Abbe Kenshirō

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

  sports_martial_artsKendo Probable

  Probable

  Website biography describes training under Ogawa at Busen

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  location_onBudo Senmon Gakko badge (1934–1945)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Website biography describes training under Ogawa at Busen

  “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 Judolink history
• 
  Ueshiba Morihei

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Probable

  Probable

  Website biography mentions studying aikido under Ueshiba

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1937–1947)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Website biography mentions studying aikido under Ueshiba

  “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 Judolink history

Lineage

• Kendo Ogawa Kinnosuke ← Naitō Takaharu · 2 generations

Ranks (3)

• sports_martial_artsKendo

  military_tech6 dan Probable

  Probable

  Rank information from biography website

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (1945)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Rank information from biography website

  “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 history
• sports_martial_artsAikidō

  military_tech6 dan Probable

  Probable

  Rank information from biography website

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (1945)

  granted by Ueshiba Morihei

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Rank information from biography website

  “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 history

  “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 Cavalcantilink history
• sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech7 dan Probable

  Probable

  One source; Wikipedia cites it.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (1945)

  granted by Greater Japan Martial Virtue Society

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  One source; Wikipedia cites it.

  “In 1945, the Butoku Kai promoted Abbe to 7th dan in judo and 6th dan in kendo.”

  — Kenshiro Abbe - Wikipedialink history

  “In 1945 he was awarded the rank of 7th Dan Judo and 6th Dan Kendo by the Butokukwai, and in 1949 became the chief instructor to the Kyoto police and the Doshisha University.”

  — Morgan, K. & Ellis, H. (2006): «Kenshiro Abbe Sensei 1915 – 1985: A Man with too Many Friends.» Martial Arts Illustrated, December 2006; reprinted in Aikido Journal.link history

Students (1)

• 
  Georges Stobbaerts

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  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.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  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.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “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) linkhistory info

Sources

Identifiers