| Sensei Henry Ellis Co-Author of the new
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| | sometimes bizarre interpretation of the
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| book Positive Aikido.- 2005. A direct
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| | meaning of this much abused word.
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| student from 1957 of the legendary master
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| | The main problems arise and are created
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| Kenshiro Abbe Sensi 1915 - 1985..PART 1At
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| | by the teachers themselves, who very
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| first sight of the above title I am sure
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| | often mislead their students to the
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| that a lot of Aikidoist's will be angry,
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| | extent that they almost believe that Ki
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| they will assume that this is yet another
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| | is a form of magic. The following is one
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| attack on the credibility of Aikido by
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| | prime example from a very prominent
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| other martial artist's.
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| | Aikido magazines letters section.Title:
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| On this occasion they are totally wrong,
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| | The Spirit of Protection
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| I have been a student of Aikido since
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| | I am a carpenter and 2nd kyu in Aikido.
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| 1956, In those early days I first started
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| | I was working in a large new home doing
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| Judo in 1955 at the Kenshiro Abbe School
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| | repair work, I had finished my job and
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| of Budo, I studied Karate with Harada
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| | was heading for a long staircase when I
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| Sensei and Kendo with Tomio O'Tani
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| | noticed the owners two year old son was
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| Sensei, so with my background I feel that
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| | heading for the same stairs from the
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| I have something to offer to this
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| | opposite direction.
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| debate.First ImpressionsThe Aikido that I
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| | As he approached the top of the stair he
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| first saw being demonstrated by Abbe
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| | was watching me and not where he was
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| Sensei in 1956 was without doubt a
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| | going. I was too far away to grab him, so
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| positive martial art.
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| | I shot to him (irimi) and stuck my arm
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| I was immediately impressed by its
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| | straight out to him, my "Ki" went through
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| positive techniques and power, and in
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| | the little boys' face and out the back of
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| those days my fellow martial artists and
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| | his head, he fell backwards and started
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| I were in no doubt that we were
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| | crying.
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| witnessing a devastating new form of
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| | His mother heard the crying and came up
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| self-defence as demonstrated by Kenshiro
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| | the stairs, when I told her what had
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| Abbe Sensei.
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| | happened, she thanked me,
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| Abbe Sensei had begun his martial arts
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| | I said "Don't thank me, Thank
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| career at the age of five and became a
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| | Aikido".That poor child may well now be
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| legend in his own lifetime. At eighteen
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| | as disturbed as the writer.Harry Potter
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| he was the youngest ever all Japan Judo
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| | RyuThere are many such misguided examples
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| champion and also the youngest ever 5th
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| | which I will refer to in future articles,
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| Dan at the world renowned Kodokan. He
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| | it is this kind of nonsense that brings
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| later became the oldest ever all Japan
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| | Aikidos credibility into doubt I am fully
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| Judo champion at the age of thirty
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| | aware that every martial art has its own
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| three.When Abbe Sensei arrived in the UK
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| | version of " Harry Potter" in their
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| in 1955 he was 8th Dan Judo, 6th Dan
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| | ranks, what I fail to understand is that
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| Karate, 6th Dan Kendo, 6th Dan Kyudo, 6th
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| | there are more of them in Aikido than all
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| Dan Aikido,
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| | the other martial arts combined.The
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| the question must be asked; would this
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| | reason that I am so critical and
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| Budo master have studied Aikido if he did
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| | vociferous about Aikido is that every day
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| not believe it to be a martial art?It is
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| | I see these people watering down this
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| my opinion that Abbe Sensei would not
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| | great martial art that I have spent most
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| have studied Aikido as it is today.Please
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| | of my life studying, teaching and
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| break my fingerAs a direct student of
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| | promoting for the past 46 years. I am
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| Abbe Sensei I asked one day whilst we
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| | often asked "Sensei, which do you think
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| were traveling to a seminar
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| | is the best and worst martial art".I
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| "Sensei, how did you first become a
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| | always make the same reply " All the
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| student of O'Sensei and Aikido"?
