Bracknell Aikido Dojo 1990 ish

Front row L to R; Mark Eastman - Andy Lyon - Henry Ellis - Anita Wilson - Derek Eastman.

 Excellent Researched and Documented Video

                           The Founding of JuJutsu Judo Aikido in the UK                                   

  Bracknell Dojo 2007

Photo 2007 - Left: Derek Eastman  -- Anita Wilson  -- Henry Ellis. .

Photo R: Front Row:  Left : Paul Zolic - Right: : Brad Beeden. --- 2nd row - Henry Ellis -- R: Derek Eastman. -- Back Row. Left: Jason Tonks -- Richard Powell --Anita Wilson -- Charles Griffiths -- James Peck..: 

 

The Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido. (ESTA)

 1963 - The Bracknell Aikido Dojo was the first dojo to be opened by any of the pioneer dan grades from the famous Hut Dojo, The dojo opened with the local Bracknell News press in attendance. Demonstrations by Ken Williams Sensei and Derek Eastman, Big Ron James, Andy Allen.and several other Hut dan grades. 60 years later the Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido` are still teaching in Bracknell. At the age of 86 yrs Henry Ellis is just retired from Aikido practice, he is still involved as he and Derek Eastman Sensei documents  his books on the factual history of British Aikido and other great books that will protect and preserve the legacy of Aikido from the Kenshiro Abbe Sensei era.  

I believe the one thing that separates the ESTA from many other organisations is that not one student or teacher has graded themselves, all grades have history, they all have lineage to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.by the lineage of Sensei's Ellis and Eastman.

I am proud to have been a part of  this organization for the past 30 years, I will always cherish the memories of travelling around the UK to various seminars and the wonderful times visiting our fellow students in the USA.----Anita Wilson, 

" British Aikido History " the Book.

"It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty, and how few by deceit "  Noel Coward                                           

Scroll down past the books and video information for the blog content as titled.

Click on Book Image for Amazon.

This book acknowledges the many British Aikidoka and Japanese Budoka that Ellis and Eastman met along their  journey to promote the then little known martial art of Aikido. from a time when the Hut Dojo was the only Aikido dojo in the UK - There is now an Aikido dojo in almost every town and city.

Click image to enlarge or click image in R/H column to go straight to the Amazon book page for [Look Inside] a free preview. The book " British Aikido History " this is the story of the last of the original pioneers still involved in the promotion of the true history for future generations. There are many old photos from the 1950s/60s. There are acknowledgments to those that have helped to protect and preserve our origins from the era of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei from 1955.The book is 311 pages of stories - interviews -anecdotes - history - and much more - Please visit the free preview to see what this book has to offer. Over the years I have been asked many times `what was it like to study directly under Kenshiro Abbe Sensei?`, this book will give the reader a taste of that era, a time when Aikido was a martial art and the people who trained were martial artists in the truest sense of the term. Sadly, so many of the Japanese and British early pioneers of Aikido are no longer with us, we will remember as we pay our respects to them, may they rest in peace. The book was published by Amazon on the 7th of March 2021 - Cost B/W £6-35p or colour version £27-00.

 " It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty, and how few by deceit."  Noel Coward

 Click  " Is Aikido a Martial Art ? "

This book consists of a interview I conducted with Henry Ellis, a pioneer of Aikido in the UK since the 1950s. With over sixty years  of experience in Aikido he shares his views on the above topic, warm-ups with Karate style kicks and punches, daily runs,full contact training, read about what he went through under the direction of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and Ken Williams Sensei at the famous "Hut Dojo". You will have a different perception of Aikido after reading this book.

Author: Abdul Rashid. 

2022 Release - Amazon - £7-99p.

Cover photo Henry Ellis and son Rik.