Tuesday and Thursday Blended

On Tuesday on this week Al Sensei and I were one on one. We worked on footwook. Feet placement before decided technique used, rotation of heal or toe in relation to specific techniques, and finishing in correct posture after hip movement and follow through.

On Thursday Daniel and Karl showed for a good class. Started with 5th form to immoblization and then we went into on 2nd , 3rd, 4th, and 7th for prepration for testing in March. Karl and I went through all eight in each and Daniel concentrated on 2nd. Karl and I found that work is needed to get through 3rd and 4th for the test. Basics are achieved, but we both need to work on the fluid movements. As for Daniel his ukeme needs work to get to 5th kyu. I learned alot of what is needed for myself to get it done. WORK, WORK, WORK!

Article talk

A conversation piece on one of Ellis Sensei's stories.

www.thehuttxaikido.org

Updated with new pictures and video. Having problems with the direct link from the blog. Must copy and paste URL.

Great Article! Excellent! 

www.aikido3d.com

Click on the above. What do you all think?

Belated Thursday Class

Thursday night was a good class on first form from hard static. Being mostly for Daniels benefit the basic 8 with options of other negative and positive techniques were good reminders that other options are available to use. So, 8 techniques turns into 12 or 13 from first form that I can easily remember. Also, we had a good 25 minute randori one on one with Daniel and I. Daniel is about ready to test. Reps on techniques and ukeme's will put him in position to test, in my opinion.

Great Job

Chad, Just want to say thanks for all the work on this blog. All the postings on the history keep it coming, great stuff!!

All, but 2 are injured!?!

In class last night I was the only student. As of last week Daniel and I were the only students not injured. Did I wipe him out? School most likely interfered with him coming to class. Anyway, Al Sensei and I had a good round of 2nd and 4th form. With 4th being a firmer static then 2nd it was a good mix. We also went into 5th , 6th, and 7th forms to get movement for a good stretching and work out. Come on testing!!! I believe I'm mentally ready for it, but physically 3rd and 4th is more of a problem for me then 5th, 6th, and 7th. Hips, hips, hips.

Henry Ellis with Mikito Nakazono Sensei
 

Henry Ellis Sensei and David Warne Sensei demonstrate shiho-nage.
Basingstoke Dojo 1986
 

The Hut Dojo 1957, Judo and Aikido students.
Front row Abbe Sensei and K Williams Sensei.
 

Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman - 2000
 

Biographies of Notable Martial Artists

Henry Ellis was born May 3rd 1936 in a tough coal mining town in the County of Yorkshire, North of England. This was pre-war Britain, and growing up as a child during the austere war years of the 1940’s all Henry knew was hard times and discipline as the son of a tough coal face miner. Henry didn't realize that this tough life with strict discipline would stand him in good stead in the years to come.
In 1956 he became a member of the Abbe School of Budo at the now famous Hut Dojo. His first introduction to Martial Arts was in the Judo section. After a full year of Judo, Henry saw the great master Kenshiro Abbe sensei demonstrate Aikido which had only recently been introduced to Britain ( 1955 ).
Henry Joined the Aikido section in 1957 while continuing with his Judo studies.
The Hut was the Hell Dojo of all Hell Dojo’s. The discipline was very strict and very few continued to study. This was the only Aikido dojo in the UK. Abbe sensei and Williams sensei would teach with a shinai, words were wasted but the shinai always received the students full attention. Abbe sensei said many times that his English was bad but his shinai spoke excellent English.
Henry fit well into this disciplined routine where a mistake would receive a whack with the shinai or between 100 and 200 press-ups on the back of the wrists. At third kyu Henry was promoted to personnel assistant to Williams sensei, he then travelled around the UK with his teacher taking the very first Aikido seminar in the UK in the town of Devises near historic StoneHenge.
When Henry reached first dan he was instructed to take an assistant, the assistant was Derek Eastman who is still associated with the Ellis Aikido Schools.
Of this early select group eight became dan grades ( black belts ) these were the only dan grades for Aikido in the UK. Henry was the first Aikido teacher to introduce Aikido into the British education system in the early sixties.
In the very early sixties Ellis and Eastman, on the instructions of Williams sensei, travelled around Britain teaching Aikido to Judo and sports clubs for free. They worked a few days here and there for a meal and a bed, often sleeping in the car, in an effort to promote the art to anyone who would give them the opportunity to teach and demonstrate. The two spent one year “on the road “ .
Ellis and Eastman both studied Kendo with their best friend Tomio Otani Sensei the British National Coach for Kendo. They in turn taught Tomio Aikido.
At this time Harada Sensei was teaching his ShotoKai Karate at the Hut Dojo. Henry studied with Harada Sensei, Henry using Karate in his Aikido and Harada Sensei using Aikido movement in his Karate.
Harada Sensei had last been graded to 5th dan in 1957 by the founder of modern Karate Gichin Funakoshi. Harada Sensei had developed the art of ShotoKai Karate. When asked why he was still 5th dan as he is today, Harada replied “ Any grade above 5th dan is totally pointless “. This impressed Henry who himself was now sick at the sight of so many self appointed egotistical self aggrandising so called masters who cared more for titles than the Martia Art they represented. Ellis and Eastman agreed to follow Harada Sensei’s stand and they made the highest grade in the Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido to be 5th dan.
Henry has personally studied with many of the great early names in Aikido. Sensei’s Kenshiro Abbe – Tadashi Abe – Mikoto Nakazono - Misamachi Noro – N Tamura – Kobayashi – Kazuo Chiba to name a few.
Henry is proud of the expansion of the ESTA to the USA in Alamogordo New Mexico and Dallas Texas.
On the 17th of December 2004 the release of the book “ Positive Aikido “ was of great satisfaction after almost 50 years of Martial Arts.

