The important thing I have not mentioned so far is
the vast difference in technique between Abbe sensei's old style and
Nakazono Sensei's new style, which was a far flowing movement - it
seemed so much softer and yet so strong. We quickly adapted to this
new style, and it was then that Abbe dropped a "bombshell". We all
would all have to be regarded to meet with the present standards of
the Aikikai Hombu (Headquarters) in Tokyo. The grading was physically
and mentally demanding, and at the end of it he lined-up all eight
Dan grades and said he accepted all out grades with the exception
of one. He looked at this student for what seem like an eternity,
then said: "Necessary sell your gi (uniform) while price is high".
Even after 37 years that sentence has not been forgotten. He took
away that student's grade.
In 1963 I was Nakazono Sensei's assistant at a national Martial Arts
demonstration at the Royal Albert Hall in London - that was a very
proud moment for me as a young black belt, and also a proud moment
for my parents, as this was the first time they had ever seen me in
a Aikido demonstration.
Abbe Sensei then bought over from Paris a young 5th Dan, Masamichi
Noro Sensei. This was the first time we had seen a sensei (teacher)
in a white hakama (traditional uniform), and Noro turned out to be
perhaps the most graceful of all the teachers I have seen to date.
There then followed many other fine teachers, like Hiroshi Tada Sensei,
Tadashi Abe Sensei and Nobuyoshi Tamura Sensei.
For me the most effective of all the Japanese masters was, without
doubt, Kazuo Chiba Sensei. I was with him for several years and once
partnered him on television. At that time Chiba Sensei and I were
teaching Aikido at our dojo, which was situated at The Times newspaper
in London, and we were asked to take part in a 30-minute World Service
broadcast on the BBC World Radio. Sensei asked me to do the talking,
because at the time his English was not so good. A television producer
heard the broadcast and asked if we would do a demonstration on Anglia
TV, to which we agreed. Whilst we were waiting for our 'slot', they
took us to the hospitality room, where the bar was stocked with just
about every drink you could imagine. The hostess asked if we would
like a drink, and I thought a whisky would go down well. I asked "Sensei,
can we have a drink?". He said we could, but before I could order,
Sensei had asked for two orange juices.
Some Aikido I have seen in recent years depresses me because it can
be carried out by two Aikidoka who practice together on a regular
basis, like a couple of dancers who know each others movements. I
honestly think that a majority of students take up Aikido for self-defence,
so if I wanted Yoga I would sudy Yoga, and if I wanted to dance I
would take dancing lessons. I believe Aikido not only has to look
good, but also has to be effective |
Abbe Sensei not only taught Tori (performer of technique) to have
good posture and balance, but Uke (receiver of technique) had to attack
on balance also, since it is easy to throw when he comes off balance.
He used to teach with a shinai (bamboo sword), with which he would
hit and say: "My English is not very good, but my shinai speaks fluent
English". You can tell a student 20 times what he is doing wrong before
he gets right, but the shinai speaks only once, with incredible results.
I still occasionally teach the high grades with a shinai.
In the early 1960s I was asked to carry out a Aikido demonstration
at the British Judo Council's National Championships in London. It
was to be the most important demonstration to date. The VIPs were
the Japanese Ambassador and Lady Baden-Powell, wife of Lord Baden-Powell,
who was then the head of the World Organization of Boy Scouts. Kenshiro
Abbe Sensei and Masutaro Otani Sensei, 8th Dan, another Japanese master,
emphasized how important this evening was, and wanted an impressive
display from the Aikido people. Whilst we were waiting to go on, a
Judo Dan grade approached Otani, who was speaking to the Japanese
Ambassador, and said: "Hey, Smiler". I couldn't believe the disrespect
and took him to one side. We were in a confrontational situation when
Derek Eastman, who had been outside smoking a cigarette, called me
to inform me that we were due on stage immediately. We rushed onto
the stage and as I performed the technique. Mr Eastman's cigarettes
and matches fell from his go, onto the stage. I was already upset
from the previous incident, and now this embarrassment was the final
straw. I smashed Mr Eastman all over the tatmi (mat) and back again.
When demonstrating knife defence, the knife went thought my gi and
I felt the blade against my stomach and thought: "My God, it's in
me!". I dropped to my knees with Mr Eastman in immobilization as I
withdrew the knife from the hold in my gi. I expected blood to flow
but... nothing! It turned out to be just a graze. I looked in the
front row, and staring at me with shock and horror was Her Ladyship,
and I knew by her face that any hopes we had entertained of securing
her sponsorship for Aikido had disappeared. In fact, Her Ladyship
was quoted as saying: "That was the most horrific display of violence
I have ever witnessed". The Japanese Ambassador, on the other hand,
congratulated us on a excellent display.
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