews - `Kaz Tanahashi ` and others – ( good condition ).

ATM # 52; Vol.11, No. 1; July / August 1997. – “ Osensei Rites of Spring “ (good condition )

ATM # 53; Vol. 11, No. 2; September / October 1997. Interviews - ` Bill Sosa ` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 54; Vol. 11. No 4; November / December 1997. – Interviews “ Ralph Glanstein “ and others – ( good condition )

ATM # 55; Vol. 12, No. 1 ; January / February 1998. “ Interviews by Ronald Rubin and others. ( good condition )

ATM # 56; Vol. 12, No. 2; March / April 1998. – Interview ` Yoshimitsu Yamada ` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 57; Vol, 12, No, 3; May / June 1998. – Interviews ` M Saotome ` - ` Andre Nocquet`. 9 good condition )

ATM # 58; Vol. 12, No 4; July / August 1998. – Interviews – `Nobyuoshi Tamura` - ` Ayako Yamamoto` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 59; Vol. 12, No 5; September / October 1998 – Interviews ` Brendan Dowling ` - Kazuuaki Tanahashi` and others – ( good condition )

ATM # 60; Vol, 12, No 6; November / December 1998 – Interviews `Mutsuko Minigishi` - `Peter Goldsbury` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 61; Vol. 13, No 1; January / February 1999 – Interviews `Jim Frisen` - `Kazuaki Tanahashi` and others ( good condition )

ATM # 62; Vol. 13, No, 2; March / April 1999 – “ In Memoriam: Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba” ( good condition )

ATM # 63; Vol. 13, No, 3; May / June 1999 – “ Aikido and the Sword “ – “In Memory of Andre Noquet” – and others – ( good condition )

Page 3

ATM # 64; Vol. 13; No, 4; July / August 1999 – Interviews “ Y Kuroiwa “ – “ M Inoue” and others – ( good condition )

ATM # 66; Vol. 13; No, 6; November / December 1999 – Interviews – “ George Leonard “ and others. ( good condition )

ATM # 68; Vol. 14, No. 2; March / April 2000. – Interview “ Kenji Ota “ and others, (good condition )

ATM # 69; Vol. 14, No. 3; May / June 2000. – Interview “ Shingo Nakao” and others, ( good condition )

ATM # 70; Vol. 14, No. 4; July / August 2000. – Interviews “ Motomichi Anno” and others, ( good condition)

ATM # 71; Vol. 14, No. 5; September / October 2000. – Interviews “ William ` slim` Coyle “ and others ( good condition )

ATM # 72; Vol; 14, No. 6; November / December 2000. – Interviews “ Hiroaki Kobayashi “ – Gerard Blaize “ and others – ( good condition ).

Sunday 27 September 2015



Visit Aikido Books for `Positive Aikido`
British Aikido History
1955 - 2012

The official British Aikido History site - Is dedicated to the true history of Aikido in the UK from its inception in 1955 by the legendary Budo Master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

Right: Kenshiro Abbe Sensei with Ken Williams Sensei at the Hut Dojo.



Right: Mitsusuke Harada Sensei

Right: Henry Ellis - Mitsusukie Harada - Derek Eastman join Harada Sensei at the TK Chiba Celebration in 2006. Harada Sensei was invited to the UK in 1963 by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - He held his first classes at the Hut Dojo. Harada had no students to begin with - Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman studied Karate with Harada, he in turn studied Aikido with them - Harada began to incorporate Aikido moves later into his Shotokai Karate as can be seen in his teachings today.

The site is maintained by AikiKai Shihans Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman -  The last two surviving pioneers from that exciting era of the birth of Aikido in the UK at the famous "Hut Dojo"

Ellis & Eastman Sensei's are co-authors of the book `Positive Aikido` - they are proud to have their diplomas signed by legends - Osensei Morihei Ueshiba - Kenshiro Abbe - Masahilo Nakazono - Masamichi Noro - TK Chiba - Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba.

Click here for the British Aikido History Blog >  British Aikido History Site


Earliest known film/video of UK Aikido Demonstration - 1963.

USAF - UK Air Base - European Judo Championships.

Henry Ellis - Derek Eastman - Geoff Goodwin.
Click here -> Earliest UK Aikido Demonstration.



The British Aikido Board - Jack Poole Controversy Slide Show

The British Aikido Board Controversy Slide Show.

Documented evidence of the conduct of the UK Governing Body for Aikido.