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| | martial arts are good, if there is a
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| He smiled as he reminisced for a few
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| | problem with any martial art, then it can
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| moments; then told me the following
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| | only be the people who represent that
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| story:He said that he was a young man at
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| | particular art who misrepresent their
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| the time and the Judo champion of all
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| | art--------------------------------------
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| Japan and traveling on a crowded train
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| | -----------------------------------------
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| across Japan to yet another Judo
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| | -PART 3The ConvertedIn articles parts one
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| competion.
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| | and two I have covered the introduction
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| Sitting opposite him in the same
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| | of Aikido to the West, and the impact on
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| carriage was an old man who was trying to
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| | other Martial Artists, Aikido progressed
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| make some conversation with him, Abbe had
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| | and developed in the UK by visiting
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| his eyes closed as he tried to sleep.
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| | existing dojos of all the various Martial
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| The old man said to him " I know who you
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| | Arts and offering to demonstrate and
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| are" Abbe Sensei replied rather modestly
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| | teach for free in the hope of starting a
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| " everyone knows who I am, I am Kenshiro
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| | small class in the more receptive dojos,
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| Abbe champion of all Japan" he politely
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| | as one can imagine this was no easy task
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| asked the old man who he was, the old man
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| | as more often than not our efforts were
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| replied
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| | not an open invitation to most dojos.
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| "I am Morihei Ueshiba founder of Aikido"
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| | In the end the positive style of the
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| Abbe Sensei nodded politely and suggested
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| | early Aikido won through, and this is a
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| that they now try to get some sleep, the
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| | very important point to make in the early
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| old man suddenly stuck his hand forward
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| | development of Western Aikido was that
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| and offered the smallest digit to this
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| | most of the new students of Aikido were
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| powerfully built young man, Abbe was
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| | from other Martial Arts. I do not believe
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| stunned as the old man said "
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| | that we could have converted other
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| please break my finger" Abbe thought I
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| | Martial Artists to Aikido had it not been
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| will break his neck if he doesn't go to
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| | so strong and effective.Kenshiro Abbe
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| sleep, he was now becoming irritated by
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| | Sensei - 8th Dan Judo, 6th Dan Karate,
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| this old man, he immediately grasped the
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| | 6th Dan Kendo, 6th Dan Aikido.Bad
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| old mans finger in an attempt to shut him
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| | breath!I have referred to the many
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| up, he freely admitted that in his
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| | changes in Aikido over the past 46 years
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| frustration it was his intention to break
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| | from its history to training and
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| the offending digit. To his total
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| | choreography and Ki Aikido and also the
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| amazement he was suddenly slammed onto
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| | many Harry Potters of the Aikido world,
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| the carriage floor. As he lay prostrate
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| | as a direct result of these articles I
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| and unable to move he knew he had to
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| | was contacted by a Aikido student in the
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| study with this master. He asked O'Sensei
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| | UK to tell me that she had now stopped
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| if he could study with him, O'Sensei
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| | training in Aikido because her teacher
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| agreed and Abbe stayed with O'Sensei for
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| | stated that he was now going to teach the
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| ten years.O'Sensei had spent many years
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| | students "To breath through their
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| studying various martial arts, I believe
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| | toes".Lets DanceThe most important of all
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| that the art of Daito-ryu and Ju-jitsu
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| | the changes that have taken place in the
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| had more influence on the development of
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| | past 46 years have to be the changes in
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| Aikido than anything else he had studied,
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| | technique and its application, the early
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| and we know he went to Mongolia to fight
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| | style of Aikido was very compact and
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| and this would be the perfect opportunity
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| | powerful. From the day of its
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| to test his many skills in a real
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| | introduction to the UK, Aikido was always
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| situation, so we can be in no doubt that
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| | taught as a circular moving Martial Art
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| this incredible man was a true warrior
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| | with Tori at the centre of all movement.
