4 - The British Aikido Board Executives

< Ms Shirley Timms - BAB Secretay.-
Henry Ellis exposed the collusion of Ms Timms with the Jack Poole Controversy - Ms Timms stated "I will make sure that Henry Ellis never again takes part in another BAB National Seminar!" - I am most grateful for that..
Prior to the expose:Henry Ellis had asked, and received, an excellent BAB character reference from Ms Timms for a personal matter. Ms Timms was fully aware of the purpose of the reference. - Unbelievably - Ms Timms then advised other members that she had provided Henry Ellis with a reference because he had been charged with GBH ( `grievous bodily harm`, a very serious charge, second only to murder). Henry Ellis during his lifetime does not not even have a motoring offence against his good name.
The BAB have never apologised for this blatant act of evil defamation.
Scroll to the post below for the embarressing expose by the "ex" BAB executive member.


< 2001:Toni Davies BAB Chairman:
Toni stated:""We the British Aikido Board are not the custodians of British Aikido History - we therefore have no interest in the same !! "" . This man would later lie at a General meeting of all the member organisations to promptly close the meeting to prevent Henry Ellis speaking of the BAB collusion with Jack Poole.

2002: Mr Vincent Sumpter new BAB Chairman stated. "" The history of British Aikido precedes the formation of the BAB, we have no records of this "" Probably the daftest statement to date - There were three original Aikido pioneers as BAB members.
Mr Sumpter went one better when invited to the " Kenshiro Abbe Memorial Event "
His response to the BAB executive " If you insist on my attending? I will resign !! " ( he did not attend )

< Mr Keith Holland Vice Chairman BAB

Mr Holland a close associate of Jack Poole and the BAB. Mr Holland truly has a sense of humour when stating on the NACD forum "" Henry Ellis is envious that Mr Poole has gone on to greater things than Mr Ellis himself has ""...Mr Holland needs to protect the grades given by Mr Poole - after all, Jacks 7th dan was awarded by his own students.

Dominick Foster BAB Executive.
Dominick not wanting to be outdone by the stupidity of other BAB Exec's he attends the " Kenshiro Abbe Memorial " he tells attendees waiting for the event to open "" The memorial is not this year, it should be next year "" One has to wonder why the muppet was there at all LOL ??

6 - Faces behind the BAB Controversy

Mr Poole clutches the coveted BAB Samurai Statue that meant so much to him.

Mr Jack Poole

The BAB Believed him !

Mr Poole a beginner with Henry Ellis in 1968(proven fact) Mr Poole told the BAB he started Aikido with Tadashi Abbe in 1951/2 (they believed him). He told the BAB he represented the BJC in international competition in 1954- Four years before the creation of the BJC ( they believed him )- He told the BAB he received a dan grade in Kendo with Tommio Otani in 1952 - Tommio was a thirteen year old schoolboy ( they believed him )- He told the BAB he was the first Karate dan grade in Shotokan Karate--16 yrs before Shotokan Karate was introduced to the UK by Dr Vernon Bell ( they believed him ) He told the BAB he was a third dan in Judo with Matsutaro Otani Sensei - Robin Otani said " we have never heard of Jack Poole. This statement from the President of the BJC did not deter the BAB ( they believed him )The BAB proudly presented Mr Poole with a Bronze Statue as a pioneer of British Aikido...

Mr Poole's bio has now been revised with claims on his website " Mr Poole has trained to black belt standard in various martial arts " ..`` Jack - either you is or you aint - Henry Ellis:-)``

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Mr Toni Davies

In the year 2000 Toni Davies was the BAB Chairman. He was an ardent supporter of the false claims of Mr Jack Poole. There is very little that Mr Davies will be remembered for, except his incredibly shameful crass statement when questioned at a general meeting by Derek Eastman Sensei on the proud history of British Aikido. Toni Davies [Quote]: We the British Aikido Board are not the custodians of British Aikido history - we therefore have no interest in the same[Unquote]Of course he will also be remembered as the cowardly BAB chairman who closed a general meeting early to prevent Henry Ellis asking questions regarding Mr Poole's award. Mr Davies colluded with Ms Timms to lie that another (non existent) group were waiting to use the meeting room.

It is on record that Mr Ellis checked with the Venue manager to clarify there were no other bookings that day.