Henry Ellis
C/o Author: Positive Aikido.
www.EllisAikido.org
www.geocities.com/britishaikido

Sensei Derek Eastman's article in a Basingstoke Newspaper 

Photo Class

The gang showed at the dojo for pictures that will be posted by next week on the site and blog. Damn, I look good!! Right. It was good to see every one out. Even the injured mustard up some techniques for the viewing public to ahhh about. But after pictures and short film demostrations Daniel and I had a good melay of 2nd and 3rd forms for 20 minutes that was needed for a good sweat breaking. Thanks to all that showed.

Rehashing Last Tuesday

Last Tuesday , which I forgot to post, was a solid class on kotegaeshi. Emphasising on 3rd form for testing. We practiced as well mirroring with inside shiho-nage. Then we practiced waza techniques shiho-nage and irime-nage. Again solid class.

First training of 2005

Hi all,

we had our first training session of 2005 on Monday at Bracknell and had a decent turn out. Senseis Ellis, Eastman, Lyons and Zolik. Richard, Anita, Jason, myself, Rob and Mark. Anita, Rob and Mark worked on ikkyo ( I think that's what Mark said) with Sensei Eastman and the rest of us did kaitenage - One move with movement, another exaggerating the shoulder under the arm as you first turn in and one with alot of movement. Then we did some sword practise. Striking while moving up and down the mat and then stationary in pairs striking the head and blocking whilst in jigatai (someone tell me how to spell this please!). Excellent to be back on the mat,

cheers
Magnus

Back Rehab

I finally got the MRI done and I am waiting on results,which should be back today or tomorrow. Hopefully no surgery will be required and I will be able to rejoin class at the end of January if not sooner!!

A Must Read for an Aikidoist! A Trafford Publishing.Please leave any review you may have on the book! 

Good Articles to Read on History and Martial Arts

http://www.usadojo.com/martial-arts-articles/article-positive-aikido.htm
http://www.usadojo.com/martial-arts-articles/article-is-aikido-a-ma.htm
http://www.usadojo.com/martial-arts-articles/article-anita-wilson.htm

