Dear friends
Friday 3rd August 2012 – The Hut Dojo – London.
Derek Eastman and Henry Ellis met TK Chiba Shihan the official AikiKai Hombu representative to Great Britain.
TK Chiba Shihan presented Eastman Sensei and Ellis Sensei with the promotion to ` Aikido Shihan` – certification from AikiKai Hombu – Tokyo Japan.
The certificates were signed by the Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba.
Ellis and Eastman Sensei’s have taught Aikido in the UK – Europe – USA and Australia during their 55 years from being early pioneers of British Aikido from the 1950s.
This honour justifies all their efforts over recent years to protect the proud history and lineage of British Aikido from its inception by the legendry Budo Master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955.
Their teachers were all direct students of Osensei Morihei Ueshiba – we are proud to have our grades recognised by legends of Aikido.
Diplomas from the 1950s have been signed by –
OSensei Morihei Ueshiba ( numbers 349 & 363 ) – Kenshiro Abbe Sensei – Masahilo Nakazono Sensei – Masamichi Noro Sensei – TK Chiba Sensei – Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba – The final accolade is the promotion to `Shihan`.
It does get much better than that!
With thanks to all our students for their support which makes teaching Aikido for so many years worthwhile.
It was with great honour that my Sensei Nigel Jones and I were invited to be guests by Henry Ellis Sensei and Derek Eastment Sensei to celebrate with a beer after the presentation in Cardiff following the Doshu Course.
Sensei Nigel Jones and I had been invited previously to this to the Kenshiro Abbe Memorial Course in Crystal Palace, which was the most awesome Aikido event I have attended. Then a kyu grade, it made such an impression on me, as did the teaching on the day and the repect and friendship shown by many who attended.
In addition to being invited to train at Sensei Ellis & Sensei Eastman’s clubs in London, Sensei Nigel Jones and I also attended the Nakazono Memorial Course held in South Wales via Gwynne Jones (Shin Gi Tai) and what another amazing event.
I feel for me Ellis Sensei’s book ‘Traditional Aikido’ and the wonderful posts online have helped to contextualize the history and tradition of Aikido within the UK. It was also interesting that Ellis Sensei had practiced Karate with Harada Sensei, who was later the head of the organisation I joined when I was in University (Karate Do Shotokai – KDS), respectfully and graciously training under Mark Hallam based in Stoke and Marie Kellet based in Cwmbran. I am currently looking at synthesizing both arts for my own personal practice and development. My dojo is now with Kobayashi Dojos under the guidance of Hiroaki Shihan (internationally) and Jeffrey Mills (in the UK). However, I believe as both Sensei’s Ellis and Eastman correctly state “Aikido is a martial art”, not synchronized dancing. We practice on the mat so people do not get hurt – but that is not all there is. I am also trying to expand my own practice of Meditation, which I believe is part of Budo. Bu – do (way).
With the sad passing of Chiba Sensei in 2015 – again of of the most dynamic Aikidoka ever – an event which was marked with sadness, reverence and respect at Abertillery Aikido Dojo – it is interesting to me to see the widening gap between MMA and traditional arts, which many do not really understand or have time for.
I wholeheartedly and unreservedly congratulate both of these great men who did the ‘hard yards’ to spread Aikido across the UK.
With much respect and humility.
Domo arigato Gozamashita.
Yours in Aikido,
Andrew Pugh
Abertillery Aikido Dojo
Nidan – Kobayashi Dojos UK.