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Mr Vincent Sumpter

Mr Sumpter is the present BAB Chairman....The only man to insult the memory of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.Mr Sumpter became chairman in the middle of the controversy issues.Mr Sumpter offers the following idiotic statement in defence of the crass BAB "" The period in question predates the creation of the BAB by a significant amount of time and therefore we have no formal records to prove or disprove either claim.” (Poole's 47 years in aikido and Ellis's rebuttal) Mr Sumpter did not need any formal written records as he had 3 pioneers who were the last students of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei's from the inception of UK Aikido - These pioneers were members of the BAB...Pioneers who had their diploma's signed by OSensei himself..... It was hoped that Mr Sumpter would bring a breath of much needed fresh air to the BAB, not so !! . As his limp predessor will be remembered for his crass statement. Mr Sumpter will be remembered as the BAB chairman who ""REFUSED "" to accept his invitation as a honoured guest at the celebration to the memory of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. Mr Sumpter stated to his executive " I will resign if you insist on my attending this event !! ". I am sure that he will be remembered by the executive members as the first BAB chairman to raid the members money by awarding each of the executives a sweet little `honorarium ` of approx £1000 of the members money per annum.That is approx £10,000 a year of the members money............ Try asking Mr Sumpter to help a small dojo with new mats :

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Ms Shirley Timms.

Ms Timms is the BAB secretary and treasurer of the British Aikido Board. Ms Timms has served the BAB well and with distinction from its inception, until her divided loyalties with her position as the BAB secretary and as a close friend and supporter of the Poole's affected her judgement... Ms Timms to her everlasting shame actually puts in writing to Henry Ellis, supporting the lie told by Mr Toni Davies that the 2000 General meeting was closed as another group were waiting to enter the room. There was never such a group which was clarified by the Centre Management...We all know this was a blatant lie.............Why on earth would the highly respected Ms Timms allow herself to support such conduct, Ms Timms herself trained at the famous Hut Dojo, her late husband David Timms a highly respected Aikidoka was a very close friend of Haydn Foster Sensei... Yet, beyond belief.....Mr Poole is still the favoured son of the British Aikido Board, the governing body that were prepared to go to any lengths to corrupt the true history and lineage of British Aikido..BAB = Bad @ Budo......Because Henry Ellis tried to protect the history and lineage of British Aikido Ms Timms stated " Henry Ellis will never participate in another British Aikido Board seminar ~~~ "" I Thank God for that "" ...

Ms Shirley Timms.
An EVIL Tongue
Henry Ellis was a witness for the police in a case they were investigating. The police asked him to get character references to support his testimony. He explained everything clearly to Ms Timms the British Aikido Board secretary, who in turn gave him an excellent character reference.
He was not aware that Ms Timms had been spreading rumours that he had requested the character reference because he had been charged with GBH ``grievous bodily harm`` ,this is a very serious offence which is second only to murder, and can carry a life sentence. It was only when he received a letter from an ex- BAB executive who had apologised for his part in spreading the evil rumours perpetrated by Ms Shirley Timms the BAB secretary.
It should be noted that Henry Ellis Sensei did not even have a motoring offence against his good name and character.

7 - BAB chairman 5th dan grades a 7th dan DUH!

From the KaiShinKai website.20th April 2008 - Sensei 'Bill' Harris - Kai Shin Kai chairman and chief examiner - awarded 7th dan (shichidan)
Click to view larger image
Presented by Vincent Sumpter (godan), BAB chairman & Fred Mills (godan)

From the text and photo we have the BAB chairman Mr Sumpter 5th dan grading his own Senior to 7th dan duh- Mr Sumpter was subsequently graded to 6th dan, duh duh.

Mr Sumpter is the Chairman of the British Aikido Board which is responsible for maintaining standards in UK Aikido in the name of the Sports Council.

BAB[Quote:]
The constituted purpose of the British Aikido Board is to further the advancement of all styles of Aikido in the United Kingdom and to establish and monitor standards of safety and behaviour conducive to the safety of practitioners of Aikido.[/unquote]

The above goes some way to explain why Mr Sumpter and the BAB were so comfortable in offering their full support of the fraudulent claims of Mr Jack Poole.

