In those early days of the 1950s ` all ` the Aikido teachers to visit Britain were high ranking Judoka, Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 8th dan Judo ~ 6th dan Aikido ~ Mutsharu Nakazono Sensei 6th dan Judo ~ 6th dan Aikido and many others such as Tadashi Abe Sensei and TK Chiba Shihan. I believe that being first a Judoka made their Aikido ` tighter ` with smaller less exaggerated movement. K Williams Sensei the first British student of Aikido to Abbe Sensei was a third dan Judoka, I too came from Judo. As we introduced / promoted Aikido around Gt Britain in many cases we would visit Judo Dojos. Yes, early Aikido was influenced by Judo, there was a big difference in teachers who came from a Judo background than the later ones who had only studied Aikido. I still prefer the early Traditional way.
Henry Ellis
www.british-aikido.com