Positive Aikido by Sensei's Dave Rogers - Henry Ellis - Derek Ellis.

Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman were direct students of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, they were also 2 of the first 8 students in he UK of Abbe Sensei in the 1950's. This book is about Traditional Aikido, if you are looking for fantasy Aikido? this book is not for you. Available on Amazon or www.NineCirlcles.co.uk.
Visit http://www.geocities.com/britishaikido for a review of the book.

Henry Ellis

No matter your pretence, you are what you are and nothing more.
Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 1915 ~ 1985.

I will leave my honest review soon thank you

Positive Aikido

By Dave Rodgers, Henry Ellis and Derek Eastman

Positive Aikido is a unique book written by some of the most senior aikido instructors in Britain. It gives first hand accounts of the early development and teachings of aikido in the UK as taught by Kenshiro Abbe sensei, the first instructor to teach aikido in the UK.

At age 18 Kenshiro Abbe sensei was the youngest ever all Japan Judo Champion, at 33 the oldest ever all Japan Judo Champion, with grades consisting of Judo 8th dan, Aikido 6th dan, Karate 6th dan, Kyudo 6th dan and Kendo 6th dan, Abbe sensei’s knowledge of the martial arts was profound. Kenshiro Abbe was a direct student of O' Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba, who gave him personal permission to teach Aikido in the UK. Abbe sensei taught aikido at the ‘Abbe School of Budo’ aka the legendary ‘Hut dojo’ which was the epicentre for British aikido in its early days. The ‘Hut dojo’ played host to many authoritative martial arts instructors including names such as Kenshiro Abbe, Mutsuro Otani, Tomio Otani, Mutsuro Nakazono, Tadashi Abe, M Michigami, M Noro, H Koybayashi, M Harada, N Tamara, K Chiba and more.

The authors of this book are the fortunate original students of Abbe sensei whom were at the forefront of the earliest aikido training in the UK at the famous ‘Hut dojo,’ now with 40+ years experience in aikido the authors are some of the most senior instructors in the martial art in the UK, in this book which has been 15 years in the making, they share their first hand experiences of the development of aikido in the UK and share what has been learnt from lifetimes training in the martial art.

Not only does the book contain unique historical accounts of early aikido and its growth throughout the UK but it gives an insight into the instructor’s lives and their aikido training as well as an in-depth look at technical aspects of aikido providing precise instructional material on several integral aikido techniques and principles including a no-nonsense approach to advice on timing, breathing, extension, stance, timing and movement to name a few. The core techniques of ikkyo, nikyo, sankyo, shihonage, kaitenage, kotegaeshe, iriminage and more are covered in detail and are well illustrated, demonstrating traditional aikido technique from the Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido. The book does not finish there however, its jam-packed full of other information learnt from lifetimes of unique aikido training that will no-doubt be indispensable insights and advice for many aikido students and enthusiasts.

‘A positive and refreshing no nonsense jam-packed book on aikido and its early development in Britain.’