Sensei Les White Seminar

The Influence of Mr Jack Poole and Jim Johnstone

Mr Jim Johnstone was once the British Aikido Board's Press Officer, as the BAB Press Officer he has long been aware that Mr Poole's history was a total fabrication, yet to his own dishonour has continued to protect and promote this insidious man and his false claims, a man who has trampled on the graves and the memories of the proud deceased Japanese masters.

3rd-June-2000

The Influence of Sensei Jack Poole and Jim Johnstone

Mr Les White had started his Aikido career as a beginner in 1962, he was in my beginners classes at the now famous"HUT Dojo". Mr White had always been very proud of his links to the Hut Dojo and to Henry Ellis his first teacher.
This was until his association with Mr Jack Poole.
Mr White had to face a serious dilemma, his proud history from the Hut Dojo, the true birthplace of British Aikido, or the false history being propagated by Mr Poole.
Mr White had left the Hut Dojo and joined Mr Poole's association, leaving behind the true history, he was now intentionally, or not, supporting Mr Poole and his fables.

Mr White invited Sensei Eastman and I to his Aikido Celebration Seminar 2000.
I had not been on the mat since having serious heart surgery. I was invited, I wanted to do this for my old friend, Not only was I invited to the seminar by Mr White, I was also invited by Mr White in front of the class to speak about the early day's of British Aikido history in the 50's, with Abbe sensei at the Hut dojo
Which at that time was the only Aikido dojo in the UK. I never volunteer to speak publicly on this subject, If asked, I am happy to do so, to keep the memory and proud legacy of Kenshiro Abbe sensei alive.

Whilst I gave my talk on this subject, Mr Poole and all of his "associates" were present, not one of them questioned my account of the origins of UK Aikido, neither did they attempt to speak to me on the mat, or "off the mat, or better still in the car park, " although my 40 min session gave them ample time to do so.

The only three people that I am aware of that had influence in the running and organising of this event was Mr Les White,Mr Jim Johnstone who is an avid supporter of Jack Poole and his fables, when I later asked Mr White for a copy of the video of the event, I was informed that I had been edited out of the video on the instructions of Jim Johnstone, this insult by Jim Johnnstone was yet another attempt to protect Mr Poole from my account and the true history of UK Aikido. Mr White later sent me a copy of the video, where I had been "very roughly edited back in".
I can only assume this was another attempt to suppress the truth from the students, as I am now the only one with me on the video. Mr White then had the gall to invite me and Mr Eastman to attend this years seminar, to celebrate his 40 years (genuine claim) he said to me that he would be very proud to have his first teacher there.
Mr Poole was to have a starring role on this day, we were asked to be last on the programme on the instructions of Mr Jim Johnstone (I wonder why ????) we said that we wanted to be on before lunch, we were told not to attend.

I think that this final insult was a very sad end to a 40 year special friendship with Mr Les White who until this event I had great respect for him.

Please contact Jim Johnstone for all your video editing needs and press promotion.

Mr Johnstone in his position as the representative British Aikido Board "Press Officer" in 1999 wrote in an article "Meeting of the Minds" in the International aikido magazine "Aikido Today" Taking part was Sensei Jack Poole with """"over 40 years of Aikido experience"""" again perpetuating the myth of his icon. Yet it must be said that Mr Jim Johnstone was aware of the truth of his icon.

Mr Jim Johnstone acting in his position as press officer for the BAB, contacted Mr David Humm the administrator of the NACD "National Aikido Communication Database" demanding that he drop the controversy from his database, and accused Mr Humm of damaging the reputation of one of the most respected men in British Aikido. """Now that is loyalty!"""

"""SPORT ENGLAND MEETING 6th - JULY - 2004, SE are advised by the BAB that Mr Jack Poole can only corroborate his history from 1968---The BAB also admitted that Mr Poole only received the bronze statue award ***To APPEASE him.***..

Jim Johnstone has the audacity and dishonour to accuse the NACD of damaging Mr Pooles reputation.a false reputation that he continues to support to this day, despite the British Aikido Boards public apology, and the mass of irrefutable evidence..The British Aikido Board have taken the extraordinary steps of altering the Jack Poole history segment on The Shinwakai BAB information pages.Changing his false claims..

Henry Ellis.

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