Bill Woods' Reply To Alf Bates

In answer to the nonsense printed about the Butokukwai and sent to me by a colleague, I am now setting out the truth of events. I was the only person to stay with Abbe Sensei throughout his first stay in England.  From being a 'Special Student' at the L.J.S. in 1955 until his departure in 1964 for the Tokyo Olympic Games. (I was L.J.S. Champion in 1954). The Uke you do not mention with Abbe Sensei is Mick Surgett. (One of my old 3rd Dans). The Dai Nippon Butokutwai was closed by General Macarthur after the last War (when Judo and other Martial Arts were banned, and it was never reopened.  Former Graduates of the BUSEN (The Teachers Training College) included Abbe Kenshiro and Michigami Haku. The awarding of the Ranks Doshi-Renshi-Kyoshi-and Hanshi etc is the prerogative of the Emperor of Japan. Before the War it was only given by the Butokukwai. Since the war permission had been given to three groups (only one Judo). This was to the Kokusai Budoin (I.M.A.F.) who awarded me the Rank of Kyoshi (No 5230) in May 1997. I was also awarded my 8th Dan Judo (No 146) in July 1999,  the only foreigner to be awarded this Grade by I.M.A.F. Would Mr. Bates also please give details of his Certificates from Japan?  If he cannot then credence should be given to the fact that this resurgence started in America, with all that this implies.  Concerning "The Dream of Abbe Sensei". He never gave the B.J.C. to Mr. Bates. I was Chief Instructor for Abbe Sensei from the time he left the L.J.S. until he returned to Japan in 1964. Mr. Bates was not known.  I was also the 5th Secretary (after Robin Otani left).  Robin was then only 15 years of age, too young to tell grown men what to do.  I said this to Abbe Sensei later on and he agreed with me.  When I took over and reorganised the O.K.. the membership was just over 3,000. Two years later it was over 13,500.  After one year I managed to get an Office in Denmark St, off Charging X Road.  It was 9' x 6' and cost us £2.50 per week.   At least I was away from the Otani House at Acton. Before Abbe Sensei returned to Japan, he always said he would take me with him, but never did. In 1964 he informed me 'that it is not Necessary for me to have Secretary when I am not here, only a Committee to run things during my absence'. My Friend Tomio took over and with Miss Smith (both full-time) took over a suite of rooms as an Office, with a Committee consisting of D.Delderfield, G.Gyngell and others under the Presidency of Masutaro Otani. (This story can be checked with them).   Mr. Abbe never put the reins of the B.J.C. in the hands of Mr. Bates. Mr.S.Hamano 9th Dan and Chairman of the Kodokan Grading Panel was only a 4th Dan when he refereed a young Kenshiro Abbe in a Tournament and they become good friends. I met Mr.Hamano when he visited Grange Farm Centre, to see Abbe Sensei, I took Mr. Hamano, Mr.Abbe and Mr.Nakazono (an Aikido Teacher 7th Dan. who had been 6th Dan Kodokan when he was 25 years old).   I took them to the Budokwai, Fulham, John Newman's request in Diggers car. (Digger was an Australian 2nd Dan.)  Later we all had dinner at Mrs. Yamada's House in Clapham.  While at the Budokwai, G.Koizumi,G.Kerr and others had been invited. Tomio Otani was the eldest son of Masutaro Otani and my best friend. We got our Kendo Dan Grades together on the same day (1961) from Abbe Sensei, and although my Certificate is No.1 and his No.2 Tomio was a great Kendo Teacher and left me behind when he went forward to 2nd Dan and over.(I stayed at 1st Dan). Among Tomio's pupils was a remarkable John Shaw who was then 1st Kyu.  I think he is 5-6th Dan now.  Tomio was in the Territorials as a Paratrooper.  Not in the Army itself, he would not have stood for the 'Bull'. The New Committee that ran the B.J.C. since 1964 could not answer all the mail and soon got into difficulties.  When at Abbe Sensei's insistence I took on the job as Secretary I informed him that I had no Office experience, but that I would do it for £14.00 per week and £1.00 rise every 1,000 new members.  He agreed to this.  I finished up selling all my swords.  After some years in Japan, Abbe Sensei returned to England, apparently when he asked Mr. Otani for the return of the B.J.C. Mr.Otani refused saying it was his.  After Abbe Sensei's exhibition at Crystal Palace, at which I was present, Charlie Clark drove Abbe Sensei to my caravan in Radley, near Abingdon, where I was living. Abbe Sensei told me what had gone on and asked me to go back to London with him and 'start again'. I told him that I had no money, a job with British Leyland and lived in a caravan with my family.  Abbe Sensei said that I could get a job in London and work for him in my spare time.  I said 'No' I'd had enough.  It was the first time I had refused Sensei but I was feeling bitter.  Abbe Sensei then returned to Japan to live.  In 1967 he died following a stroke. Nobby Clarke had told me many years before that the B.J.C. was splitting in two.  As I had been instrumental in increasing the Membership of the B.J.C. I would have nothing to do with it, however Nobby told me that Masutaro Otani was going to change the B.J.C. to his way of doing things, and  if I wanted to continue with Abbe Sensei's way then I had better become Technical Advisor, which I accepted.  As Tomio, Mr. Harada ( The Karate Teacher) and Nobby have died, the above can be verified by Robin and Henry Otani, Martin and Norman Clarke, Miss Smith and D.Delderfield. When Abbe Sensei left the Sandwich Street Dojo,(Euston) he gave the Dojo called the"BUSEN" to Sam Colligan and me.  I took the Judo and Sam the Karate.  When I left the Dojo later I gave my half of the Dojo to Sam.  I always call my Dojo's BUSEN. when some time later I was contacted I agreed with Robin Otani that he use the Abbe Family Mon (Badge) and I use the Butokukwai Mon. I have in the past been very tolerant of Mr. Bates' wild claims which are probably made to justify his so-called grades.   But by trying to invoke the name and attributes of the Butokukwai I have drawn the line. Let Mr. Bates tell the truth or keep quiet. W.S.Wood. 14.01.01