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THE BRITISH AIKIDO BOARD
Disastrous National Nepotism Seminar 2004 - 99 Students
By Henry Ellis
For many years The British Aikido Board
( BAB ) have shown no interest whatsoever
in the true history of British Aikido,
to be fair to the BAB, they have shown
a great deal of interest and support
for the false history of British Aikido
for which they have now publicly apologised,
the apology by the chairman Mr Vincent
Sumpter can be viewed on
the British
Aikido web site.
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei
When Kenshiro Abbe Sensei first stepped on British soil in 1955 he brought
with him the knowledge of many Budo arts, Aikido being one of them. Abbe
Sensei also brought his Aikido based philosophy of Kyu-Shin-Do. This was
the inception of British Aikido. Yet no where in the BAB literature will
you find any reference to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei or the origins of Aikido within
the UK. In the year 2000 the BAB were happy to help promote Mr
Pooles proven
fraudulent claims to 47 yrs of Aikido, The BAB have now taken this claim
by Mr Poole from the BAB Associations information website. I personally received
my invitation from the BAB to attend Mr Poole’s event, that was the
start of the long running British Aikido Board Controversy, yet sadly, the
BAB have never ever promoted the true history of British Aikido or its founder
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.
British Aikido Board Statement Damned Forever
The BAB Chairman Toni Davis stated in the year 2000
“We the British Aikido
Board are not the custodians of British Aikido History
and therefore have no interest in the same “
Sadly with the arrival of the
new BAB chairman Mr Vincent Sumpter nothing changed, he made the statement
below despite the factual information available to him and his executive.
Lets not forget that Mr Sumpter had the only four surviving students of Abbe
Sensei for Aikido within the BAB.
On the 17th April 2002 The BAB Chairman Mr Vincent Sumpter
wrote to Henry Ellis with reference to the history of British Aikido. He then
made the following crass statement in his support for the BAB stance on Mr
Jack Poole.
“The period in question predates the creation of the
BAB by a significant amount of time and therefore we have no formal records
to prove or disprove either claim.”
The Kenshiro Abbe 50th Celebration Seminar
May 14th Crystal Palace London
720 Participants –Guests – Spectators
At the Sport England / BAB / Ellis mediation meeting 6th July
2004 where the BAB were reprimanded by Sport England and instructed to give
Henry Ellis a full public apology.
At the end of the meeting (View
Minutes), Henry Ellis
appraised Ms Sadie Mason of Sport England of the proposed plans for the Kenshiro
Abbe event, Ms Mason suggested that we should involve the BAB in our plans
as part of the reconciliation of British Aikido, Henry Ellis agreed.
Henry Ellis offered Ms Masons suggestion
to the Abbe Event Committee, the suggestion was unanimously accepted 100%.
The BAB executive were then approached and invited to send a representative
( any member ) of the BAB to attend our meetings and report back on our
progress, this offer was rejected out of hand.
Mr. Vincent Sumpter,
"No matter your pretence, you are what you are and
nothing more!"
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei
Not deterred, we then invited the BAB chairman Mr. Vincent
Sumpter to attend The Kenshiro Abbe 50th Celebration as a VIP guest, to pay
the respects of the BAB membership of which he represents . There were many
BAB members attending, proving that this event was not about personal differences – styles
or what organisation you belong to, I was pleased to see students from Mr Poole’s
organisation who were also made very welcome. This event was about one thing
and one thing only “ Kenshiro Abbe Sensei “ with demonstrations
of the early aikido and its proud standards, with Sensei Eastman showing various
techniques to show the influences that the different early teachers brought
to the UK in those early days.
Students trained with other students of other
styles and association with a friendliness not often seen in modern Aikido
circles. This event went a long way to promote all that is good in Aikido.
I believe that the spirit of Abbe Sensei would be very proud of this special
day dedicated to his memory.
Another crass statement from Mr Vincent Sumpter 27th March 2004, in an unwarranted
attack on the genuine aikidoka who supported the British Aikido Controversy
debate in its defence of the true history of British Aikido and the Aikido
history of Abbe Sensei and his disciples.
