Kenshiro Abbe Ju-no-Kata

Ju-no-Kata (forms of gentleness) is a kata (a set of prearranged forms) in Judo.

It is designed to teach the fundamental principles of judo, especially the principle of ju (yielding or gentleness). It consists in three sets of techniques.
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Judo by Kenshiro Abbe

Kenshiro Abbe (Abe Kenshiro, December 15th, 1915-December 1st, 1985) was a Japanese martial artist. He was the youngest student to gain his 4th Dan in Judo and has been credited with the introduction of aikido to the UK and Europe, and founded the British Judo Council, British Kendo Council, British Karate Council, and the International Budo Council. Starting his life training with his father, he attended the Budo Senmon Gakko and is credited as being the founder of the Kyushindo system.

Getting Too Old For Judo If…

You May Be Getting Too Old For Judo If…

1. The first and last words that you say every day is “Ouch”.
2. The last time you gave a kiai your dentures projected across the dojo.
3. Your training partner always begins each move with “Don’t worry, I won’t throw you”.
4. If you try the same movement twice in a row you consider it uchikomi.
5. Your belt and your hair have both turned white with age. Read more

You Might Be A Judo Player If…

Relax… And enjoy your good laugh!

1. You think sweating builds character.
2. You don’t mind having more bruises than medals.
3. You think nothing worth while comes easily… and you’re OK with that.
4. You think teamwork means actually helping each other.
5. You think mixing it up is a way to have a good time. Read more

Is Aikido a Martial Art?

Sensei Henry Ellis Co-Author of the new book Positive Aikido.- 2005. A direct student from 1957 of the legendary master Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 1915 – 1985.

At first sight of the above title I am sure that a lot of Aikidoist’s will be angry, they will assume that this is yet another attack on the credibility of Aikido by other martial artist’s. On this occasion they are totally wrong, I have been a student of Aikido since 1956, In those early days I first started Judo in 1955 at the Kenshiro Abbe School of Budo, I studied Karate with Harada Sensei and Kendo with Tomio O’Tani Sensei, so with my background I feel that I have something to offer to this debate.

First Impressions

The Aikido that I first saw being demonstrated by Abbe Sensei in 1956 was without doubt a positive martial art. I was immediately impressed by its positive techniques and power, and in those days my fellow martial artists and I were in no doubt that we were witnessing a devastating new form of self-defense as demonstrated by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. Abbe Sensei had begun his martial arts career at the age of five and became a legend in his own lifetime. At eighteen he was the youngest ever all Japan Judo champion and also the youngest ever 5th Dan at the world renowned Kodokan. He later became the oldest ever all Japan Judo champion at the age of thirty three.

When Abbe Sensei arrived in the UK in 1955 he was 8th Dan Judo, 6th Dan Karate, 6th Dan Kendo, 6th Dan Kyudo, 6th Dan Aikido, the question must be asked; would this Budo master have studied Aikido if he did not believe it to be a martial art?

It is my opinion that Abbe Sensei would not have studied Aikido as it is today. Read more

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