Women in the Martial Arts - Anita Wilson

Women In The Martial Artsby Anita Wilsonmartial arts. Sensei had me demonstrate 100
1st Lady Assistant to Sensei Henry Ellispress-ups on the backs of my wrists with fingers
Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikidopointing both inwards and outwards. When I had
Anita Wilson was graded to Shodan by Jiro Nakazonofinished and was in the raised position Sensei sat on
Sensie the second son of the legendary Budo mastermy back (he did not warn me of this) and carried on
who had graded her teacher Henry Ellis in 1963.with his lecture. Sensei suggested that those who
I was born in West London in 1963, my father waswanted to should try this exercise. It was amazing to
very involved in the martial arts and a dan grade insee all these black belts struggling. Later I had a little
Karate he was also a dealer in ancient Japanesecrowd around me wanting to inspect my wrists, I
arms and armour, although my father has an antiquesexplained that this exercise is standard for both
shop in London's Bond Street, my home was more likeseniors and juniors in our schools.
a samurai warriors dressing room, with original suits ofI was now feeling a little more confident when Sensei
Japanese armour complete with very frighting facepointed out that there were six young dan grades who
masks that would frighten the life out of my friendshad arrived late and were respectfully waiting for
when ever they came to visit, there were also verypermission to come onto the mat. Sensei asked me to
many valuable swords yari and naginata spears.show them what we had been teaching so far, they
The Masterswere all wearing black gi's and when I approached and
My father would travel around the world searching forinvited them on the mat, they scowled as if to say
the best quality weapons, what intrigued me the most"hey, we have not traveled all the way from London to
as a child was all these strange visitors that wouldbe taught by a women" as I showed the first
come to my home, the famous Otani family weretechnique "nikkyo" a wrist locking action, the first guy
regular visitors with Sensei Matsuro Otani 7th dan Judotried to resist me, I applied the technique as shown to
the UK National Coach, Kenshiro Abbe Sensei, Tomiome so many times by Sensei and almost put him
Otani Sensei the UK National Coach for Kendo, histhrough the mat. I thought he would be upset with me,
visitors were like the who's who of martial arts, asbut as he got up he asked "How did you do that?". He
recently as two weeks ago I was pleased to meetthen wanted me to do the technique on all the others,
with Sensei Kazuo Chiba 8th dan when he came tonow I had their attention and they were a great bunch
see my father.of guy's. I really enjoyed teaching them. At the end of
Introduction to Aikidothe seminar, as we were leaving the hall to head for
As a child I did a little Karate with my father but nothingthe car park, these six guy's were waiting in a line and
serious until 1992 when I went to the local Aikido dojobowed to me simultaneously with a smile and said to
in Bracknell, Berkshire, UK. All those years with mySensei Ellis " You have a strong lady assistant there
father and his Japanese weapons must have had a,sensei" Sensei replied " That is why she is my
latent but profound effect on me, as I watched Senseiassistant". That was my first seminar and one that I will
Ellis teaching his Positive Style of Traditional Aikido Inever forget.
knew there and then that this was the martial art forI have been involved in many other seminars with my
me.Sensei and they were always good, but I was never
The Hard Training Beginsso overawed as I was at my first one, or so I thought.
When I started Aikido I made a point of training withThen Sensei Ellis asked if I would like to visit New
the men and they treated me as one of them. WithMexico in the USA for a seminar. The seminar was to
regular practice I progressed. I had now developed thebe held in Alamogordo NM, where Sensei's USA
hard training bug and started courses in physicalrepresentative in the US lives and works at the Space
training and amateur weight lifting, after a few years ofMuseum. Sensei visits New Mexico every year and
hard work I became a fully qualified fitnesswe have another Ellis dan grade in Texas, Al
instructor-personal trainer and amateur weight liftingMontemar. I had always wanted to visit the US and
coach, the high light of all this effort was when Senseijumped at the opportunity. We made the trip into a
Ellis promoted me to assistant coach of the Ellisvacation for friends and family. We taught members
Schools of Traditional Aikido (ESTA) two years laterof the USAF and German Air Force at Holloman AFB,
he promoted me to first lady assistant to himself, therewhich included a guided tour of the base and various
had never ever been a lady assistant in all the longfighter aircraft, including the Stealth bomber. Sensei
history of the ESTA, Sensei put me on a three monthRogers is an instructor who teaches students from
trial and 8 year on I am still here.the USAF, Highway Patrol, police and some members
In 1994 I received my coaching certificate from theof the United States Marshals.
British Aikido Board (BAB) which is the governing bodyWhile in the US, I also visited the Grand Canyon and
for Aikido in the UK. Once I became assistant toPhoenix. I intend to move to Phoenix to live within the
Sensei Ellis I became involved in assisting in teachingnext two to three years. Sensei Ellis has a book on
both men and women and also helping with theaikido coming out next spring in the US titled "Positive
children's classes.Aikido" which I am pleased to be featured in, Sensei
The First SeminarRogers is a journalist by profession and has worked
Sensei Ellis asked if I would like to take part in a veryon this book for the past two years and it will be
large and important seminar in Liverpool in the North ofpublished in the US. There are several publishers
England, Sensei Ellis is not one of those teachers whointerested in the book so we are all very excited about
has a pet uke follow him around to fly all over the matthis latest project. I hope to be visiting the US again
at a touch or a glance, he prefers to try to involve allnext year and I hope to be there for the launching of
the students who attend his seminars if possible,the book.
knowing this I felt very privileged but nervous whenFor the martial artists out there I would like to add one
Sensei told me there would be about 700 studentsmore comment about the proposed book. Where as
from various martial arts, I think the phrase "Beingmost Aikido books spend a great deal of time
thrown in at the deep end" is applicable here.harmonizing with the planets and the universe, there will
On arrival at the venue I was amazed to see so manybe none of that in this book, Sensei always tells
students from so many countries,students to come out of the clouds and get back on
UK-France-Germany-Italy-India-Austria are just somethe tatami because "This is where it all happens" and
that I can recall. Sensei Ellis was asked to take the firsthe also often says " leave the dancing to Fred Astair"
class of approximately 50 dan grades from various(who is Fred Astair?).