41 Facts About Kenshiro Abbe

Kenshiro Abbe introduced aikido to the United Kingdom in 1955, and founded the Kyushindo system.

Kenshiro Abbe then trained in aikido under its founder, Morihei Ueshiba, for a decade.

Kenshiro Abbe held dan ranks in several martial arts, most notably 8th dan in judo, 6th dan in aikido, and 6th dan in kendo.

Kenshiro Abbe returned to Japan in 1964 and remained there for most of the remainder of his life.

Kenshiro Abbe was born on 15 December 1915 in a village in Tokushima Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku, Japan.

Kenshiro Abbe was the son of Toshizo Abbe, who was the local school's headmaster and a kendo instructor, and his wife, Kote Abbe.

The couple had four sons and five daughters, and Kenshiro Abbe was the youngest child in the family.

On 4 September 1919, when Kenshiro Abbe was not yet four years old, his father drowned in a flash flood while training in the mountains.

Kenshiro Abbe went on to become a local school champion in sumo.

In 1929, Kenshiro Abbe began learning judo from Kazohira Nakamoto, a former police officer.

Kenshiro Abbe became champion of the Tokushima High School Judo League that year.

At his 1st dan judo examination, Kenshiro Abbe had caught the attention of Shotaro Tobata from the Butoku Kai, who had been refereeing at the event.

In 1934, Kenshiro Abbe moved to Kyoto with his mother and his sister Toyoka so that he could attend Busen, training in both the judo and kendo programmes.

Kenshiro Abbe learned kendo under the direction of Busen's head sword instructor, Kinnosuke Ogawa, a master who held the rank of 10th dan.

Kenshiro Abbe recalled that his instructor, at the age of 75 years, was so skilled that he could not be touched by any of the students or younger instructors.

Kenshiro Abbe fought five opponents in succession with each contest lasting five minutes, and he won all or almost all of these matches.

In May 1935, Kenshiro Abbe competed in the 5th dan division championship and defeated Masahiko Kimura.

In June 1937, Kenshiro Abbe enlisted in the Imperial Japanese Army, and was posted to a garrison in Manchuria.

Kenshiro Abbe served there for four years, during which time he was unable to continue training in judo but was able to practise kendo.

Kenshiro Abbe did not remain a civilian for long since Japan entered World War II near the end of that year.

Kenshiro Abbe was assigned to a training unit in Tokushima Prefecture, where he studied and mastered jukendo.

Kenshiro 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 Kenshiro Abbe asked Ueshiba for permission to study under him.

The old man allowed Kenshiro Abbe to get back into his seat.

Kenshiro Abbe studied aikido under Ueshiba for 10 years, eventually reaching the rank of 6th dan in that art.

Kenshiro Abbe took up the position of a judo teacher for the Kyoto Prefectural Police Department.

Kenshiro Abbe became Chief Instructor of judo for the Kyoto police, and taught at Doshisha University in that city.

Kenshiro Abbe went at the invitation of the London Judo Society, and was the first master to teach aikido in the UK.

Kenshiro Abbe came to experience two problems at the LJS: first, he felt that the students there were more concerned with competition than his theories, and second, he felt that the students did not treat him with the appropriate respect for someone of his rank and experience in the martial arts.

Kenshiro Abbe proceeded to teach aikido at his own dojo, affectionately known as 'The Hut,' which was located behind a pub in Hillingdon, London.

Kenshiro Abbe was walking down a quiet suburban street on his way home after his usual evening teaching session.

Kenshiro Abbe noticed three youths hovering several yards away on the opposite side of the street.

Kenshiro 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.

In 1958, Kenshiro Abbe founded the British Judo Council, and he went on to establish the British Aikido Council, British Karate Council, British Kendo Council, and British Kyudo Council.

Kenshiro Abbe was involved in a car accident in 1960 which left him with severe neck injuries that had lasting effects on his health.

British professional wrestler Peter Thornley, best known as the original masked version of Kendo Nagasaki, has reported that in the early 1960s Kenshiro Abbe trained him in judo and kendo and that the samurai sword he used in character as Nagasaki was a personal gift from Kenshiro Abbe.

In 1964, Kenshiro Abbe returned to Japan for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

In 1969, Kenshiro Abbe returned to the UK, but was distraught by the situation with this group that he had not authorised.

Sources appear to agree that Kenshiro Abbe was in poor spirits and poor health towards the end of his life.

Kenshiro Abbe suffered a stroke on 17 November 1985, and was hospitalised.

Kenshiro Abbe's funeral was held on 10 June 1986 at Zuiganji Temple, located south of Mount Bizan in Tokushima, and he was buried or commemorated at the family grave there.