Derek Eastman was assistant to Henry Ellis Sensei at the first Aikido dojo in the UK ('The Hut' or Abbe School of Judo). Together they learnt from several direct students of O'Sensei, and helped promote the new art of Aikido around the country.

Sensei Eastman founded the Basingstoke Aikido Club in 1968, teaching there for over 50 years. Nowadays Aikido training continues under the guidance of the next generation of instructors.

We use a forms-based method of teaching, first introduced by Masamichi Noro Sensei, complemented by study of the bayonet arts, including knife, club, sword and staff.

The strong application of techniques taught at The Hut is still easily recognised, as is the closing down of the opponent’s attack with the spiralling movement characteristic of Aikido.