The Biography of Sensei Derek Eastman 5th Dan
by Márcio Cabral de Moura The Biography of Sensei Derek Eastman 5th dan By David J Wilson E.S.T.A. Secretary July 2003 I have known Sensei Eastman for some 12 years and during those years I have heard so many stories about both Sensei Eastman and Sensei Ellis and their dedication to the early promotion of UK Aikido, some of the history highlights their hard training and appreciation of a true martial art, yet there are many amusing anecdotes. Sensei Eastman is the only Aikido student from 1950s Hut dojo who has never given an interview stating that Sensei Elliss story is more interesting than mine.I asked Sensei Eastman to let the readers decide that on agreeing to this interview. Introduction Q -DW: Sensei Eastman , first I would like to thank you for agreeing to this interview. A -SE: My pleasure David. Q -DW: When were you born? A -DE: I was a premature baby; I was born 20 years too soon on the 31st-12-1943. Q -DW: Where were you born? A -SE: West Kensington (behind Harrods) London. Q -DW: Before your introduction to Aikido were you ever involved in any other sports. A -SE: Yes, I was in the County school track and field team and would often run for my county school in various events. Q -DW: Now the important question Sensei, What year did you start your Way in Aikido ? A -SE: I made a brief start at the end of 1959. . Q -DW: Where did you begin your long journey of Aikido? A -SE: At the now Internationally famed Hut or as it later became the Abbe School of Budo It was actually called the Abbe School of Judo when I first joined. First visit to the HUT Dojo. Q -DW: Would Judo have been your first introduction to martial arts on your first visit To the Hut? A -SE: I vividly remember that first visit with a friend of mine, as we walked into the Hall no one noticed us as all eyes were focused on the action on the mat. There was a guy in the centre of the mat with a blindfold on who I later came to know as Sensei Harry Ellis.The blind folded student was being attacked by three other high grades, and believe me they were not messing around, in addition to three students attacking the blind folded student there was another guy who was obviously the top man here ( I later found out he was Sensei Williams).He was whacking the guy with a shinai (bamboo sword) shouting at him about his bad posture and not moving around fast enough. My friend turned to me and said Jeeezzz Del ! , I dont want any of that, do you?, Im out of here.With that he left. Maybe I was not thinking straight but I stayed around and asked for some club information on beginners classes. Q -DW: After witnessing that first insight into the martial arts, why didnt you make the same wise move as your friend? A -SE: I didnt really know what I was watching, my first impression was that maybe it could be ju-jitsu or something like that, hmmm why did I stay? I am not sure, crazier still the question should be why did I sign up.I belonged to a motor cycle gang and I was the proud owner of a Royal Enfield 350cc.I was also too young to hold a driving license. In those days our favourite place was the historic town of Windsor, which was a great meeting place for motorcycle gangs/groups. The problem was the place was full of soldiers of the Castle guard. There were always fights with our guys and the soldiers of the Queens Household Cavalry who were a tough old bunch of lads. In one of these frequent battles I got really hammered by one of the Castle guards, I then decided to check out the local Judo school, thats it!! I was in there and I joined there and then. The Beginning of an Aikido Odyssey. Q -DW: Sensei, tell me about your first class and who was your teacher? A -SE: My first class was in Sensei Elliss Monday night beginners class, this was the biggest class of the week with between 40 to 50 students a night on the mat. Sensei Elliss class was always packed to overflowing, and the training was always hard, yet I enjoyed it and found that I seemed to fit in naturally to this new martial art of Aikido. Q -DW: Sensei, you said at the beginning of this interview that I made a brief start in 1959 what did you mean by a brief start? A -SE: Well, what happened was, I had a very serious crash on my motorcycle and my injuries were severe.I was on crutches for three months.I made a slow but good recovery and eventually went back to Aikido.My teacher was still Sensei Ellis, I had only been back on the mat for about 4 or 5 lessons when one evening Sensei Ellis asked Sensei Williams to come on the mat and watch something.I soon realised that the something was me, and to my surprise Sensei Ellis was smashing me all over the mat, as he threw me I just kept bouncing back up.He then said to Sensei Williams;Sensei, have you ever seen anyone ukemi like that before?Sensei Williams then took me down in nikyo, a very painful wrist locking technique, he seemed to hold me down for a very long time before allowing me up.He looked at Sensei E