Ellis Colleges of Classic Aikido

THE KENSHIRO ABBE 50th CELEBRATION Party
14th May 2005 Crystal Palace Sports activities Centre London. United kingdom
By Henry Ellis
Henry Ellis, a immediate scholar with the famous Budo learn Kenshiro Abbe Sense, from 1957 describes the great occasion on the Crystal Palace Sports activities Centre, London, to celebrate this excellent Instructor and his arrival to Terrific Britain in 1955 and the following inception of Aikido. Tribute Web site to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei at . . .
The Bushido ZaZen Intercontinental Society Yearly Meal
In February 2004 Derek Eastman and I had been invited as friends within the annual meal of your Bushido Za Zen Global Culture by its Chairman Mr Arnold Davies Hanshi an old scholar of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and a close Buddy of my own good Close friend Invoice Woods Sensei. These names alone meant that this night was being anything special with a great deal historical past and martial arts qualifications in between us.
As we arrived we have been met by Mr Clive MacDonald, a member with the Bushido ZaZen. Mr MacDonald and Mr Davies had been instrumental in Placing jointly most of the info to assist with the security with the accurate history of British Aikido over the great British Aikido Board Controversy.
Recollections of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei
Mr MacDonald immediately introduced a number of pints of beer to our desk and from then around the dialogue flowed along with the beer. As we spoke of our Recollections of the famous master, Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, I said “ Would you realize that it is actually fifty years subsequent yr due to the fact Abbe Sensei arrived in Britain ! “. All of us discussed the significance of this date, I then suggested that, as we all belonged into the Essex Aikido Discussion board ( EAF ), that's a bunch of like minded individuals interested only in Aikido without the need of its politics, we agreed that we must always organise a celebration of these kinds of a vital date. Mr MacDonald called around Mr Davies who, without having a times hesitation, gave the function his complete support and economical backing.
The Organising Committee
Prior to the evening was more than we realised this celebration can be bigger than anything at any time Earlier organised from the EAF or any other Aikido organisation for instance. We made a decision there after which that we would need a Doing the job committee if we ended up to put this very Distinctive celebration with each other. Mr MacDonald approached two other senior EAF member, Mr Mike Leavy and Mr Eric Gillett, who agreed to join our organising committee. I then approached Mr David Humm the administrator with the highly regarded Web site the “ Countrywide Aikido Conversation DataBase “ . Mr Humm experienced also been involved with our attempts to shield the heritage of British Aikido. He also grew to become a willing committee member. Mr Rob Peck agreed being the secretary We now had a full committee of 7 associates who were being now fully dedicated and devoted to Placing with each other the best Aikido seminar ever in the United Kingdom. I don’t feel that any one of us on this night time have been in a position to grasp the enormity of your process we had pledged to undertake.
The Location
Because the term unfold throughout the Aikido and MartialArts communities and, with the curiosity which was now currently being generated, we now realized that we would need a prestigious location Right after much deliberation and pursuing a go to to Crystal Palace Sporting activities Centre, we quickly realised that this was to get the final location. This was to become a clever selection as, with its terrific hall and amenities combined with the accommodation blocks and restaurants, It will later confirm to become effective at hosting the prepared event easily. The event captivated 430 students. sixty guests, 370 spectators and people totalling Nearly just one thousand individuals to the day With pupils from all over the United kingdom – USA – France – Holland – Germany, Czechoslvakia.
The Lecturers of your Day
As today was to celebrate the arrival in britain of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955, and the subsequent inception of Aikido. It had been made a decision to invite the five surviving immediate students of Abbe Sensei with the 1950’s/60’s described below.
I, Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman experienced now agreed, now I had to tactic my previous good friends, Sensei Ralph Reynolds and Sensei Hayden Foster, who willingly offered their assist.
Sensei Ken Williams, first college student of Abbe Sensei, was also approached. He experienced to decline on account of prior commitments. He did however offered a letter of perseverance to become read through out at the function. I then approached Sensei Monthly bill Smith Shihan MBE, who sadly had to say no due to medical issues. His son Phillip attended to stand for his father and also the AikiKai. Now we experienced an entire Aikido teaching crew. The party was officially beneath-way. We also been given a letter of tribute to the memory of Abbe Sensei through the Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba ..
The Company
The guest checklist was a who’s who with the Martial-Arts world in the UK. There have been sixty guests and, with respect, I'm not able to mention them all but, the next will give some Perception.
Mr F Motai in the Japanese Embassy – Sensei Invoice Woods Aide / Secretary to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 1955 - Sensei Monthly bill Stopps, Personal Aide to Matsutaro Otani Sensei from 1947. - Sensei Robin Otani, Pesident in the British Judo Council. - Mr P, Don of Activity England. - Sensei N Jones, my own guest. - Ms Jenny Earle, Planet Judo winner.
Mr Ken Cottier Shihan, a member of your Aiki-Kai Globe Council. Mr Gigs Shouten, a Particular visitor from Holland. Joe Curran Sensei who Blue universe agencija browse a letter of tribute to Abbe Sensei from Kazuo Chiba Shihan.
The Budo Demonstrations
Throughout the mid day Component of the party there was a break for the students even though the Budo demonstrations ended up performed by a few of the absolute best exponents of the different arts on Display screen. This was a unique occasion in which pupils ended up now able to witness many of the Budo arts that they had never ever found before.
Aikido -Judo – Karate – Iaido – Kyudo – Kendo – JuJutsu – Ju Kendo
The Occasion as well as the Day
This was an incredibly excellent and special day for me following Virtually fifty several years of working towards Aikido. Over the early morning of the occasion as I entered the great hall at Crystal Palace Sports activities Centre on the electrifying audio with the Taiko Drummers and masses of scholars within the mat area plus numerous a lot more queuing on the klikni ovde door to sign-up. I walked on to the concourse flooring to view all the varied stalls established out. Mr Don Baney a professional in Japanese is effective of artwork experienced a great display of Samurai armour and swords, for more information visit: The atmosphere was great, an indication of the great day ahead. I met so Lots of people that I had not noticed for so many years.
There was a raffle at the end of the day with a prized valuable ShinKen sword, presented by 9 Circles Budo Machines Materials. A hand built Tanto introduced by Sensei Dave Rogers of recent Mexic,o United states of america. Agencija za prevodjenje Other prizes involved the e book “ Beneficial Aikido”, Gi’s, bokkens, shinai’s and a lot of commemorative T-Shirts.
This was in fact an exceptionally Exclusive working day.
I used to be privileged for being at The good occasion in 1963 held by Abbe Sensei in the Royal Albert Hall in London where I was assistant to Mikoto Nakazono Sensei. I never assumed that I'd personally at any time see One more function to equal that 1. On this day of celebration and commemoration of the lifetime of Abbe Sensei, I think I observed the function to eclipse all Other folks.
Henry Ellis Function Liasion Officer
Co-Author of Positive Aikido
Principal Mentor Ellis Educational facilities of Regular Aikido


Henry Ellis born 1936. Co -writer of Optimistic Aikido. A direct student of the famous Budo grasp Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from 1957. Ellis has had content articles printed in several Intercontinental Martial Arts Journals, he has prepared numerous posts on the very pleased heritage and lineage of British Aikido. Safeguarding the legacy still left by Abbe Sensei from those that have tried to change the information to advance their insatiable Moi’s.

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