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| and modern Samurai.A knife for my enemyIt
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| | As Uke (the attacker) made his attack,
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| was this early positive style of Aikido
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| | Tori would turn within his own circle
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| that Abbe Sensei brought to the UK in
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| | making it possible to carry out the
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| 1955, at this time there was also the
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| | technique in a very small area of maybe
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| first Japanese master to Europe, this was
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| | four square feet. Today the fantasy
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| Tadashi Abe Sensei 6th Dan who was based
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| | aikidoist need a football pitch.
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| in France, he was a small man even by
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| | I have seen some so called "masters"
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| Japanese standards, but to my mind he was
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| | twirling Uke around on the end of one
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| the hardest man I have ever met.He was
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| | finger and pirouetting several times
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| very similar to Kazuo Chiba Sensei who I
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| | before being thrown the full length of
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| met with in London's West End last week,
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| | the mat.HarmonisingKenshiro Abbe Sensei
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| When he traveled he always carried a
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| | always taught that Uke would only "go" if
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| knife with him, this was not for his own
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| | the technique was effective. I often hear
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| protection but to hand to his shocked
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| | and have seen some of these people who
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| opponent, he would say "please, this is
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| | say they can throw an opponent without
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| for you".
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| | touching them and sometimes by breathing
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| He said that an opponent with his bare
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| | and projecting their "Ki".
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| fists was no challenge, but a man with a
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| | You cannot do that if someone is
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| knife was "very interesting".I think we
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| | attacking on balance, I have never seen
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| can safely assume that as these teachers
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| | anyone do that to a student of mine. Of
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| were so hard and positive then this must
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| | course if you do attack on balance you
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| have been the style of Aikido that was
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| | will then be accused of "Not
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| being taught at the Hombu dojo in Japan,
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| | harmonizing".Aikido for realI have read
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| this was the Aikido of O'Sensei as a
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| | various accounts of the first Americans
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| young man, the Aikido being taught today
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| | to practice Aikido in the early 60's.
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| is that of O'Sensei as an old man, there
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| | There were Americans practicing Aikido in
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| is no doubt that as people get older they
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| | the UK in the late 1950's at "The Hut"
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| lose the spirit of their youth and become
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| | The Abbe School of Budo.
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| more philosophical in their approach to
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| | The Americans were members of the USAF
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| life.My father who was once regarded as
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| | stationed in the UK. they were always
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| the toughest man in town later in life
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| | questioning " How would that work in the
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| found his peace taking his dog for long
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| | street?" and we would often finish up in
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| walks. I believe that we now have two
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| | the car park of The Hut after class and
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| aikido's, traditional aikido which if
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| | engage in some real Aikido.
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| truly traditional (this word is much
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| | Afterwards everyone would be in good
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| abused) is the martial side of Aikido,
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| | spirits and have a few beers.Sunday
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| the soft fantasy and dancing style of
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| | mornings were always the best practice
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| Aikido should simply be categorized as an
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| | sessions with the dojo doors being locked
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| "Art".Those who are true traditional
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| | to all but the Dan grades. It was then
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| Aikidoists will take no offence at this
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| | that the Dan grades would fight each
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| article, yet the dancers will probably be
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| | other for real. This was the only way to
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| offended and I care little for their
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| | truly evaluate your technique.
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| feelings as I honestly believe that this
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| | On one occasion I was fighting with
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| soft Aikido has no more right to call
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| | Sensei Ken Williams (The British National
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| itself a martial art than has
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| | Coach) he hit me hard and I went down
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| synchronized swimming has a right to be
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| | clutching my chest and moaning loudly in
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| in the
| |
| | agony.
