Lineage

The founder of Aikido. Born in Tanabe, Japan, Ueshiba studied martial arts in his youth, and was a soldier in the Russo-Japanese War. In 1907, he took a group to settle in Hokkaido and pioneered a farming community in harsh conditions. A major martial arts influence was Takeda Sokaku, with whom Ueshiba learned and practised Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu, a combative form of grappling using locks and throws. He had a number of mystical experiences, especially under the influence of Onisaburo Deguchi, in which he realised the oneness of human existence. He started the Hombu Dojo in Tokyo in 1931, and taught until his death. In his later years, his aikido became lighter yet more powerful, and he spoke of his vision of aikido as an instrument to teach love and harmony.

He was a master of judo, aikido, karate, kendo and other martial arts. He attained great prominence in judo, achieving grades at a fast rate, and going on to beat Masahiko Kimura, said to be one of the greatest judo practitioners of all time. In 1937, he went to serve in the Japanese Army in Manchuria for four years. During this time he formulated his spiritual theory of Kyushindo. After the war, he met Ueshiba on a train, was impressed by his skill and power, and trained with him for 10 years, attaining 6th Dan. In 1955, he went to London and set up the legendary Hut Dojo behind a pub in Hillingdon. Abbe effectively introduced aikido to Europe, and was said to have up to 25,000 students. He stayed in the UK for 11 years, then returned to Japan.

A Londoner, he started studying all the budo arts under Kenshiro Abbe at 24, and was his first student, assistant, dan grade, and national coach - as the youngest 3rd dan in Europe, he  taught aikido all over the United Kingdom. When Abbe left the UK, Williams continued teaching and formed the Aikido Society. He then went to Japan to meet and practise with Koichi Tohei, who had been Ueshiba's head instructor, and started the Ki Federation of Great Britain (KFGB). After another 10 years, he left Tohei's Ki Society and began teaching his own method - a method for the Western mind to understand. He has been a brilliant and charismatic teacher over 6 decades, and is now technical director of the KFGB.