Is Aikido a Martial Art? Part 3

Henry EllisWilliams (The British National Coach) he hit me
PART 3hard and I went down clutching my chest and
moaning loudly in agony.
In articles parts one and two I have covered theIt was known that I didn't go down and I never
introduction of Aikido to the West, and the impactmade a fuss, so now everyone was concerned
on other Martial Artists, Aikido progressed andfor me and as Sensei Williams leaned over me
developed in the UK by visiting existing dojos ofasking "Harry, are you OK" I lashed out with my
all the various Martial Arts and offering tofist at his head, just making a glancing contact, he
demonstrate and teach for free in the hope ofthen stepped back and kicked me in the head
starting a small class in the more receptive dojos,putting an end to my cunning.
as one can imagine this was no easy task asThe smallest of all the Dan grades was Eric
more often than not our efforts were not anDollimore, he was only about 5ft-6in in height and
open invitation to most dojos.around 130 lbs.
In the end the positive style of the early AikidoI always felt that Eric was avoiding me on these
won through, and this is a very important point toSunday morning sessions, as he was about to
make in the early development of Western Aikidoleave the mat I said to him "Eric, would you like
was that most of the new students of Aikidoto try against me" he just turned and said "Sorry
were from other Martial Arts. I do not believeHarry, I have to be at my girlfriends home for
that we could have converted other Martiallunch". As he left the mat I smiled to myself and
Artists to Aikido had it not been so strong andthought "That's what I expected" the smugness
effective.did not last long as I heard a voice behind me say
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei - 8th Dan Judo, 6th Dan"OK then Harry, can we make it quick as I must
Karate, 6th Dan Kendo, 6th Dan Aikido.get away".
Bad breath!It was Eric; for a moment I was surprised then I
I have referred to the many changes in Aikidothought to myself if you want it quick I will
over the past 48 years from its history toaccommodate you.
training and choreography and Ki Aikido and alsoI moved in to take him out with the one punch
the many Harry Potters of the Aikido world, as aand the next thing I knew I had gone through the
direct result of these articles I was contacted bydojo office partition wall and I was still lying
a Aikido student in the UK to tell me that she hadstunned the office floor when I heard Eric's voice
now stopped training in Aikido because hercall out
teacher stated that he was now going to teach"See you Monday Harry, gotta go".
the students "To breath through their toes".That was a very important lesson to me, I have
Lets Dancenever underestimated anyone since the little guy
The most important of all the changes that havetaught me a lesson.
taken place in the past 48 years have to be theThe Grading Lottery
changes in technique and its application, the earlyIf in the 1950's and 60's you saw a 5th or 6th
style of Aikido was very compact and powerful.Dan you would be in awe of him. I now see so
From the day of its introduction to the UK, Aikidomany multi grades and to be honest they would
was always taught as a circular moving Martial Artnot be graded first Dan in the old days. They
with Tori at the centre of all movement.make these claims knowing that if they are ever
As Uke (the attacker) made his attack, Torichallenged and prove their mettle they know they
would turn within his own circle making it possiblecan claim that this is against the principals of
to carry out the technique in a very small area ofAikido.
maybe four square feet. Today the fantasyAnother favourite of these people is to juggle
aikidoist need a football pitch.around with their grades and come up with
I have seen some so called "masters" twirling Ukemultiples of matching grades, for a prime example
around on the end of one finger and pirouettingof this abuse check out the article "British
several times before being thrown the full lengthAikido-The Controversy" on the web-site
of the mat.Mitsusuke Harada Sensei "5th Dan"
HarmonisingHarada Sensei was my Karate teacher in the
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei always taught that Uke1960's, he was then and still is a 5th Dan at the
would only "go" if the technique was effective. IShotokan dojo in Tokyo. he was graded by the
often hear and have seen some of these peoplefounder of modern day Karate Gichin Funakoshi
who say they can throw an opponent withoutSensei.
touching them and sometimes by breathing andHe taught Karate to the USAF at the Kodokan
projecting their "Ki".dojo after the second world war. He was graded
You cannot do that if someone is attacking on5th Dan by Funakoshi Sensei in 1957 and is still 5th
balance, I have never seen anyone do that to aDan after 45 years, stating that "Any grade
student of mine. Of course if you do attack onabove 5th Dan is totally pointless".
balance you will then be accused of "NotThis is exactly the feeling of Sensei Derek
harmonizing".Eastman and myself, although we are two of the
Aikido for realonly remaining four of the original group left of
I have read various accounts of the firstKenshiro Abbe Sensei's group from the 1950's,
Americans to practice Aikido in the early 60's.we both agreed that there were too many
There were Americans practicing Aikido in the UK"Harry Potter" grades around, we then decided
in the late 1950's at "The Hut" The Abbe Schoolthat like Harada Sensei we would make 5th Dan
of Budo.the highest level in our organization.
The Americans were members of the USAFSerious study
stationed in the UK. they were always questioningI will take a break now that these articles are
" How would that work in the street?" and wecomplete and do some serious "Toe breathing".
would often finish up in the car park of The HutI do not know what direction the Martial Arts will
after class and engage in some real Aikido.take when all the "Old Timers " are gone.
Afterwards everyone would be in good spirits andAs one of the comments on a martial arts forum
have a few beers.said "We can still make a difference".
Sunday mornings were always the best practiceTo the one who asked on another forum after
sessions with the dojo doors being locked to allmy father, he was not a martial artist, just a hard
but the Dan grades. It was then that the Danman who started working at the age of 13 years
grades would fight each other for real. This wastwo miles underground in the South Yorkshire coal
the only way to truly evaluate your technique.mines.
On one occasion I was fighting with Sensei KenSensei Henry Ellis.