Hello from one of the Helsby brothers

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[David Helsby]

Hello my name is David Helsby I have trainned in Aikido since 1977. I started in Ryushinkan dojo with Kanetsuka Sensei and also trained in Tempukan with Chiba Sensei. I titled my intro as one of the "Helsby brothers " as my brother Tom came to join me in London and it seems many people who remember those days, including Peter Goldsbury, (hello Peter) tend to refer to us as one entity.
I have lived and trained in; England, USA, Belgium, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland, with many different teachers and styles of Aikido.
I was drawn to the Aikiweb by a thread concerning Chiba Sensei stopping the practice of Kashima Sword by his Father-inlaw Sekiya Sensei and would like to put the record straight.
I was delighted to train with Sekiya Sensei in Kashima sword and his teachings where taken up with enthusiasm by Kanetsuka until one lesson on Aikiken given by Chiba Sensei was suddenly stopped with an outburst from Chiba, his reason, some of the students where using Kashima footwork for Aikiken movements. Chiba stated that some students where not advance enough in their understanding of Aikido to be able to learn from Kashima without corrupting their basic footwork and then banned the general teaching of Kashima. I was one of the lucky ones to be able to continue to train in Kashima sword but boy was I careful around Chiba to make sure my footwork was correct but I guess we were all a bit careful when Chiba Senei was around.

[Alex Megann]

Hi David,

Nice to hear from you! Welcome to AikiWeb.

Alex

[akiy]

Hi David,

Welcome to AikiWeb and thank you for your introduction. Nice to have you here.

-- Jun

[sakumeikan]

Hello my name is David Helsby I have trainned in Aikido since 1977. I started in Ryushinkan dojo with Kanetsuka Sensei and also trained in Tempukan with Chiba Sensei. I titled my intro as one of the "Helsby brothers " as my brother Tom came to join me in London and it seems many people who remember those days, including Peter Goldsbury, (hello Peter) tend to refer to us as one entity.
I have lived and trained in; England, USA, Belgium, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland, with many different teachers and styles of Aikido.
I was drawn to the Aikiweb by a thread concerning Chiba Sensei stopping the practice of Kashima Sword by his Father-inlaw Sekiya Sensei and would like to put the record straight.
I was delighted to train with Sekiya Sensei in Kashima sword and his teachings where taken up with enthusiasm by Kanetsuka until one lesson on Aikiken given by Chiba Sensei was suddenly stopped with an outburst from Chiba, his reason, some of the students where using Kashima footwork for Aikiken movements. Chiba stated that some students where not advance enough in their understanding of Aikido to be able to learn from Kashima without corrupting their basic footwork and then banned the general teaching of Kashima. I was one of the lucky ones to be able to continue to train in Kashima sword but boy was I careful around Chiba to make sure my footwork was correct but I guess we were all a bit careful when Chiba Senei was around.
HelloMr Helsby,
Nice to have you on board. Are you still training? Hows Tom? Maybe you remember me from the old times withthe Aikikai of G.B? Joe.

[Peter Goldsbury]

Hello David,

Still in Switzerland, I see. Welcome to this forum. I think you'll find it, well, interesting, to say the least.

Best wishes,

PAG

[philipsmith]

Hi david,

good to hear from you - welcome to Aikiweb

[Nick Paden]

Hi David, Hope you are well. You may not remember me but I trained with both you & Tom initially at Ryushinkan & then Tenpukan, until Julie & I moved (back in my case) to E.Yorks. in '88 . Nick

[fatebass21]

Welcome!

[Robert Cowham]

Hi David

Welcome to aikiweb!

I note that Tom has been filmed a few times by Mark Walsh, e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTPwOHqQaaY

When I returned to London, I started at Ryushinkan in '89 with Kanetsuka sensei. Started also training with Paul Smith sensei gradually, and then went with Paul when he started training with Inaba sensei (where Sekiya sensei trained Kashima Shinryu in the final years of his life, having previously trained Katori Shinto Ryu) and left the BAF.

I saw Chiba sensei in London Aikikai one time after a summer school. I also visited him in San Diego while there for work, and was very kindly received when I mentioned Paul's name, as Paul was an uchi deshi with him for a couple of years in his late teens.

Regards
Robert