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15 December 1915 – 1 December 1985 was a prominent Japanese master of judo, aikido, and kendo.Morgan, K., & Ellis, H. (2006): Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 1915–1985: A man with too many friends (originally published in Martial Arts Illustrated, December 2006). Retrieved 7 April 2010. This article is not a verbatim copy of the article in Martial Arts Illustrated; scanned images of that article are available at the British Aikido History Information Website . He introduced aikido to the United Kingdom in 1955,Ellis, H. (c. 2007): Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. Retrieved 24 February 2008.Otani, T. (1967). "Kendo." In J. Goodbody (Ed.): The Japanese Fighting Arts (abridged version, pp. 35–64). London: Arlington Books. Retrieved 7 April 2010. British Aikido History Information Website (2004). Retrieved 7 April 2010. and founded the Kyushindo system.Cavalcanti, K. (c. 2004): Kenshiro Abbe, the Kyu-Shin-Do and Zen Judo . Retrieved 7 April 2010.Wood, R. (c. 2007): Kyushindo Philosophy. Retrieved 22 February 2008. Link updated on 7 April 2010. Abbe was a graduate of the Budo Senmon Gakko, having studied judo and kendo there. Following an illustrious early career in the martial arts, he served in the Imperial Japanese Army before and during World War II. He then trained in aikido under its founder, Morihei Ueshiba, for a decade. Abbe held dan ranks in several martial arts, most notably 8th dan in judo, 6th dan in aikido, and 6th dan in kendo. After introducing aikido to the UK, he established several Japanese martial arts councils there during the late 1950s. He returned to Japan in 1964 and remained there for most of the remainder of his life. There are contradictory accounts of Abbe's final years, but it appears that he was in poor spirits and poor health towards the end.
In 1929, Abbe began learning judo from Kazohira Nakamoto, a former police officer. That same year, he was promoted to the rank of 1st dan in the art and, unusually, he reached 2nd dan the next year, and 3rd dan the year after that. Thus, at the age of 16, he became the youngest judo student ever promoted to 3rd dan—an honour he received directly from Shohei Hamano, an instructor of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (abbreviated to 'Butoku Kai' or 'Butokukwai'), which was the official governing body for Japanese martial arts.International Budo Council United Kingdom (c. 2007): History: Abbe Kenshiro Docho . Retrieved 22 February 2008. Link updated on 5 June 2010. Abbe also became champion of the Tokushima High School Judo League that year. During his fifth year at the school, Abbe entered a regional tournament involving 30 towns, serving as captain for the team from the town of Kawashima. His speed and agility helped him to many victories, and he received the nickname 'Pegasus' accordingly.
At his 1st dan judo examination, Abbe had caught the attention of Shotaro Tobata from the Butoku Kai, who had been refereeing at the event. Tobata had suggested to Nakamoto and Abbe that the young man should apply for entry to the renowned Budo Senmon Gakko (abbreviated to 'Busen,' and sometimes referred to as 'Busen College'), a specialist college for martial artists. With the additional help of a teacher named Nakano, Abbe now prepared for the entrance examination in Kyoto. Out of all the candidates, of which there were around 300 that year, 20 would be accepted into the judo programme and 20 into the kendo programme. Abbe performed well and was accepted into both programmes.
In May 1935, Abbe competed in the 5th dan division championship and defeated Masahiko Kimura.Chen, J. (c. 2003): Masahiko Kimura (1917–1993): The man who defeated Helio Gracie. Retrieved 7 April 2010. This match was one of only four professional career losses for Kimura, who was already well known as one of the best judo competitors in Japan, and would later gain further fame for defeating Hélio Gracie of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. According to biographers Keith Morgan and Henry Ellis, Kimura was heard to remark after the match that fighting Abbe was "like fighting a shadow." Abbe was listed at in height and in weight at the time; Kimura was only an inch taller, but much heavier at .Chen, J., & Chen, T. (2003): Masahiko Kimura (1917–1993): Ghost of Judo, A modern day Miyamoto Musashi . Retrieved 10 April 2010. Two years later, during which time Kimura trained hard, he sought Abbe out at the Kodokan and soundly defeated him in a 20-minute practice session.
While at Busen, Abbe also enrolled in Hajime Tanabe's philosophy class at Kyoto University (then known as Kyoto Teikoku Daigaku, or 'Kyoto Imperial University'). During this period, his sister Toyoko began studying Tendō-ryū naginata under a female instructor named Mitamura Chiyo (in Japan, arts focusing on the handling of naginata have been practiced almost exclusively by women since the Edo period),Random, M. (1977/1984): The Martial Arts (translated by J. Boothroyd, p. 172). London: Peerage Books. () and she would continue practicing that art for the rest of her life.