Detailing the BAB's attempted collusion with one Mr Jack Poole to change forever the true proud history and lineage of British Aikido, from its inception to the UK in 1955 by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

Henry Ellis was actually Mr Poole's first teacher as one can clearly see from the large collection of photos and statements, this did not deter the BAB from proudly parading Mr Poole along-side his teacher as a `Pioneer of British Aikido` .

Imagine you are a direct student of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and recognised by the Doshu and TK Chiba as a true pioneer of British Aikido - The UK Aikido governing body invite you to receive an award in recognition of this - As you wait to meet the Lord Mayor of Birmingham - you hear a shuffling sound - you look behind - standing there unannounced is one of your old students in line to receive the same award as a pioneer - unbelievable.You could not make this up - The BAB did.

Saturday 26 September 2015

AIKIWEB Articles - K Abbe - M Nakazono - M Noro - TK Chiba

______________________________________________AIKIWEB____________________________________________________________

Four Articles - Featuring: - 1st Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - 2nd Masahilo Nakazono - 3rd Masamichi Noro - 4th TK Chiba Sensei.


______________________________________________"THE BUDO MASTERS"_______________________________________________

_____________________Kenshiro Abbe ~ ~ Masahilo Nakazono ~ ~ Masamichi Noro ~ ~ Kazuo Chiba _____________________


Henry Ellis 6th dan AikiKai Hombu - Co-author of "Positive Aikido". Relates stories of training with the early Budo Masters.
_______4 Articles - featuring 1st Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - 2nd Masahilo Nakazono - 3rd Masamichi Noro - 4th TK Chiba_______


______________________________________CLICK the ARTICLE of YOUR CHOICE_____________________________

1st - Article: Kenshiro Abbe _____“Trying to Catch the Wind”_____
Click Here - AikiWeB Article - "It Had to be Felt".~ Kenshiro Abbe - "Trying to Catch the Wind".

2nd - Article: Masahilo Nakazono ______”A Man of Peace and Pieces”______
.Visit Aikiweb Click here >- Aikiweb - Nakazono Sensei Article

3rd - Article: Masamichi Noro ______The White Tornado__
Visit Aikiweb - Click Here - "The White Tornado"


4th - Article: Kazuo Chiba ______Two Handsome Young Men___Click here - "Two Handsome Young Men"

Henry Ellis a direct student of the legendary Budo master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from 1957. "AikiWeb" has published 4 articles to add to their popular Ellis Amdur article collection of "It Had to be Felt" `IHTBF`.


British Aikido Board Blog - Click here ->BAB Blog - BAB Blog ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Henry Ellis speech - Anniversary Dinner - TK Chiba's 40 years in the UK.

Henry Ellis Sensei joined Chiba Sensei in the 1960s shortly after his arrival in the UK.

 

Friday 25 September 2015

_____________Popular Aikido Magazines and Articles____________

Many martial arts magazines have have suffered from the impact of the advent of the internet with the availablity of free articles and information . `AikidoToday` and `Fighting Arts International` were two popular magazines that ultimatley became victims.


 

"Fighting Arts International Magazine"


"Positive Aikido" - the Article 

"Fighting Arts International Magazine".by Henry Ellis

Click here - "Fighting Arts Article"Fighting Arts Magazine< FAI.



1996 - Arthur Lockyear Sensei asked to interview me for Terry O'Neill's elite magazine "International Fighting Arts Magazine" for which he was the Aikido correspondent.
At the end of the interview over a pint of beer,Arthur said to me " Henry, can I ask you something that I have heard about you for many years,which still persists to this day ?". I smiled with a yes,waiting for the question. Arthur reminded me of an incident some 30 years earlier at the - TK Chiba Sensei 1967 Summer School - where I was assistant to TK Chiba Sensei. Arthur asked if the following story was true?.
The seminar was being held in the North of England, and I was a southerner, never a good mix at any time. On the morning of the first day of the seminar I was called into Chiba Sensei's changing room, he said to me "Mr Ellis,these northern students are good students, but they do not have your strict etiquette", Sensei went on to explain that he resented them putting their arms around his shoulder,slapping him on the back and calling him Kazuo. I just looked at Sensei in disbelief, he asked that I speak to them before he came on the mat. This was the start of a weeks summer course. I explained the required etiquette rather politely to all attendees thinking that was the end of the matter,not so,one group were angry,they objected strongly, they said they would continue as they were. I then explained that I would personally take any and all disrespectful students off the mat and personally deal with them. There was no further acts of familiarity with Sensei, but I had made many enemies,it would appear some were for life lol. I could not believe that people were still upset to this day by something that took place 30 or more years ago..I assured Arthur it was a true story.

Henry Ellis