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British Aikido Origins from 1955 - Narration & Movie Slide-Show by Henry Ellis



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British Aikido Board

British Aikido Board . BAB Blog. Here you will experience the comfort of ``Executive Meetings of the BAB exectutive officers as they meet in the privacy and comfort of the home of Ms Shirley Timms. - Ms Timms is the long time BAB secretary. From the statements added below from the confessions of an ex BAB executive officer you can experience first hand the cunning and the scheming that takes place behind closed doors to which `` selective `` minutes were the order of the day.

Bookmark this page for the latest news up-dates. Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido - Classes @ Aikido Bracknell & Basingstoke Dojos - Visit -> Dojos

rong>Visit our new " Tadashi Abe " website -> Tadashi Abe Sensei Visit the new Nakazono Aikido Blog

Click here

Join the BAB ~ Support the Chairman & exec `honorarium `£1000 each fund.

Protect British Budo History ~ visit the " Aikido Controversy " blog Click for Aikido Controversy Blog


This is the one !!Mr Vincent Sumpter the only man to insult the memory of the father of all British Aikido. The man that refused to attend as an invited guest to the K Abbe Memorial event to represent the members of the BAB.. Mr Sumpter stated to his executive "" I would rather resign as chairman than attend that event """.
British Aikido Board """ Exposed """"
Email from Mr Sumpter.... " Be careful what you add to the BAB minutes, Henry Ellis reads the BAB minutes. ....why be careful if there is nothing to be afraid of ????? .
These are ` new ` and shocking revelations of the conduct of the governing body for British Aikido.....This documented article with first hand evidence gives the first actual insight into the crass conduct of the then BAB exec........
A large batch of email copies from an ex BAB executive officer were freely handed to Henry Ellis, they tells how the BAB were prepared to go to any devious lengths, not only to protect themselves, but also to protect Mr Jack Poole.
The exec member tells of meetings where the BAB officers slandered the name of Henry Ellis, simply because he would not stand back and allow them to change the true history of British Aikido. Visit the article link below.
British Aikido Board Exposed!
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Visit the British Aikido History site - 4 Old Photo Galleries.
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Click here: British Aikido History - 4 Old Photo Galleries.

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Visit My Aikido & Judo Video Site ~ Click -> Henry Ellis Aikido & Judo Videos A growing collection of early and modern Aikido and Judo videos..H Ellis - D Eastman - H Foster - K Chiba - M Nakazono - K Abbe - T Abe.

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8 - Kenshiro Abbe Sensei ~ KyuShinDo the Abuse

We now see people claiming to have dan grades in ` KyuShinDo ` how can you have a dan grade in a philosophy / theory ?? ....KyuShinDo is a philosophy not a martial art.

I have stated many times `` Kenshiro Abbe Sensei developed his philosophy of KyuShinDo as applicable to Judo.

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei NEVER repeat NEVER ever taught Aiki-Justsu or Aiki-Budo or JuJutsu or JuJitsu....Anyone making the following claims are talking a load of round objects...He never taught any of the following ``KyuShinDo Karate `` ~ `` KyuShinDo Aikido `` ~ `` KyuShinDo JuJutsu `` ~ KyuShinDo Aiki-Jutsu `` ~ KyuShiDo Aiki-Jujutsu `` ... Visit the Kenshiro Abbe Blog

Kenshiro Abbe Sensei Blog

Dave Delderfield Sensei and Gerry Gyngel Sensei who both worked in the London office of the BJC with Kenshiro Abbe Sensei stated..

" We have never heard Abbe Sensei speak of KyuShinDo JuJutsu or simply JuJutsu !!"..

New article " KyuShinDo is not a Martial Art "
Click here

9 - I Remember Mr Jack Poole !!!

Below is an email recently received from a student who was also a beginner with Mr Poole in 1968....

Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 6:47 PM
Subject: History From Slough And Bracknell Dojos
Attention: Sensei Henry Ellis

Sensei –
My name is Gilmartin, I was one of your students at Slough and Bracknell Sports Centre dojos. I was Mr. Goodwin’s assistant, while John Berloth was yours.
I have just become aware of the bewildering tale of Jack Poole. Your account of the facts tally’s precisely with my memory of that period. I can only conclude that poor Jack has suffered a mental breakdown of some nature and lives in a delusion.
Congratulations on your success, my years as a student of yours count among the best of my life.
Roger Gilmartin 3rd Kyu.