Following graduation from Busen, Abbe became an instructor in judo at the college, as well as taking instructor positions with the Osaka police force and a high school in Kyoto. The Butoku Kai promoted him to 6th dan in judo in 1937.
Abbe was assigned to a training unit in Tokushima Prefecture, where he studied and mastered jūkendō (bayonet). It was around this time that he first met Morihei Ueshiba, founder of aikido, who had also trained in jūkendō.de Jong, H. (c. 2007): Aikido . Retrieved 28 February 2010. Ueshiba was around 60 years old at this time, around twice Abbe's age. Rogers, Ellis, and Eastman (2004) give the following account of their first meeting:
It was during a train journey in Japan that Abbe first met Ueshiba. Abbe didn't know who he was and he reacted to Ueshiba looking at him, saying: "What are you staring at, old man?" Ueshiba replied: "I know who you are," to which Abbe modestly retorted: "Everyone knows me, I am Kenshiro Abbe, Champion of All Japan." Ueshiba then introduced himself as the Founder of Aikido, and was told by Abbe that he didn't look strong enough to be a martial arts master. Ueshiba then offered Abbe his little finger, and said: "But young man, you look very strong indeed. Please break my finger." Abbe at first declined, but eventually accepted the challenge, presumably to shut the old man up. Abbe claimed that, as he took hold of the old man's finger and tried to break it, he found himself on the floor of the carriage and totally immobilised. Whilst on the floor Abbe asked Ueshiba for permission to study under him.Rogers, D., Ellis, H., & Eastman, D. (2004): Positive Aikido. Victoria, Canada: Trafford. ()
Morgan and Ellis (2006) give a slightly different account:
While travelling on a train Abbe noticed an older man staring at him who then asked if he was a 5th Dan Judo. Abbe replied “Why yes, how did you know that?” “Because you have the build of a 5th Dan. So who are you?“ Kenshiro replied: “Everyone knows who I am, I am Kenshiro Abbe, Judo champion of all Japan! “ Yes, I can see that,“ the old man replied. The old man continued to talk to Kenshiro much to his annoyance as he wanted to get some sleep. Eventually, the old man put a finger in Kenshiro’s face, “You are so powerful, break my finger!” Kenshiro was only too happy to oblige. He took the finger, expecting to snap it like a twig, and wham! He found himself on the carriage floor under the full control of the old man. The old man allowed Kenshiro to get back into his seat. “Who are you?” Kenshiro Abbe asked. “I am Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido.” Kenshiro Abbe was astounded at the technique of the old man and requested that he become his student.
Abbe studied aikido under Ueshiba for 10 years, eventually reaching the rank of 6th dan in that art. During this period, the Abbes had two daughters: Junko and Noriko.
In 1945, the Butoku Kai promoted Abbe to 7th dan in judo and 6th dan in kendo. Following the end of World War II, however, the Butoku Kai and Busen were both closed down. Abbe took up the position of a judo teacher for the Kyoto Prefectural Police Department.Pranin, S. A. (c. 2007): Encyclopedia of Aikido: Abbe, Kenshiro . Retrieved 22 February 2008. He became Chief Instructor of judo for the Kyoto police, and also taught at Doshisha University in that city. After the Abbes had a third daughter, Yayoi, Abbe resigned from the Kyoto police. During this period, he felt that judo in Japan was declining, and ended his association with the Kodokan in the 1950s.
Abbe proceeded to teach aikido at his own dojo (training hall), affectionately known as 'The Hut,' which was located behind a pub in Hillingdon, London.Ellis, H. (c. 2004): British Aikido: Full circle . Retrieved 9 April 2010. Training was rigorous and, due to Abbe's poor command of English, he would often make corrections by using a shinai (practice sword) to hit the body part that was out of place; Ellis recalled that Abbe would say, "My English is poor but my shinai speaks fluently."Anonymous (2005): Interview with Sensei Henry Ellis (originally published in MI Magazine, Australia, 4 April 2005). Retrieved 24 February 2008. Link updated on 7 April 2010. Abbe's approach to self-defence matched his no-nonsense approach to training, and was demonstrated when three youths tried to rob him one evening. Geoff Thomson (1998) wrote:
He was walking down a quiet suburban street on his way home after his usual evening teaching session. He noticed three youths hovering several yards away on the opposite side of the street. When they approached him he was ready. "Give us your money, or you'll get hurt" said the leader of the three. Abbe looked at each one in turn, then casually took his wallet out of his jacket pocket, throwing it on the floor between himself and the antagonists. He pointed to the wallet and said, "I am prepared to die for that wallet, what about you?" The three would-be attackers looked at the wallet on the floor, then at Abbe and then at each other and then moved away. Abbe picked up his wallet and calmly walked home.Thomson, G. (1998): The Art of Fighting without fighting: Techniques in personal threat evasion. Chichester: Summersdale. ()
Speaking about the incident, Ellis said, "Not a lot of love and harmony from Abbe sensei, simply an attitude and language these thugs understood."
