Kyu Shin Budo

orn in Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, Japan. He was the son of a local school teacher called Toshizo Abbe, who was a kendo instructor, and his wife, Kote Abbe.He started Judo at Busen, trained hard under Korei Isogai and in his first year he became the youngest student to gain his Yondan (4th dan) in Judo. Kenshiro never lost a fight. In the autumn of his second year was awarded his Godan (5th dan). In May 1935 he took part in the 5th dan division championship and defeated the great Masahiko Kimura. All of Abbe’s success so far led him to become arrogant which was something which he admitted himself. Henry Ellis Sensei reported the following story which demonstrated Abbe’s attitude at the time but also documents his first meeting with Morihei Ueshiba, how Abbe Sensei was accepted to train under Ueshiba Sensei