The Hut - U.S. Headquarter

Sensei Ellis - When a Gi Harmonizes with a Knife

2005-02-12T13:47:00.000-08:00

Lady Baden Powell almost Faints. - A story from Sensei Eastman's point of view.

Q -DW: I know Sensei Ellis and Sensei Foster travelled a great deal with Sensei Williams, did you get to travel and visit other dojos ?

A -SE: I did get to travel but not on the scale of Sensei Ellis and Williams. Sensei Williams had just made Sensei Ellis responsible for carrying out displays on his own and I took part in the first one at West Drayton.We did so many over the years yet there are two that are most memorable, I know this story is told in Sensei Ellis article in "Fighting Arts International" magazine.

Abbe Sensei told us that this display was so very important as Lady Baden Powell and the Japanese ambassador were in the audience, and it was hoped that Lady Baden Powell would promote martial arts within her youth foundation group internationally.

Sensei Ellis was standing back stage near the Japanese ambassador and Sensei Otani when he thought that a Judo man had insulted Sensei Otani. There was an altercation between the Judo man and Sensei Ellis, I am not sure what happened out of site but the Judo man did not go on stage next as he should have. Suddenly we heard the announcement and introduction of " Sensei Harry Ellis assistant National Coach" being called out. We rushed onto the stage and as I was thrown in the first technique my cigarettes and matches fell from the folds of my gi. Sensei went mad and immediately smashed me into, and around the mat. His aggression demanded a response, I also got angry and fought back, every attack was for real. I tried real hard to get him with the club without success. Then when it came to knife, I really thought I had him when the knife went deep into the folds of his gi.

Sensei gasped but still took me down in immobilization, as he released me and I lifted my head off the mat Lady Baden Powell was looking straight at me with horror all over her face. I just knew there and then that we had blown it. Lady Baden Powell said to Abbe Sensei " That was the most horrific display of violence I have ever witnessed, and not for my girls".

And here's another story from Sensei Ellis' point of view:

In the early 1960's I was asked to conduct an Aikido demonstration at the British Judo Council's National Judo Championships in London. Among the VIPs in attendance were the Japanese Ambassador and Lady Baden Powell, the wife of Lord Baden Powell, who was then the head of the World Organization of Boy Scouts. Kenshiro Abbe and Otani Sensei emphasized how important this evening was and that they wanted an impressive display from the Aikido people.

While we were waiting to go on, a Judo man came up to Otani Sensei who was speaking to the Japanese Ambassador, and said, "Hey, Smiler." I couldn't believe the disrespect, and took the man to one side. We were having a confrontation when Derek Eastman, who was outside smoking a cigarette, told me that we were due on stage immediately. We rushed onto the stage.

As I performed the first technique, Mr.Eastman's cigarettes and matches fell out of his gi onto the stage. I was already upset from the incident with the Judo man, and now the embarrassment! I smashed Mr Eastman all over the tatami and back again.

Later, when we were doing a knife technique with a live blade the knife went through my gi and I felt the cold blade against my stomach. I thought, "My God, it's in me!" I dropped onto my knees with Mr Eastman in an immobilization, and I looked down at the front row. Looking up at me with shock and horror was her Ladyship. I knew by the look on her face that any hopes we had of her sponsoring Aikido were over. After the display, her Ladyship said, "That was the most horrific display of violence I have ever witnessed." The Japanese Ambassador congratulated us on a excellent demonstration. (On inspection, I realized that the blade had only grazed me.)

Sensei Ellis' Gi with Knife Hole on Display during
Sensei Rogers' Book Signing at Hastings Bookstore.
Click here for a larger photo.

Sensei Rogers at Book Signing for Postive Aikido Book

2005-02-10T18:31:00.000-08:00

Sensei Rogers was at the Hastings Bookstore for his Positive Aikido book signing. Sensei Emel (1st Dan) and Bill Loose (1st Kyu) were there to assist Sensei Rogers (3rd Dan) for the official announcement of the long awaited and well received Positive Aikido book that has taken 15 years to work its way to the bookshelves of Hastings Bookstore in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The Positive Aikido book will soon be available through Amazon and Barnes and Nobles websites for online ordering. For now you can order online your very own Positive Aikido book through Trafford Publishing.

The Positive Aikido book is rich in details on the techniques of Aikido along with stories and explanations on what the Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido (ESTA) is all about. A no nonsense book that gives you no bull and honest answers of what Traditional Aikido is all about. You will not find the circling of stars, moons and planets in this book Only the traditional techniques are explained along with several humourous and surprising stories enough to make you laugh and wonder out loud.

A great read. An excellent source of reference for your Aikido training.

Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting
Sensei Emel (1st Dan), Sensei Rogers (3rd Dan) and
Bill Loose (1st Kyu) at Hastings Bookstore of Alamogordo,
New Mexico - USA. For a larger photo click here.

Three authors contributed to the Positive Aikido book. Sensei Ellis (5th Dan) and Sensei Eastman (5th Dan) both from the United Kingdom (weblink courtesy of The Hut - Texas), and Sensei Rogers of Alamogordo, New Mexico.

Sensei Rogers has taught Aikido to CIA field staff, state police, US Mexican border police and the Special Forces at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. "The Hut"-US Headquarter based in Alamogordo, New Mexico celebrates its 15 year anniversary with the official announcement of the long awaited Positive Aikido book.

Please visit the official "The Hut" - ESTA website for more information. Or you may contact via email "The Hut" - ESTA U.S. Headquarter (Alamogordo, New Mexico) at thehutushq@hotmail.com for more information or questions.

Welcome to the "The Hut - U.S. Headquarter"

2005-02-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome everybody. Please bear with us as we get this Aikido blogsite going. The Hut - U.S. Headquarter is a dojo based in Alamogordo, New Mexico. It is the Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido (ESTA) branch headquarter. The dojo in Alamogordo was Henry Ellis of ESTA first U.S. ESTA branch dojo. The dojo was set up in Alamogordo in 1990 by Sensei Rogers. Two other U.S. branch dojos are located in Hawaii and Texas. In Hawaii, classes are being offered through the U.S. Army and administered by Army NCO, Paul Podhajecki, a senior student of Sensei Rogers.

What we hope to accomplish is communicate the goings on at the ESTA U.S. Headquarter dojo in Alamogordo, New Mexico as well as other branch dojos of ESTA. History, current events, pictures, video clips and other Aikido issues will be found here in this "The Hut - U.S. Headquarter" blogsite.

Please visit Aikido Blog: The Hut Texas blog site. This blog was set up by contributing ESTA students at the ESTA dojo located in Plano, Texas (north of Dallas) to help facilitate communication among Aikido ESTA students and interested parties. Or you can visit "The Hut TX" website.

Also, please visit Deaf Aikido, a blogsite set up by a hard of hearing student who practice at the ESTA U.S. Headquarter dojo in Alamogordo, New Mexico for the past three years. He is currently a 2nd Kyu and is working toward his brown belt (1st Kyu).