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William Smith MBE Aikikai Shihan |
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William Smith was known to many Aikido students throughout the world as a generous teacher with a sincere sense of love for both his art and his students; many of whom became close personal friends and in this short article I will attempt to outline the main points of the life of this remarkable man, always known as Bill to family and friends.
He was born on the
1st July 1929, to Ernest & Laura in a row of terraced houses which shared
a communal courtyard (known as the “fish shop yard”) and even communal
toilets! One of seven children (one of whom died in infancy) Bill was part
of a close-knit family which extended to numerous cousins many of whom
kept in touch until his death. |
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As a boy Bill was a choirboy at St. Matthews Church until he was evacuated during the war, initially to Bromsgrove although the family was split up, which was not to Ernest’s liking. At that time Ernest was working at Danks Engineering in the Black Country and one of his workmates lived on his own in Birch Coppice (on the site where Bill lived until his death) and asked Ernest if he would like to bring his family their.
The deal was
struck and so the family moved in with the man thereafter known as
“Grandad Sam”. As the property was only a two up two down cottage on a
small holding this meant building what was really a shanty on the side of
the property for the boys to sleep in with the girls all sharing a room in
the house. |
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Bill often said (in fact even on his death bed) he must have been one of the few men to like Hitler as it was his bombing of Birmingham which led to his move to the Black Country where he met his wife Gladys.
This was
undoubtedly the most important thing that ever happened in his life and
they remained devoted to each other throughout his life. |
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During this time
Bill always maintained his interest in all sports but particularly boxing,
football and gymnastics and at age 18 was given life membership of the
Birmingham Athletics Institute where he was a PTI. As a member of the army
cadet boxing team he also fought an exhibition bout in Lichfield during
the war where he met Jack Dempsey a famous heavyweight world champion in
the inter-war period. At the end of the war he was also selected for a
gymnastics team to visit Russia but unfortunately couldn’t go because his
family couldn’t afford to meet their share of the cost. Ever afterwards he
said that no matter what his children’s ambitions he would do his best to
fulfil them because of this disappointment. |
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By now he was settled into his career as a butcher and in 1951 he and Gladys married and started married life in rented rooms in Birch Coppice. Bill however determined to build a home for his family and so began construction of the house known to so many people in Birch Coppice, which was completed some seven years later. By this time Bill & Glad had two children, Diane & Philip and so this house was a true family home on the plot where Bill had been evacuated to as a child.
Bill still
retained his links with the BAI and this led to his interest in Aikido
when in around 1961 or 2 he saw a demonstration there. He was immediately
hooked and began training regularly, both at the BAI and the Niko Academy
of Budo in Small Heath. This led to him starting his own class in West
Heath at the Community Centre in Fairfax Road, which many Aikidoka will
remember with affection and continues to host a dojo until today. |
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In 1966 he met Kazuo Chiba who had been sent to Great Britain from Japan as head of the Aikikai of Great Britain and the two forged a deep friendship which continued until his death.
As a result of
this Aikido relationship Bill became an important and influential figure
in the Aikido world. In 1973 he was given the position of Head of National
Coaches for the Aikikai of Great Britain (now the British Aikido
Federation) a position he held until his resignation from the BAF in 1986;
when he formed the United Kingdom Aikikai. This was followed by is
appointment to the Superior Council of the International Aikido Federation
on its formation in 1976, where he served three terms of office until
1988. |
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This was the year that saw the UKA gain recognition by the Hombu dojo in Japan, the first time a second Aikikai had been recognised in a member country as a result of his efforts which were fully supported by Chiba Sensei. In the following years his reputation grew both as an Aikido teacher and as an individual, gaining students and friends in places as diverse as America, Greece, Serbia, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan.
Bill was honoured
by Birmingham City Council in 2001 for his contribution to Aikido and in
2002 was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by
the British Monarch for his services to Aikido, the first person to be so
honoured. This was followed by his appointment to Shihan (Master Teacher)
in 2003, the pinnacle of his Aikido career. |
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In 1996 Bill was unfortunately diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and at that time it was estimated that he would survive around two years post-diagnosis. In typical style he was determined to both fight the disease and continue to live life to the full in the company of family and friends as well as continuing his Aikido career. In fact he continued to teach and train (continually bemoaning the fact that he couldn’t take ukeme) until earlier this year and in February I was privileged to accompany him and share the teaching on his last ever seminar at the Phoenix Dojo in Coventry. Bill died on 24th August 2006 at the home he built looking out over his beloved garden surrounded by his family. He will be sorely missed by them and by the literally thousands of people whose lives he touched. He leaves behind a wonderful legacy in the UKA, whose future we discussed just six days before he died. Philip Smith 28 August 2006
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