The Great British Aikido Controversy

                                 The Betrayal of British Budo

<-  British Aikido Board statement by the then chairman Mr Toni Davies. - Mr Jack Poole ->

" We the British Aikido Board - Are not the custodians of British Aikido History - We therefore have no interest in the same "

The British Aikido Controversy was initiated when `The British Aikido Board` ( the governing body for UK Aikido ) promoted a Mr Jack Poole to its members as the original pioneer of British Aikido - Mr Poole claimed to have started his Aikido in 1952 - Three years before Aikido was introduced to the UK by  Kenshiro Abbe Sensei in 1955. Mr Poole had actually started his Aikido as a complete beginner with Henry Ellis Sensei in 1968.
Bottom Right: Present BAB Chairman Mr V Sumpter.
Left: BAB Secretary Ms Shirley Timms .

Mr Poole always referred to himself as a ` Man of Budo` -- he actually claimed to have dan grades in Aikido - Karate - Kendo - Judo.
After being exposed - Mr Poole's website now reads " Sensei Poole has studied several martial arts to black belt standard "  <]:-)

Click here to read  The British Aikido Controversy.

The whole sordid story has been archived by " The Martial Arts Encyclopedia "  - Click -> Jack Poole and the British Aikido Board.