The Ki Federation Lineage

Supporting Aikido in Great Britain since the 1950s

Students and instructors gathered at a Ki Federation seminar

Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido

Morihei Ueshiba (O Sensei) was born in 1883, in Tanabe, Japan. Initially a sickly child, he grew strong through sumo and swimming. He studied various martial arts, including Tenjin Shinyo Ryu, Kito Ryu, Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, and Kodokan Judo. A pivotal moment in his life came after meeting spiritual leader Onisaburo Deguchi, which led him to combine martial arts with spiritual philosophy.

Ueshiba studied Daito Ryu Aiki-jujutsu with Takeda Sokaku, eventually gaining teaching qualifications. Over time, the combination of martial studies with his spiritual leanings led him differentiate the art he was teaching, renaming it *Aikido*. As founder of the art, he was usually known as *O Sensei*, a term frequently given to an art's founder.

His art is characterised by the principle of (philosophical) universal harmony and (practical) physical blending.

"Life itself is always a trial. In training, you must test and polish yourself in order to face the great challenges of life."

Abbe Sensei

Born in 1915, Abbe Sensei became a prominent Japanese master of Judo, Aikido, and Kendo. He introduced Aikido to the United Kingdom in 1955, and founded the [Kyushindo](/what-is-kyushindo/) system.

Abbe Sensei studied martial arts from an early age, becoming the youngest ever All Japan Judo Champion. At the age of 18 he became the youngest 5th Dan, and later on in his life became Chief Instructor of the Butokukai special training college for martial arts in Kyoto.

He then went on to create his own theory of [Kyushindo](/what-is-kyushindo/) which is a Japanese equivalent of the Buddhist Karmic Cycle. Abbe Sensei was the first to grasp its real significance in relation to Budo.

Abbe Sensei spent 10 years studying Aikido with O Sensei.

In 1955, Abbe Sensei was invited to teach Judo in London. After he had been here for one year, he formed his own society and taught all of the arts. Later, he invited other Japanese teachers to come to this country to help him, as he had about 25,000 students following his way.

In 1986 Abbe Sensei passed away in Japan.

“Minimum Effort, Maximum Efficiency”

The Ki Federation Headquarters dojo in Mark, Somerset

Sensei Williams

Founder

At the age of 24, Sensei Williams began to study all the arts under Abbe Sensei. He then became his number one full time assistant. He was the first and only non-Japanese assistant to a Japanese teacher. He later became National Coach for the British Aikido council, and the British representative of the Japanese governing body, the Aikikai. Sensei Williams then began teaching and spreading Aikido all over the United Kingdom. At this time he was the youngest 3rd Dan in Europe.

Abbe Sensei invited many teachers from the Aikikai over to the UK so that Sensei Williams could study under them. These included Nakazono Sensei (8th Dan), Noro Sensei (7th Dan), Tamura Sensei (7th Dan) and Tada Sensei (8th Dan).

After 11 years Abbe Sensei went back to Japan. Sensei Williams continued practising and teaching without his own teacher for 9 years, and formed the renowned Aikido Society.

Sensei Williams then went to Japan to meet and practise with Koichi Tohei. After this meeting, he started the Ki Federation of Great Britain. After another 10 years, he left Tohei Sensei and began teaching his own method for the Western mind to understand. This has proven very successful.

> "I don't teach self-defence; I teach defence against the Self."

Learn more about British Aikido history