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei ( 1915 - 1985 )
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 50th Celebration Seminar
14th May 2005 Crystal Palace Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, London,
This event is to celebrate the arrival of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei to the shores of Britain in 1955 and the inception of Aikido for the very first time to the UK.
Abbe Sensei 8th dan Judo, had been invited to the UK to teach Judo, his credentials were very impressive, the youngest ever 5th dan in Japan at the age of 18 yrs, the youngest ever All Japan Judo Champion at the age of 18 yrs, the oldest ever All Japan Judo Champion at the age of 33 yrs.
His arrival had a tremendous impact on British Martial Arts in general. Abbe Sensei was also graded in other martial arts, 6th dan Aikido - 6th dan Karate - 6th dan Kyudo - 6th dan Kendo he was also graded in the bayonet arts.
Shortly after his arrival, Abbe Sensei received a letter of authority from OSensei Morihei Uyeshiba himself. allowing Abbe Sensei to teach Aikido to his students in Britain. This was the first time that Aikido had ever been seen in Britain, his first student was Sensei K Williams who is still teaching today.
There are four students left from the 1950's, Sensei's H Foster - H Ellis - R Reynolds - D Eastman. They will all be teaching at this seminar.
Abbe Sensei was a man of Budo, we will honour the arts of Aikido - Judo - Kendo - Karate - Kyudo - Iaido with a small demonstration of each of these disciplines
during an extended break during the days events, each of the arts will be demonstrated by the most prominent of teachers in their respective arts.
Nine Circles Budo Supplies have very generously donated a valuable sword which will be raffled at the end of the event, some lucky student will be going home with
this superb prize. Sensei Dave Rogers has presented a beautifully hand made tanto which will be the second prize.
Mr Don Bayney the UK's leading expert on Japanese armour and swords, will display many of his personal items from his ancient Japanese arts collection, swords - a suit of armour - naginata - yari - and many other items.
There is a very impressive guest list of who's who in British Martial Arts including Pierre Chassang Sensei who is 85 yrs of age, the first student of Tadashi Abbe sensei in Paris France in 1952. Other invited guests are the Mayor of London, The UK Japanese Ambassador.
There has never been an event of this kind in the UK since Kenshiro Abbe's British Judo Council held its National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall in 1963,
in which the above named Aikido teachers all took part with legends such as Matsutaro Otani Sensei 8th dan Judo - Mitsuki Harada 5th dan Karate - Mikoto Nakazono 7th dan Aikido - Masamichi Noro 6th dan Aikido - Tadashi Abbe 6th dan Aikido.
It is the dedicated intention of this organising committee that this event will even eclipse that event.
All the latest information on this event can be found on the dedicated websites at.
www.aikido-database.co.uk
www.geocities.com/britishaikido
 

Hi from the UK

Hi to all the ESTA students and friends!
I am pleased to see this new site as a way for the students and friends of the ESTA to keep in touch with the many events that are taking place.
The book Positive Aikido has now been published and released, If you have a copy ? please submit your own review.
We also have the biggest Aikido event of its kind ever at the Crystal Palace Sports Centre. London, UK on May 14th 2005.
Sensei Eastman had an article on the book and the Basingstoke dojo in the Basingstoke Gazette
put that in your browser and look for all the photos.
Next week the Bracknell dojo will be featured in the Bracknell Standard.
Dave Rogers Sensei had a large article on new years eve in the Alamogord News, which has also filled his dojo with new students.
A new book is already in the planning complete with CD.

Looks like the start to a very busy year.

Happy New Year to all.

Henry Ellis

To post

click on your name in contrubitors, click home on bottom left, it will ask you for user name - put in yours and password. if it doesn't let you set one up email me at chad.hatcher@mail.com and I'll give you mine. This will allow you to post instead of just commenting on a post, which is cool too!!

Nigel's Island Post

Greetings to everyone state side. Thought I would drop by and add a few comments. Hope this Blogger goes well, and everyone joins in.Our Dojo opened today for the first time since the Christmas period. I thought I would start the year off with some easy techniques for a change. The class had 2 hours of Suwariwaza, taking the Jo from shomenuchi Kotegaeshi & Iriminage ! Then the nine basic techniques from 1st form. For some unknown reason, judging from the _expression on my face, no one complained that their knees were hurting!! Hope everyone had a good Christmas. I'm looking forward to meeting you all on the Kenshiro Abbe course in the UK this coming May.

Best RegardsNigelAbertillery Aikido Club. (Wales) UK

Thursday Night

Thursday night we started with 3rd form Shihonage, negative. We then went to 3rd form Shihonage positive, then covered first form Shihonage with Uke's arm extended instead of being folded back to his shoulder. The last technique was Shihonage from a yokomen strike, where we went thru Uke's feet. I don't believe Ellis Sensei ever gave that one a name. It was only me, Karl, and Al sensei at the class. Lets get well and practice!

Tuesday Class

Last Night we worked on 3rd form irimi-nage, and irimi-nage from club with immobilization and disarm. Al Sensei showed us what he expects from us 5th kyu's for the testing with the disarming of the club. The two forms he wants to see for immobilization are irimi-nage and kotegaeshi, but I meant to ask about ikkyo. The 3rd form were both negitive from a lower cut as well as an upper cut, but can show both one positive and one negitive for the test. Good Class!

Al Sensei  

A Start

I'm starting this blog in hopes to communicate with the ESTA (Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido) students and instructors World Wide. Even if moderately successful, we will be better for it. So, don't be shy come one and all and make a statement, ask a question, or just say hello. This is our blog of communication, lets talk.