| Henry Ellis | | | | spirit, he also referred to Ki during those early |
| PART 2 | | | | days as he demonstrated the power of his |
| | | | technique, when asked to explain the meaning of |
| To continue from part one..... | | | | Ki, he said not to worry about Ki as that would |
| Hard training | | | | be a part of our training and development. |
| The training in and exercises in those early days | | | | He then said "Only when you reach first Dan will |
| were very hard and physical, with karate style | | | | you be able to understand the true concept of Ki |
| kicking and punching a very integral part of our | | | | as a further extension of your Aikido." |
| warm up, followed by 200 press ups on the | | | | I still believe that line of thought, and the |
| backs of the wrists, with fingers pointing both | | | | instructors in our dojo's very rarely speak of Ki |
| inwards and outwards, very often while you were | | | | although it is taught as a important and integral |
| in the raised position Abbe Sensei would instruct | | | | part of our training and study. |
| another student to sit on your back, as we were | | | | Ki Aikido |
| the only group of five Dan grades in the UK and | | | | Although Ki is generally recognized as the spirit |
| all in the same dojo then this was the training in all | | | | and breathing during the application of technique, |
| the Aikido dojos in the UK and today we are the | | | | every teacher and student will offer a very wide |
| only organization in Aikido still doing these press | | | | and varied and sometimes bizarre interpretation |
| ups. | | | | of the meaning of this much abused word. |
| The purists say "these press ups are bad for | | | | The main problems arise and are created by the |
| you" what they really mean is they can't do | | | | teachers themselves, who very often mislead |
| them, this is all part of the watering down of | | | | their students to the extent that they almost |
| traditional Aikido. | | | | believe that Ki is a form of magic. The following is |
| Choreography | | | | one prime example from a very prominent Aikido |
| Aikidoists are often accused of practicing " | | | | magazines letters section. |
| Choreographed Aikido" and to be honest I must | | | | Title: The Spirit of Protection |
| admit that these claims are very often justified, | | | | I am a carpenter and 2nd kyu in Aikido. I was |
| with Uke (attacker) preparing to break fall long | | | | working in a large new home doing repair work, I |
| before he makes his attack, and most of them | | | | had finished my job and was heading for a long |
| attack off balance , therefore making any | | | | staircase when I noticed the owners two year old |
| multiples of techniques possible with the minimum | | | | son was heading for the same stairs from the |
| of effort and of course this makes Tori | | | | opposite direction. |
| (defender) look "fantastic". I saw one 6th dan just | | | | As he approached the top of the stair he was |
| moving aside whilst several uke's were breakfalling | | | | watching me and not where he was going. I was |
| at him, it did not look like a group attack, more | | | | too far away to grab him, so I shot to him (irimi) |
| like a ukemi class. | | | | and stuck my arm straight out to him, my "Ki" |
| What is really sad is that these people believe | | | | went through the little boys' face and out the |
| that this is good Aikido. | | | | back of his head, he fell backwards and started |
| Kenshiro Abbe Sensei would always say to us | | | | crying. |
| that "two" students are training at the same time, | | | | His mother heard the crying and came up the |
| one is Uke who is learning and improving his | | | | stairs, when I told her what had happened, she |
| attacking techniques and hisopponent Tori is also | | | | thanked me, |
| learning and improving his defensive techniques, | | | | I said "Don't thank me, Thank Aikido". |
| whilst we were training with Abbe Sensei if Uke's | | | | That poor child may well now be as disturbed as |
| foot or heel came off the mat as he attacked | | | | the writer. |
| Abbe Sensei would give the offending leg a good | | | | Harry Potter Ryu |
| whack with a shinai (bamboo sword) he would | | | | There are many such misguided examples which I |
| then say " My English is very bad but my shinai | | | | will refer to in future articles, it is this kind of |
| speaks fluently!". | | | | nonsense that brings Aikidos credibility into doubt I |
| If Uke attacks on balance then it is obvious that | | | | am fully aware that every martial art has its own |
| Tori's technique must be good and strong to | | | | version of " Harry Potter" in their ranks, what I |
| throw him, and as Abbe Sensei said so many | | | | fail to understand is that there are more of them |
| times " two students are training" . | | | | in Aikido than all the other martial arts combined. |
| Mark Eastman a strong young Dan grade with me | | | | The reason that I am so critical and vociferous |
| went on a seminar recently where there was a | | | | about Aikido is that every day I see these people |
| 6th Dan. The 6th Dan refused to use him as Uke | | | | watering down this great martial art that I have |
| stating " I can not use you as you do not | | | | spent most of my life studying, teaching and |
| harmonize with me", he was not being awkward | | | | promoting for the past 46 years. I am often |
| or difficult just attacking on balance. | | | | asked "Sensei, which do you think is the best and |
| Diluted training | | | | worst martial art". |
| Today all of these traditional exercises and training | | | | I always make the same reply " All the martial |
| methods have now changed to a simple warm up | | | | arts are good, if there is a problem with any |
| routine with jumping up and down on the spot | | | | martial art, then it can only be the people who |
| and lots of deep spiritual discussion. | | | | represent that particular art who misrepresent |
| Hard exercise is now considered to be aggressive | | | | their art |
| and not in harmony with the true spirit of Aikido. | | | | Continued in Part 3. |
| Abbe Sensei said that hard training developed the | | | | |