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| Olympics.--------------------------------
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| | It was known that I didn't go down and I
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| -----------------------------------------
| |
| | never made a fuss, so now everyone was
|
| -------PART 2In my previous article, I
| |
| | concerned for me and as Sensei Williams
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| attempted to establish the hard style of
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| | leaned over me asking "Harry, are you OK"
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| Aikido that was first introduced to the
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| | I lashed out with my fist at his head,
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| West in the 1950's. I would like to
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| | just making a glancing contact, he then
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| emphasize the fact that I get no
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| | stepped back and kicked me in the head
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| satisfaction from publicly criticizing
| |
| | putting an end to my cunning.The smallest
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| Aikido and I get a great deal less
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| | of all the Dan grades was Eric Dollimore,
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| satisfaction when I see Aikido being
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| | he was only about 5ft-6in in height and
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| brought into ridicule.To continue from
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| | around 130 lbs.
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| part one.....Hard trainingThe training in
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| | I always felt that Eric was avoiding me
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| and exercises in those early days were
| |
| | on these Sunday morning sessions, as he
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| very hard and physical, with karate style
| |
| | was about to leave the mat I said to him
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| kicking and punching a very integral part
| |
| | "Eric, would you like to try against me"
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| of our warm up, followed by 200 press ups
| |
| | he just turned and said "Sorry Harry, I
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| on the backs of the wrists, with fingers
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| | have to be at my girlfriends home for
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| pointing both inwards and outwards, very
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| | lunch". As he left the mat I smiled to
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| often while you were in the raised
| |
| | myself and thought "That's what I
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| position Abbe Sensei would instruct
| |
| | expected" the smugness did not last long
|
| another student to sit on your back, as
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| | as I heard a voice behind me say
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| we were the only group of five Dan grades
| |
| | "OK then Harry, can we make it quick as
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| in the UK and all in the same dojo then
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| | I must get away".
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| this was the training in all the Aikido
| |
| | It was Eric; for a moment I was
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| dojos in the UK and today we are the only
| |
| | surprised then I thought to myself if you
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| organization in Aikido still doing these
| |
| | want it quick I will accommodate you.
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| press ups.The purists say "these press
| |
| | I moved in to take him out with the one
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| ups are bad for you" what they really
| |
| | punch and the next thing I knew I had
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| mean is they can't do them, this is all
| |
| | gone through the dojo office partition
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| part of the watering down of traditional
| |
| | wall and I was still lying stunned the
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| Aikido.ChoreographyAikidoists are often
| |
| | office floor when I heard Eric's voice
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| accused of practicing " Choreographed
| |
| | call out
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| Aikido" and to be honest I must admit
| |
| | "See you Monday Harry, gotta go".
|
| that these claims are very often
| |
| | That was a very important lesson to me,
|
| justified, with Uke (attacker) preparing
| |
| | I have never underestimated anyone since
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| to break fall long before he makes his
| |
| | the little guy taught me a lesson.The
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| attack, and most of them attack off
| |
| | Grading LotteryIf in the 1950's and 60's
|
| balance , therefore making any multiples
| |
| | you saw a 5th or 6th Dan you would be in
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| of techniques possible with the minimum
| |
| | awe of him. I now see so many multi
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| of effort and of course this makes Tori
| |
| | grades and to be honest they would not be
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| (defender) look "fantastic".What is
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| | graded first Dan in the old days. They
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| really sad is that these people believe
| |
| | make these claims knowing that if they
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| that this is good Aikido.
| |
| | are ever challenged and prove their
|
| Kenshiro Abbe Sensei would always say to
| |
| | mettle they know they can claim that this
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| us that "two" students are training at
| |
| | is against the principals of Aikido.