In 1958, Abbe founded the British Judo Council (BJC), and he went on to establish the British Aikido Council, British Karate Council, British Kendo Council, and British Kyudo Council. At this stage, he was travelling extensively through the UK and Europe, and also invited Japanese martial art masters to teach in the UK; these included Mitsusuke Harada (Shotokan karate) and Tadashi Abe (aikido).de'Claire, J. (c. 2009). Karate-do Shotokai: Harada Sensei, MBE – Page 5 . Retrieved 21 March 2010. During this period, Abbe's family remained in Japan. Robinson (2007) wrote, "he did invite his family to live with him in London however they refused, apparently not at all attracted by the life style that Kenshiro offered them in England."
Abbe was involved in a car accident in 1960 which left him with severe neck injuries that had lasting effects on his health. While the precise date is unclear, Abbe had been promoted to 8th dan by late 1960.Abbe, K. (1960): Letter to Mr. Mayo (26 August 1960). Retrieved 9 April 2010. This scanned image is hosted by Mayo's organisation. Independent sources from the late 1960s include this rank with his name.Robinson, J. (1967): "The Professor still insists it's so" (Letters to the Editor). Black Belt, 5(4):63.Baker, E. (1968): "Miss Baker vs. Mr. Redgrave" (Letters to the Editor). Black Belt, 6(1):5. In addition to his ranks in judo, aikido, and kendo, he held the rank of 5th dan in karate and dan ranks in kyūdō and jūkendō.
British professional wrestler Peter Thornley, best known as the original masked version of Kendo Nagasaki, has reported that in the early 1960s Abbe trained him in judo Kendo Nagasaki and the Man Behind the Mask Peter Thornley, MinuteCircle Services Ltd 2018 , p89-93 and kendoThornley op cit p96 and that the samurai sword he used in character as Nagasaki was a personal gift from Abbe. The Mick McManus Wrestling Book, chapter on Kendo Nagasaki, Mick McManus and Charles Arnold, Pelham Books, 1970
In 1964, Abbe returned to Japan for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. While in his homeland, he met with Ueshiba, updated him on the progress of aikido in the UK, and asked him to send another instructor to the UK to continue teaching the art. In 1966, Ueshiba sent Kazuo (T. K.) Chiba to the UK to continue the work Abbe had begun.Lockyear, A. C. (c. 1993): The Challenges of Aikido: Interview with Chiba Sensei (originally published in Fighting Arts International, no. 70). Retrieved 10 April 2010.Ellis, H. (c. 2004): Aikido in the UK: The beginning . Retrieved 10 April 2010. Henry O'Tani (2009) has stated that during Abbe's absence from the UK, a dismissed BJC senior executive and several senior instructors misappropriated his financial and organisational resources and set up their own BJC group. In 1969, Abbe returned to the UK, but was distraught by the situation with this group that he had not authorised. When he asked former colleagues to help him rebuild the organisation, they refused; he subsequently left the UK, never to return.
Abbe died on 1 December 1985 in Japan. According to at least two sources, he had chosen to donate his body for medical education at Saitama University, so it was not immediately laid to rest. Abbe's funeral was held on 10 June 1986 at Zuiganji Temple, located south of Mount Bizan in Tokushima, Japan Visitor: Tokushima, Shikoku (2000). Retrieved 10 April 2010. and he was buried or commemorated at the family grave there. Robinson (2007) wrote, "Abbe was the master who introduced Kendo, Aikido, Karate, Kyodo, Jukendo, Iaido, Yarido and Naginatado to Europe yet he died almost totally alone and forgotten by most."
b. Translation of Japanese names into English is not always consistent; where more than one English version exists, this article uses the more common version, if known.
'c.' Differing accounts exist regarding the organisations that Abbe founded. The people involved, the roles of these people, and the years of establishment vary depending on the source.
d. The British Judo Council's founding year is most commonly given as 1958, which includes a BJC source, but other sources have given 1956 or 1969. Some sources mention Abbe alone in the founding role, while others also mention Masutaro Otani or Bill Woods. At least two sources indicate that Otani founded his own judo school and that this organisation and the BJC merged in 1970. Belfast Kyushindo: History (c. 2009). Retrieved 10 April 2010.
e. According to different sources, Abbe returned to the UK in either 1969 or 1967.
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