“The Boards conscience is clear. like all the practitioners of Aikido
who contribute to this “controversy “ Mr Humm appears to have forgotten
the meaning of the word “Aikido “ – Harmony of Sprit to find
a Way “ The “Controversy “ website feeds hatred, ill – feeling,
bitterness and discord. For my part, as an aikidoka who is passionate about
the art and the etiquette that goes with it, I will therefore not add to the
feeding frenzy this website generates. I can’t stop what is going on
but I can turn the other cheek. “
With reference to the above statement by Mr Sumpter I should remind the reader
to visit
www.geocites.com/britishaikido to read both the Sport England minutes and Mr
Sumpters apology to Mr Ellis which can only be considered an apology to all
that supported the “Controversy “ in the name of Kenshiro Abbe
Sensei including the named Mr David Humm.
In response to our invitation Mr Sumpter replied stating that he graciously
accepted our invitation. Just before the event he changed his mind without
explanation, suggesting that we allow Mr Ralph Reynolds to represent the BAB.
Mr Reynolds had a far more important role to play as one of the main teachers
at this event where he was delighted to take part as an original student of
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.
This was such an important event with many good students who were members
of the BAB, yet, the British Aikido Board were not represented at this event
to pay tribute to such a great master and the founder of our Aikido.
If Mr Sumpter had attended he would have seen a Martial Arts Spectacular never
before seen in the United Kingdom, where students from many organisations met
and renewed old friendships, there were many more that made new friendships.
In almost 50 years of Aikido I have never before experienced the special atmosphere
that electrified the great hall at Crystal Palace from the moment the Taiko
Drummers started to play on this day of celebration in the name of Abbe Sensei.
I never ever thought in my life time that I would ever see an event to eclipse
the great event at The Royal Albert Hall in 1963 with Abbe Sensei. I knew on
Saturday the 14th of May that I was now witnessing the greatest Aikido event
in my 48 years of Aikido. I am not an emotional man but I will admit that as
I looked over the balcony of the concourse onto the tatami area with the sound
of the Taiko Drummers and the hundreds of students and guests gathering below
I was unable to stop the trickle of a few emotional tears as I realised I was
witnessing something very special.
MR SUMPTER, you missed something very special, whilst you
sat 40 miles away at home contemptuously ignoring the tribute to the Father
of British Aikido, others travelled from all parts of the UK - USA -
France - Holland - Germany - Czechoslovakia. etc.
Whilst you sat at home it was a wonderful moment when Sensei
Bill Woods who was the personal aide to Kenshiro Abbe Sensei and without doubt
the most influential force in the history British Martial Arts, made a supreme
effort despite his serious illness to pay his respects to the memory of Abbe
Sensei.
Also whilst you sat at home, Sensei Bill Stopps the personal
Aide to Matsutharu Otani Sensei who despite his age and ill health also attended
and thanked me wholeheartedly for inviting him as a special guest, and for
the wonderful day he had experienced.
Whilst you sat at home just 40 miles away,
Sensei Robin Otani and his two sons, the descendents of Matsutharu Otani
Sensei travelled all the way from Devon to attend.
Sensei Joe Curran travelled
all the way from Newcastle and Sensei Mike Nery travelled from Bristol. Sensei
Dave Rogers travelled 7000 miles from New Mexico USA as did Sensei Al Montemar
and Mr Chad Hatcher who flew over from Texas USA to pay their respects. Whilst
you sat at home there were many others that travelled long journeys to attend.
Unlike
you Mr Sumpter these people wanted to attend.
You missed some of the finest displays of the Budo arts that
any martial artist is ever likely to witness at any one event, a truly lasting
experience for all those that made the effort to attend.
I was always under
the impression that it was the sworn duty of any chairman to always do what
was best for his organisation and its members.
Try Try Try Again
After the disastrous “ British Aikido Board Nepotism Seminar 2004 “ with
only 99 students attending out of a membership of approx 15000, the BAB have
decided not to hold its 2005 National Seminar .
They are of course fully aware of the fantastic success of the Kenshiro Abbe
Celebrations.
With 720 participants - honoured guests - spectators.
The BAB, having failed in its four year support of Mr. Jack
Poole’s
change of the history of British Aikido, now appear to have a renewed interest
in the true history of British Aikido and its founder Kenshiro Abbe.
No matter
what the British Aikido Board does, that damning statement below will hang
over their shameless heads for ever and a day.
British Aikido Board Statement Damned Forever
The BAB Chairman Toni Davis stated in the year 2000
“We the British Aikido
Board are not the custodians of British Aikido History
and therefore have no interest in the same “
“ No matter your pretence, you are what you are and nothing more “
Kenshiro Abbe.
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