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| the same time, one is Uke who is learning
| |
| | Another favourite of these people is to
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| and improving his attacking techniques
| |
| | juggle around with their grades and come
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| and his
| |
| | up with multiples of matching grades, for
|
| opponent Tori is also learning and
| |
| | a prime example of this abuse check out
|
| improving his defensive techniques,
| |
| | the article "British Aikido-The
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| whilst we were training with Abbe Sensei
| |
| | Controversy" on the web-site Harada
|
| if Uke's foot or heel came off the mat as
| |
| | Sensei "5th Dan"
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| he attacked Abbe Sensei would give the
| |
| | Harada Sensei was my Karate teacher in
|
| offending leg a good whack with a shinai
| |
| | the 1960's, he was then and still is a
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| (bamboo sword) he would then say " My
| |
| | 5th Dan at the Shotokan dojo in Tokyo. he
|
| English is very bad but my shinai speaks
| |
| | was graded by the founder of modern day
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| fluently!".If Uke attacks on balance then
| |
| | Karate Gichin Funakoshi Sensei.
|
| it is obvious that Tori's technique must
| |
| | He taught Karate to the USAF at the
|
| be good and strong to throw him, and as
| |
| | Kodokan dojo after the second world war.
|
| Abbe Sensei said so many times " two
| |
| | He was graded 5th Dan by Funakoshi Sensei
|
| students are training" .
| |
| | in 1957 and is still 5th Dan after 45
|
| Mark Eastman a strong young Dan grade
| |
| | years, stating that "Any grade above 5th
|
| with me went on a seminar recently where
| |
| | Dan is totally pointless".
|
| there was a 6th Dan. The 6th Dan refused
| |
| | This is exactly the feeling of Sensei
|
| to use him as Uke stating " I can not use
| |
| | Derek Eastman and myself, although we are
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| you as you do not harmonize with me", he
| |
| | two of the only remaining four of the
|
| was not being awkward or difficult just
| |
| | original group left of Kenshiro Abbe
|
| attacking on balance.Diluted
| |
| | Sensei's group from the 1950's, we both
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| trainingToday all of these traditional
| |
| | agreed that there were too many "Harry
|
| exercises and training methods have now
| |
| | Potter" grades around, we then decided
|
| changed to a simple warm up routine with
| |
| | that like Harada Sensei we would make 5th
|
| jumping up and down on the spot and lots
| |
| | Dan the highest level in our
|
| of deep spiritual discussion.
| |
| | organization.Serious studyI will take a
|
| Hard exercise is now considered to be
| |
| | break now that these articles are
|
| aggressive and not in harmony with the
| |
| | complete and do some serious "Toe
|
| true spirit of Aikido.Abbe Sensei said
| |
| | breathing".I do not know what direction
|
| that hard training developed the spirit,
| |
| | the Martial Arts will take when all the
|
| he also referred to Ki during those early
| |
| | "Old Timers " are gone.As one of the
|
| days as he demonstrated the power of his
| |
| | comments (to the Cyberkwoon site forum)
|
| technique, when asked to explain the
| |
| | said "We can still make a difference".To
|
| meaning of Ki, he said not to worry about
| |
| | the one who asked after my father, he was
|
| Ki as that would be a part of our
| |
| | not a martial artist, just a hard man who
|
| training and development.He then said
| |
| | started working at the age of 13 years
|
| "Only when you reach first Dan will you
| |
| | two miles underground in the South
|
| be able to understand the true concept of
| |
| | Yorkshire coal mines.Sensei Henry Ellis
|
| Ki as a further extension of your
| |
| | 5th dan. regardsHenry Ellis
|
| Aikido."
| |
| | Co-author of Positive Aikido book
|
| I still believe that line of thought,
| |
| |
|
| and the instructors in our dojo's very
| |
| | Ellis started Judo in 1956 at the now
|
| rarely speak of Ki although it is taught
| |
| | famous Hut Dojo UK before starting a long
|
| as a important and integral part of our
| |
| | career in Aikido in 1957. he was one of
|
| training and study.Ki AikidoAlthough Ki
| |
| | the first of 5 dan grades ( black belts
|
| is generally recognized as the spirit and
| |
| | )in the UK. he was a direct student of
|
| breathing during the application of
| |
| | the legendary master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei
|
| technique, every teacher and student will
| |
| | and the Co-Author of the new book
|
| offer a very wide and varied and
| |
| | Positive Aikido..
|
