Description

Kenshiro Abbe was a prominent Japanese master of judo, aikido, and kendo. He introduced aikido to the United Kingdom in 1955, and founded the Kyushindo system. Abbe was a graduate of the Budo Senmon Gakko, having studied judo and kendo there. Following an illustrious early career in the martial arts, he served in the Imperial Japanese Army before and during World War II. He then trained in aikido under its founder, Morihei Ueshiba, for a decade. Abbe held dan ranks in several martial arts, most notably 8th dan in judo, 6th dan in aikido, and 6th dan in kendo. After introducing aikido to the UK, he established several Japanese martial arts councils there during the late 1950s. He returned to Japan in 1964 and remained there for most of the remainder of his life.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Ogawa Kinnosuke

  linkKendo 3

  Confirmed

  Website biography describes training under Ogawa at Busen

  sports_kabaddiBudo Senmon Gakko badge (1934-1945)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Website biography describes training under Ogawa at Busen

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "At the Busen Abbe received instruction from Ogawa Hanshi (genius), the Butokukai Judan (10th Dan) sword master. While at the Busen Kenshiro also enrolled in Mr. Gen Tanabe's philosophy class, at the Kyoto Teikoku University. That early encounter with philosophy would be influential in the formation of his system. While the training was arduous at the Busen, Kenshiro managed to receive his Yondan (4th Dan) rank in Judo, being again the young Judoka to attain it. His sister, Toyoka, decided to take Martial Arts too, enrolling in Mrs. Mitamura's Naginata class. She would dedicate the rest of her life to the practice of the art."

  — Kenshiro Abbe, The Kyu-Shin-Do And Zen Judo - Keo Cavalcanti, 6th Dan Zen Judolinkhistory
• 
  Ueshiba Morihei

  linkAikidō 3

  Confirmed

  Website biography mentions studying aikido under Ueshiba

  (1937-1947)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Website biography mentions studying aikido under Ueshiba

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In 1937, at the age of 23, Abbe was awarded his Rokudan (6th Dan) rank and in June of that year he enlisted in the Japanese army, serving for four years in a garrison in the Toan-sho Province in Manchuria. It was during the time in Manchuria that Abbe began formulating his theory of Budo (the Way of the Warrior), Kyu-Shin-Do. And it was also at this time that Abbe was invited by O'Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba to study Aikido under his care."

  — Kenshiro Abbe, The Kyu-Shin-Do And Zen Judo - Keo Cavalcanti, 6th Dan Zen Judolinkhistory

Ranks (3)

• linkKendo

  military_tech6 dan2

  Probable

  Rank information from biography website

  Dan-Kyu System (1945)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Rank information from biography website

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Abbe held dan ranks in several martial arts, most notably 8th dan in judo, 6th dan in aikido, and 6th dan in kendo."

  — Kenshiro Abbe - Wikipedialink
• linkAikidō

  military_tech6 dan2

  Probable

  Rank information from biography website

  Dan-Kyu System (1945)

  granted by Ueshiba Morihei

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Rank information from biography website

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Abbe held dan ranks in several martial arts, most notably 8th dan in judo, 6th dan in aikido, and 6th dan in kendo."

  — Kenshiro Abbe - Wikipedialink

  "And it was also at this time that Abbe was invited by O'Sensei, Morihei Ueshiba to study Aikido under his care."

  — Kenshiro Abbe, The Kyu-Shin-Do And Zen Judo - Keo Cavalcantilinkhistory
• linkKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech7 dan 2

  Probable

  Rank information from biography website. Note: Wikipedia states 8th dan in judo; this entry reflects the 1945 progression rank.

  Dan-Kyu System (1945)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Rank information from biography website. Note: Wikipedia states 8th dan in judo; this entry reflects the 1945 progression rank.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  Kenshiro Abbe - Wikipedialink

  Kenshiro Abbe biography (Syd Hoare) link

Students (1)

• 
  Georges Stobbaerts

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  In his 2001 interview Stobbaerts names Kenshiro Abe as his judo master, who also showed him the first elements of aikido; Abe taught judo in Europe in the 1950s-60s where Stobbaerts began his practice.

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  In his 2001 interview Stobbaerts names Kenshiro Abe as his judo master, who also showed him the first elements of aikido; Abe taught judo in Europe in the 1950s-60s where Stobbaerts began his practice.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Já há muito tempo que tenho uma ligação com a Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, através de Mestre Kenshiro Abe, grande Mestre de Judo que me mostrou os primeiros elementos do Aikido."

  — Pedro Escudeiro. (2000). Entrevista ao Professor Georges Stobbaerts (Pedro Escudeiro, 2000). Surya (Centro de Artes Orientais) linkhistoryinfo

Sources