The history of aikido is there for all to see depending on who you read and listen too.

The view expressed in this book by the author (Withey Sensei) is a little different, because it comes from the initial view point of a young boy of the very early 1970’s in the industrial heart of the industrial West Midlands in England UK. The rough, tough streets of West Bromwich to that of the notorious ‘Newmans Way’ council estate.

This differs from many books written by people trained under O’Sensei or from people who travelled to Japan to train under one or more of O’Sensei’s disciples.

The Aikido the author was exposed to differs greatly from that of the modern stylised Aikido and that of other styles taught today. The Aikido Withey Sensei  was exposed to was from the very early time of when O’Sensei formulated the style of what he called Aikido during the transitional stage from O’Sensei’s early teachings of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu to his formulation of Aikido.  It differs in that atemi is fully integrated in the techniques and not added as extra’s. One cannot express enough that they are fully part of the techniques. The techniques are on the whole much shorter and harder than the modern styles. Why because the very early version (late 1940’s – Mid 1950’s) was a self defence orientated system transitioned from Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu and the immense knowledge gained over the life time of O’Sensei.

The first Instructor to teach Aikido in the United Kingdom was Kinshiro Abbe Sensei after receiving a letter from O’Sensei allowing all overseas instructors to teach his Aikido to the world. Kenshiro Abbe studied for ten years under Ueshiba and became one of his senior students and it was during this period that Sensei Kenshiro Abbe started formulating his own Budo (the Way of the Warrior), philosophy of Kyushindo.

One of the authors instructors Reg Bleakman Sensei was Abbe Sensei’s student in Judo and then began to undertake instruction of aikido from Abbe Sensei. He was graded on many occasions by Abbe sensei, and Noro Sensei.  Abbe Sensei requested other Japanese instructors to visit and teach Bleakman Sensei aikido at his fulltime dojo in Kings Norton Birmingham, there by having slight different variations to each technique.   Reg Bleakman’s Snr instructor was Tony Smith Sensei (the authors main instructor) head instructor, Phil Bradley and members of the Bleakman family would  recounted in numerous conversations with the author about they would turn up at Reg Sensei’s dojo to find him training with a Japanese instructor. The author as a young boy recounts, that he and his younger brother turned up at the dojo to meet two Japanese instructors just leaving the dojo after they had just been training with Reg and Smith Sensei all morning.

In referring to Shodai as the name the author has chosen,  understands that there were numerous other instructors who trained under O’sensei before Abbe sensei, and  fully understand this, But Abbe sensei was the first to teach Aikido in the UK and Europe on a full-time basis, therefore it is from this point I come from in the use of shodai not prior to WWII. He fully acknowledges this and understand this can be an argument and contentious point. 

Regarding the names given to the techniques such as Nikkyo and Ikkyo as opposed to the earlier spelling of Nikajo and Ikkajo etc. I am referring to the names handed down by Abbe sensei from the 1950’s etc. and not that of earlier instructors training under O’sensei.

Withey Sensei has not invented what is practice or teach, but just give it a name to differentiate it from other types or styles that are around today, because when his instructors were learning aikido it never needed a label, it was just plain and simple aikido it did not need explaining or justifying. Shodai aikido does not require physical strength or an aggressive approach. The aikido is practiced by people of all ages, sexes, body types and dispositions. Based on full and natural body movement, shodai aikido indeed uses and exercises the whole body, mind and spirit. It teaches and develops concentration, flexibility, co-ordination, balance, speed, quick reaction, breath control, and tactical and positional awareness.

Many hours are spent on foot movement (never stepping only sliding/gliding of foot), balance of the body, great focus is placed on the student’s center-line, and flow of movement, including breathing control during technique.

Shodai aikido is essentially a system of practical and effective self-defence, the student will soon acquire a sound basis of speedy reaction and effective body movement which shouldprove useful if an occasion should demand it in real life.