Women in the Martial Arts

1st Lady Assistant to Sensei Henry Ellissee all these black belts struggling. Later I had a little
Ellis Schools of Traditional AikidoI was born in Westcrowd around me wanting to inspect my wrists, I
London in 1963, my father was very involved in theexplained that this exercise is standard for both
martial arts and a dan grade in Karate he was also aseniors and juniors in our schools.I was now feeling a
dealer in ancient Japanese arms and armour, althoughlittle more confident when Sensei pointed out that there
my father has an antiques shop in London's Bondwere six young dan grades who had arrived late and
Street, my home was more like a samurai warriorswere respectfully waiting for permission to come onto
dressing room, with original suits of Japanese armourthe mat. Sensei asked me to show them what we
complete with very frighting face masks that wouldhad been teaching so far, they were all wearing black
frighten the life out of my friends when ever theygi's and when I approached and invited them on the
came to visit, there were also very many valuablemat, they scowled as if to say "hey, we have not
swords yari and naginata spears.The MastersMytraveled all the way from London to be taught by a
father would travel around the world searching for thewomen" as I showed the first technique "nikkyo" a
best quality weapons, what intrigued me the most as awrist locking action, the first guy tried to resist me, I
child was all these strange visitors that would come toapplied the technique as shown to me so many times
my home, the famous Otani family were regularby Sensei and almost put him through the mat. I
visitors with Sensei Matsuro Otani 7th dan Judo thethought he would be upset with me, but as he got up
UK National Coach, Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, Tomiohe asked "How did you do that?". He then wanted me
Otani Sensei the UK National Coach for Kendo, histo do the technique on all the others, now I had their
visitors were like the who's who of martial arts, asattention and they were a great bunch of guy's. I really
recently as two weeks ago I was pleased to meetenjoyed teaching them. At the end of the seminar, as
with Sensei Kazuo Chiba 8th dan when he came towe were leaving the hall to head for the car park,
see my father.Introduction to AikidoAs a child I did athese six guy's were waiting in a line and bowed to
little Karate with my father but nothing serious until 1992me simultaneously with a smile and said to Sensei Ellis
when I went to the local Aikido dojo in Bracknell," You have a strong lady assistant there ,sensei"
Berkshire, UK. All those years with my father and hisSensei replied " That is why she is my assistant". That
Japanese weapons must have had a latent butwas my first seminar and one that I will never forget.I
profound effect on me, as I watched Sensei Ellishave been involved in many other seminars with my
teaching his Positive Style of Traditional Aikido I knewSensei and they were always good, but I was never
there and then that this was the martial art for me.Theso overawed as I was at my first one, or so I thought.
Hard Training BeginsWhen I started Aikido I made aThen Sensei Ellis asked if I would like to visit New
point of training with the men and they treated me asMexico in the USA for a seminar. The seminar was to
one of them. With regular practice I progressed. I hadbe held in Alamogordo NM, where Sensei's USA
now developed the hard training bug and startedrepresentative in the US lives and works at the Space
courses in physical training and amateur weight lifting,Museum. Sensei visits New Mexico every year and
after a few years of hard work I became a fullywe have another Ellis dan grade in Texas, Al
qualified fitness instructor-personal trainer and amateurMontemar. I had always wanted to visit the US and
weight lifting coach, the high light of all this effort wasjumped at the opportunity. We made the trip into a
when Sensei Ellis promoted me to assistant coach ofvacation for friends and family. We taught members
the Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido (ESTA) twoof the USAF and German Air Force at Holloman AFB,
years later he promoted me to first lady assistant towhich included a guided tour of the base and various
himself, there had never ever been a lady assistant infighter aircraft, including the Stealth bomber. Sensei
all the long history of the ESTA, Sensei put me on aRogers is an instructor who teaches students from
three month trial and 8 year on I am still here.In 1994 Ithe USAF, Highway Patrol, police and some members
received my coaching certificate from the Britishof the United States Marshals.While in the US, I also
Aikido Board (BAB) which is the governing body forvisited the Grand Canyon and Phoenix. I intend to
Aikido in the UK. Once I became assistant to Senseimove to Phoenix to live within the next two to three
Ellis I became involved in assisting in teaching both menyears. Sensei Ellis has a book on aikido coming out
and women and also helping with the children'snext spring in the US titled "Positive Aikido" which I am
classes.The First SeminarSensei Ellis asked if I wouldpleased to be featured in, Sensei Rogers is a journalist
like to take part in a very large and important seminarby profession and has worked on this book for the
in Liverpool in the North of England, Sensei Ellis is notpast two years and it will be published in the US. There
one of those teachers who has a pet uke follow himare several publishers interested in the book so we
around to fly all over the mat at a touch or a glance,are all very excited about this latest project. I hope to
he prefers to try to involve all the students who attendbe visiting the US again next year and I hope to be
his seminars if possible, knowing this I felt verythere for the launching of the book.For the martial
privileged but nervous when Sensei told me thereartists out there I would like to add one more comment
would be about 700 students from various martial arts,about the proposed book. Where as most Aikido
I think the phrase "Being thrown in at the deep end" isbooks spend a great deal of time harmonizing with the
applicable here.On arrival at the venue I was amazedplanets and the universe, there will be none of that in
to see so many students from so many countries,this book, Sensei always tells students to come out of
UK-France-Germany-Italy-India-Austria are just somethe clouds and get back on the tatami because "This
that I can recall. Sensei Ellis was asked to take the firstis where it all happens" and he also often says "leave
class of approximately 50 dan grades from variousthe dancing to Fred Astair" (who is Fred Astair?).Anita
martial arts. Sensei had me demonstrate 100Wilson
press-ups on the backs of my wrists with fingersAssistant to Sensei Ellis
pointing both inwards and outwards. When I had
finished and was in the raised position Sensei sat onWilson has been involved in the martial arts from
my back (he did not warn me of this) and carried onchildhood she is now a very highly qualified personal
with his lecture. Sensei suggested that those whofitness training instructor, qualified BALA weightlifting
wanted to should try this exercise. It was amazing tocoach, Aikido assistant coach.