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The Biography of Sensei Derek Eastman 5th Dan

The Biography of Sensei Derek Eastman 5th Dan

By David J Wilson ESTA Secretary - July 2003

I have known Sensei Eastman for some 12 years and over the years I have heard so many stories on both Sensei Eastman and Sensei Ellis and their dedication to the promotion of UK Aikido early, some some of the highlights of the history of their hard training and appreciation of a true martial art, but there are many amusing anecdotes.

Sensei Eastman is the only student of Aikido since 1950 "Hut" dojo who has never given an interview stating that "Sensei Ellis's story is more interesting than mine."
I asked Sensei Eastman to let the readers decide that, in accepting this interview.

Introduction

Q-DW: Sensei Eastman, first I want to thank you for accepting this interview.

A-SE: David, my pleasure.

Q-DW: When were you born?

In-DE: I was a preemie, I was born 20 years too early 31-12-1943.

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 other sports.

A-SE: Yes, I was in school under the county and the team on the field and would often be a period of my school in county events.

Q-DW: Now, the important question Sensei, what year did you start your journey in aikido?

A-SE: I took a brief departure at the end of 1959. .

DW, Q.: Where do you start your long journey of Aikido?

A-SE: at the now renowned "Hut" or as it later became the Abbot School of Budo "It was actually called the Abbe School of Judo" When I first arrived.

First visit to the "shack" Dojo.

Q-DW: Would Judo have been your first introduction to martial arts on your first visit to the "shack"?

A-SE: I vividly remember that first visit with one of my friends, we walked in the room do we have noticed that all eyes were riveted on the action on the carpet.

There was a guy in the center of the canvas with a blindfold on who I know came later that Sensei Harry Ellis.
The blindfolded student was attacked by three other high grades, and believe me, they are not messing around, in addition to three students attacking the blindfolded student there was another guy who was obviously the man up here (I later learned that he was Sensei Williams).
It was scraped guy with a shinai (bamboo sword) shouting at him for his bad posture and not moving quickly enough.

My friend turned to me and said, "Del Jeeezzz!, I do not want that, you?, I am here.
With that he left.

Maybe I was not thinking straight but I stayed around and asked for information on beginner classes club.

Q-DW: Having seen the first glimpse of martial arts, why did not you do the same movement that your good friend?

A-SE: I do not really know what I watched, my first impression was that perhaps it could be ju-jitsu or something like that, hmmm why did I stay? I'm not sure, crazier the further question should be why did I sign up.
I belonged to a gang of motorcycle and I was the proud owner of a Royal Enfield 350cc.
I was also too young for a license. In those days, our favorite place is the historic town of Windsor, who was an ideal meeting place for motorcycle gangs and groups. The problem was the place was full of soldiers to guard the castle.

There were always fights with our guys and troopers Queens households that have a bunch of old guys hard.

In one of these frequent battles I got really hammered by one of the guards of the castle, so I decided to check the local school of judo, that's it! I was there and I join him there and then.

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