____________________Aikido ~ Budo Articles ~ History ~ Lineage______

The Bio of Derek Eastman Sensei ~ The story of a 16 year old boy starting Aikido in the 1950s at the Famous Hut Dojo. Click here

Aikido in the UK ` The Beginning `. Click here

The Budo Masters Click here

Anita Wilson Sensei receives her dan grade Click here

Origins of the Coloured Belt System Click here

Aikido Controversy Click here

British Aikido Board a Failed Organisation
Click here


British Aikido Tree
The British Aikido Tree shows the true lineage of British Aikido from its inception in 1955 by the legendary Budo Master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 8th dan. Sensei's Ellis and Eastman are proud to be a part of that history from the 1950s.
In the 1950s there were only 8 dan grades for Aikido in the whole of Britain and they were all at the famous ` Hut Dojo` Hillingdon London.
Ken Williams Sensei was the first UK black belt.Haydn Foster 4th. Henry Ellis the 5th and Derek Eastman the 8th. The tree denotes the dan grades in order as with the Japanese masters.



Photo ~ L to R: Derek Eastman ~ The Doshu ~ Henry Ellis ~ Haydn Foster.
In July 2010 ``The Doshu`` the grandson of the founder of Aikido Osensei Morihei Ueshiba. The Doshu had requested the last three Aikido pioneers of the UK to meet with him in his hotel suite in Cardiff Wales. The Doshu in recognition of over 50 years of promoting Aikido, awarded the three pioneers 6th dan AikiKai Hombu.
This recognition came just a year after being awarded 6th dan International BiranKai by TK CHiba Shihan ..


The Hut Dojo 1957
This is the earliest known photo of the Hut Dojo the birth place of British Aikido.
Back row second from left ` 14 yr old Robin Otani son of the great Budo teacher Matsutaro Otani Sensei, Robin is now the President of the ` British Judo Council `. also 4th from left Haydn Foster...Back row second from right Henry Ellis....Front row..left Eric Dollimore ~ Centre Kenshiro Abbe Sensei with Ken Williams Sensei..



The Famous Hut Dojo
This old dojo has lived and breathed Budo through its old timbers from the early 1950s. There has been so many great Budo Masters step through the doors of this old building. K Williams the dojos founder ~ Kenshiro Abbe Sensei ~ Matsutaro Otani Sensei ~ Masahilo Nakazono Sensei ~ Masamichi Noro ~ H Kobayashi Sensei ~ Mitsukie Harada Sensei ~ H Michigami Sensei ~ Shohei Hamano Sensei ~ TK Chiba Shihan....



The Book "" Positive Aikido ""
The books author Dave Rogers Sensei of NM USA with the cooperation of Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman. Book number 2 is in the planning stages right now. You can order the book ` Positive Aikido ` on Amazon. Click for book >
Click for a review of the book ` Positive Aikido `.
Order a signed copy direct from Henry Ellis Sensei - Email - Henry Ellis Email



What a an incredible time this was to have all these great Budo Masters together.
This was taken at " The Royal Albert Hall 1963 " L to R: Sensei's M Noro ~ H Michigami ~ Kenshiro Abbe Sensei ~ M Harada ~ M Nakazono ...Sitting front M Otani who later complained that they made him sit down because he was old...





The Hut Dojo 1961

Click photo to enlarge.

Ken Williams Sensei in all black with Henry `Harry` Ellis..Kneeling bottom row is Masamichi Noro Sensei....Ken Williams Sensei was the first student in the UK for Aikido and a special student of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.


ELLIS AIKIDO VIDEOS

Visit My Aikido & Judo Video Site ~ Click -> Henry Ellis Aikido & Judo Videos A growing collection of early and modern Aikido and Judo videos..H Ellis - D Eastman - H Foster - K Chiba - M Nakazono - K Abbe - T Abe.