10 - Great New Aikido Information Sites

British Aikido History Site

Aikido Articles
Aikido Articles
There are many articles of interest on this new Aikido article site. Many articles relating to the true documented history and lineage of British Aikido from its inception in 1955 by Kenshiro Abbe Sensei. There is the very popular and widely read " Is Aikido a Martial Art ? " with several articles on Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

5 Photo Galleries
There are 5 photo galleries with many old British Aikido photos, there is also a gallery with many rare photos of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

Aikido Ellis Video Channel

Aikido Ellis Video Channel

Visit the Ellis video channel for many old Aikido films and several rare films of Kenshiro Abbe Sensei.

It should be noted that Mr Poole has a creditable history of Aikido, starting with Henry Ellis and later Chiba Sensei, sadly Mr Poole was desperate to be known as a man of Budo.

Mr Jack Poole the favourite son of the British Aikido Board. The BAB were, and have been prepared to stake its creditability and its very survival in the protection of the fraudulent claims of Mr Poole. Why?? only Mr Poole and Ms Timms the BAB secretary can possibly answer that one. It would appear that members and their money mean much more to the crass BAB than integrity, honesty, principals.

We have never ever quesioned Mr Poole's credibility from 1968, we have no problem with that. We do though have a serious problems with his claims from 1952 to 1968 as these affect the true history of British Aikido.
Although ``all`` of Mr Poole's claims have been proved to be false, he and his supporters still stand by these claims. It is time for Mr Poole to apologise.
I can sincerely understand the people who have been graded by Mr Poole not wishing to know or accept the truth. A senior dan grade of Mr Poole said to me personally that he had sat and listened to these stories so many times over the years, stories that he now knows to be fairy tales.

The BAB were fully aware of the scale of evidence that proved beyond the loyalty of friends family and loved ones that Mr Poole's claims were full of pony.

Mr Poole cunningly thought that by using the names of teachers who were deceased no one could question him ? WE DID !!.. Read the ludicrous claims of a man of Ludo.
Mr Poole when making these false claims was not aware that Ellis still had the 1968 Slogh dojo members list showing when he joined...He was aslo unaware that there were several photos of him wearing a yellow belt in late 1968 and best of all an old 8mm movie with Mr Poole and George Stavro from 1968 clearly showing Mr Poole as a beginner.

One) Started Aikido in France with Tadashi Abe Sensei in 1952.
Statement from Pierre Chassang Sensei who was the first student of Tadashi Abe Sensei in France stated "" There were no English students with T Abe Sensie in the 1950's.""

Two) Graded third dan Judo by M Otani Sensei
Robin Otani Sensei said this was untrue, "" There are no records or memory of Mr Poole's claim.""

Three) Represented the `British Judo Council ` internationally in 1955.Robin Otani stated.
"" The BJC was not formed until 1958 - International competion began 1968. No record of a J Poole.""

Four) Studied Kendo with Tomio Otani in early 1950s,
"" Tomio was then a 13 yrs old schoolboy.""

Five) Received dan grade in Shotokan Karate 1955..
Shotokan Karate was introduced to Britain in 1966. By Dr Vernon Bell and Enoda Sensei. Senior members stated
"" We have never heard of Jack Poole "".

Six ) When Mr Poole was interviewed by a London metropolitan detective, Mr Poole stated "" How dare you question a man of Budo who trained directly with OSensei "" We know that Mr Poole never trained with OSensei yet was prepared to tell porkies to a London Metropolitan detective.


Update May 2010:
A senior student of Mr Poole's has offered the latest ` profile ` on Mr Poole.
" Mr Poole is one of the greatest Aikido teachers in the world. Poole Sensei has trained to black belt standard in Judo and Kendo "...ambiguous init !
What happened to all those dan grades ? ? ?
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Mrs Merrill Poole.
I have a lot of respect for this lady who I believe is the true Budoka in the Poole family. I must admit that I don't know the truth.......But,,It is my opinion that Mrs Poole herself was duped as were the gullible BAB and the Shinawaki students.
I have often felt a great deal of sympathy for Mrs Poole during the controversy.

British Aikido Board

This Blogsite is intended to inform the British Aikidoka of the conduct of its governing body the " British Aikido Board ". We will add the latest news. We will also offer our visitors articles on the past conduct of the BAB and the devious behind the scenes intrigue of the executive members.

See the Kenshiro Abbe Memorial video at
Aikido Ellis Video